Neighbours: Australia and the Pacific (Joanne Wallis & Jack Corbett, La Trobe)

Neighbours: Australia and the Pacific by Joanne Wallis (Girt by Sea) and Jack Corbett examines Australia’s relationship with the Pacific Islands, a region that may not be front of mind for many readers but remains deeply connected to the nation’s history, politics and future.

The book traces Australia’s involvement in the region, which comprises 12 independent countries, with all but Papua New Guinea having populations of fewer than one million.

The structure is consistent across chapters, with a common framework helping readers navigate the breadth of material, from colonisation and exploitation to intervention and financial aid.

While some sections are necessarily detail-heavy, the writing remains accessible, balancing historical context with contemporary analysis. Particularly valuable are the sections at the end of each chapter on what it would mean for Australia to become a better neighbour, a feature that shifts the book from diagnosis to practical reflection, asking readers to consider how Australia’s role in the region could be reshaped.

Wallis and Corbett argue that Australia’s relationship with the Pacific has too often been shaped by misunderstanding, inconsistency, and short-term thinking at both the government and private business levels. They also consider how these relationships might evolve in response to shifting geopolitical pressures, including climate change, migration, security and economic development.

Drawing on the authors’ extensive expertise in Pacific regional politics and international security, Neighbours is an informative and timely overview suited to readers interested in Australian foreign policy, Pacific history, or regional affairs more broadly.

Books+Publishing reviewer: Jess Lomas is the reviews editor at Books+Publishing. Books+Publishing is Australia’s number-one source of pre-publication book reviews.

Books+Publishing pre-publication reviews are supported by the Copyright Agency Cultural Fund.

Category: Friday Unlocked reviews Reviews