August 2006 in Oceania

• The Australian Reserve Bank raises interest rates by a quarter of a per cent to 6% to curb increasing inflation, leading the Labor Opposition to accuse the Coalition Government of breaching its election pledge to keep interest rates low. (ABC)

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• In the Tuvalu parliamentary election, the Prime Minister of Tuvalu Maatia Toafa (pictured) is re-elected to Parliament, but his Deputy Prime Minister Saufatu Sopoanga and other members of his Cabinet were not re-elected. (Tuvalu News)
• Rotuma Island in Fiji runs out of fuel, resulting in the closing of schools, shutting down of water and electricity supplies, and stopping of all transport. The next fuel delivery is 12 days away. (Radio NZ)

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• 2006 census data is collected Australia wide.

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• New Zealand airline Origin Pacific suspends passenger operations and lays off most of its staff. Freight operations will continue. (NZ Herald)

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• Sam Inguba, Papua New Guinea's Police Commissioner, is under suspicion of blocking a police inquiry into a 4 million PGK fraud. (Nine MSN)

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• Apisai Ielemia is elected new Prime Minister of Tuvalu. (Radio NZ)

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• Queensland Premier Peter Beattie calls an early election for September 9.
• Te Atairangi Kaahu, the Māori Queen, dies after a long illness. (NZ Herald)
• Taufa'ahau Tupou IV, the King of Tonga, is gravely ill in an Auckland hospital. (Matangi Tonga)

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• The Supreme Court of Samoa declares two parliamentary seats void after hearing an electoral petition. (Radio NZ)

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• The health of King Tomasi Kulimoetoke II of Uvea in Wallis and Futuna causes concern when he is unable to attend traditional ceremonies. (Pacific Magazine)
• The first person convicted under tough new anti-[...] laws in Australia has been acquitted on appeal. Jack Thomas was convicted in March on two counts of receiving funds from a [...] network and for carrying a falsified passport. According to ABC News his 5 year sentence was today quashed by the Victorian Court of Appeal, which ruled information obtained during an interview with Australian Federal Police Officers in Pakistan, conducted without legal representation and under threat of torture, was inadmissible.

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• The All Blacks win the 2006 rugby union Tri Nations series. (Bloomberg)

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• Tuheitia Paki, the eldest son of Dame Te Atairangikaahu, is selected as the new Māori King. (NZ Herald)
• Discussions between Norfolk Island and the Australian Federal Government over reform of the island's affairs results in Norfolk planning to become an Australian territory with similar status to the ACT or Northern Territory. (ABC)

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• Anand Satyanand is sworn in as the new Governor-General of New Zealand. (NZ Herald)

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• Both the Attorney General and Assistant Attorney General of Samoa have resigned after their office was criticised for saying a former Minister's actions were illegal. (Radio NZ)

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• New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark suggests that Taito Phillip Field should reconsider his future as an MP, after fresh allegations are made against him. (NZ Herald)
• Indonesia has denied suggestions that it is spying on Papua New Guinea. The allegations were made by a PNG newspaper after Indonesian fishermen were caught in PNG waters. (The National)

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• The opposition Samoa Democratic United Party has dumped its leader, Le Mamea Ropati. (Radio NZ)

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