Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles met with his Pacific counterparts in Viña del Mar, Chile, to discuss expanding the Pacific Response Group (PRG) — a multinational body originally focused on humanitarian disaster response — to include regional stability and security missions.

The PRG currently includes Australia, New Zealand, Chile, France, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, and Tonga. During the meeting, ministers instructed their defence chiefs to explore the feasibility of broadening PRG’s mandate and establishing a Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) to allow freer troop deployment and coordination among member nations. Officials said the group could evolve into a rapid-response force capable of handling regional crises.

However, the plan may prove controversial among Pacific nations with security ties to China. Analysts suggest that Australia’s move could be perceived as an attempt to exclude China from regional security affairs, heightening great-power competition and potentially straining Australia’s diplomatic relations with its neighbours.

Australia plans to implement the world’s first social media ban for those under 16 on December 10, covering platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, and YouTube. However, young people with disabilities and their advocates fear that the ban will sever vital social connections, further deepening their sense of isolation.

Fifteen-year-old Wren Alfaro, who has mobility difficulties, chronic fatigue, ADHD, and autism, said that social media is their main means of interacting with friends, especially on days when they are unwell or unable to go out.

Skye Kakoschke-Moore, CEO of Children and Young People with Disability Australia, said that many public spaces remain inaccessible for people with disabilities, making social media a safe and inclusive place for connection. She urged the government to consider exemptions for young people with disabilities.

While social media can have negative effects, it remains an essential lifeline for people with disabilities to stay connected with the world. Experts call on the government to take these needs into account when implementing the ban, warning that a blanket policy could worsen the social isolation of vulnerable youth.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) recently filed a lawsuit against Microsoft, accusing the company of misleading approximately 2.7 million Australian personal and household users after integrating the AI assistant Copilot into Microsoft 365 subscription plans on October 31, 2024.

The ACCC stated that Microsoft’s promotion only informed users that they would need to accept the new Copilot-inclusive plan and pay a higher fee, or cancel their subscription. It did not clearly indicate that users could retain the original “Classic Plan” without Copilot. This option was only presented when users started the cancellation process, leading many consumers to upgrade or cancel without full knowledge.

Microsoft responded that it will carefully review the ACCC’s claims, emphasizing that consumer trust and transparency are priorities and that it will cooperate with regulators to ensure all practices comply with legal and ethical standards.

The ACCC is seeking court orders, including fines, injunctions, consumer compensation, and litigation costs. Experts say that if Microsoft is found guilty of misleading behavior, it could face significant fines and set an important precedent for transparency in subscription services and AI promotion globally.