A regional fact-finding mission to New Caledonia is set to be deferred, watering down hopes of a breakthrough to the political impasse at this month's Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting.
Prime ministers and presidents from the region, including Anthony Albanese, are meeting in Tonga next week for the annual gathering of leaders from the blue continent.
Top of the agenda is the situation in New Caledonia, which descended into violence in May following voting reforms by colonial power France.
