29th October 2026.
The Hon Anthony Albanese MP
Prime Minister
Parliament House
CANBERRA ACT 2600
Australia
Dear Prime Minister Albanese
Re: Serious concerns about governance, media freedom and Australia’s relationship with Samoa in the context of stability within the South Pacific Region as an important cluster of the international community.
On behalf of thousands of Samoans in Australia, New Zealand and the international diaspora, I write to express our deep concern about the conduct of Samoa’s Prime Minister, La’auli Leuatea Schmidt, and the implications of his leadership for democracy, freedom of expression and the relationship between Samoa. New Zealand and Australia as important members of the South Pacific Region in the context of healthy economies, security and diplomatic relations.
Landscape:
Although Samoa is a small economy, its location and relationships within the South Pacific give development work there and aid funding by NZ and Australia significance beyond its shores.
Political instability weakened democratic institutions and declining public confidence in the rule of law can have consequences for regional cooperation, security and stability.
The South Pacific is an important region of the international community, and its healthy functioning depends on strong, accountable institutions and mutual trust among its nations. Australia and its regional partners therefore have a clear interest in engaging with Samoa to support those principles and protect the stability of the region.
Media:
The exclusion of the Samoa Observer, a major independent newspaper, from the Prime Minister’s and Cabinet ministers’ press conferences is appalling to say the least and is of grave concern to us all. Samoa’s government also announced that ministers would no longer respond to the newspaper’s requests for information. Whatever disagreement the Prime Minister may have with its reporting, denying a major news outlet access to public officials is a reckless and authoritarian response to scrutiny.
Samoans deserve clear, accurate and timely information from their government, yet the exclusion of the Samoa Observer from ministerial press conferences and the refusal to respond to its requests for information make it harder for the public to receive independent scrutiny of government decisions. An honest and open government should welcome scrutiny, answer difficult questions and ensure that all media outlets have fair access to information of public importance.
Some media outlets such as us have been threatened with prosecution if we ever set foot in Samoa for no other reason than asking questions of this wayward Prime Minister and his government to ensure accountability.
Despite our internal and domestic efforts to flag our concerns with this government, it seems to be falling on deaf ears, and we are now calling and appealing to our international partners for assistance. The fear mongering and the scare and bullying tactics by this Prime Minister are unbearable and its extremely hard to see such an authoritarian, unaccountable regime still being supported financially by the taxpayers of Australia by way of aid funding and various investments in training, inter alia, implemented in Samoa by Australia.
The Samoan PM may present a reassuring image to visiting international dignitaries, including Australia’s Foreign Minister, Senator Penny Wong, yet that image is difficult to reconcile with the treatment of independent journalists at home. A government that welcomes favourable coverage while excluding an outlet that asks difficult questions is failing in its duty to the public as you are aware.
These actions raise serious questions about freedom of speech, equal treatment and the protections afforded by the Samoa’s Constitution as well as expectations of the United Nations (UN). They also send a disturbing message to Samoans who may already feel afraid to speak openly. Democracy cannot function properly when citizens and journalists fear the consequences of questioning those in power.
Agencies Operational Independence:
There are also serious concerns about the independence of Samoa’s institutions. Many Samoans, both at home and in the diaspora, have expressed concern that the police may be subject to political interference in operational and prosecutorial matters. Australia’s substantial support for police training and related activities makes it essential to ask what safeguards are in place to ensure Australian assistance supports impartial policing.
We invite your office to read recent public reporting of the Samoan Public Service Commission’s recommendation of a NZ Police officer to be the next Samoa Police Commissioner to be publicly criticised by the Samoan Prime Minister opting for a local. This is even after the recommendation went through a proper governmental transparent process. Go figure Mr Albanese! Mind boggling at the very least!
The Attorney-General’s role has likewise attracted concern, particularly been appointed from La’auli’s private criminal lawyer to Attorney General and her subsequent decision in relation to decisions involving criminal proceedings concerning the Prime Minister. The decision not to appeal in one such case was challenged in court, and that challenge was dismissed. Either way the perception is not good, and we all know that caution requires perception to be treated as actuality. Public confidence requires transparency about potential conflicts of interest and assurance that prosecutorial decisions are made independently.
Australia and New Zealand are influential partners in the Pacific and regularly speak about democracy, open justice and the rule of law. Those commitments should mean something when a close neighbour’s independent media is shut out of government scrutiny. Respect for Samoa’s sovereignty should not become an excuse for silence when fundamental democratic values are under pressure.
I therefore urge your government to:
- Raise the exclusion of the Samoa Observer directly with Prime Minister La’auli and call for its access to government press conferences to be restored.
- Seek clear assurances that Australian-supported policing activities are protected from political interference.
- Review Australian funding and assistance to Samoa, including police support, with particular attention to transparency, accountability and human rights.
- Consider suspending or redirecting funding where adequate safeguards cannot be demonstrated, while taking care to protect essential services and ordinary Samoan people.
- Explain publicly what steps Australia is taking to support independent journalism and democratic institutions in Samoa.
We are also investigating how to submit a formal proposal to your government seeking the suspension of funding to Samoa. Australian taxpayers deserve confidence that their money is not strengthening institutions that may be used to shield those in power from scrutiny.
Prime Minister, these concerns deserve more than polite diplomatic language. I ask you to respond with a clear account of what your government will do to uphold the democratic values Australia says it supports throughout the Pacific.
Sincerely yours,
Sala Pulotu Canada Alofa McCarthy
CTV Media
New Zealand and Australia Inc
Editor’s Note: This letter was submitted to Samoa Newshub by the author for publication as a Letter to the Editor.
