SBS Dateline | Pacific Solutions

Australia goes to the polls on 21st August, but events overseas have become one of the hot topics of the election campaign, including the parties’ differing views on the best approach to asylum seekers.

Video journalist David O’Shea reports from the Pacific Islands Forum in Vanuatu, where senior political officials from countries including Australia met to discuss the issues facing the region.

East Timor and Nauru have both been mentioned as bases for refugee facilities for Australia, but what do their Foreign Ministers think of the idea?

David also asks Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith about relations with Fiji, which hasn’t attended the forum since 2007, amid continuing criticism of Commodore Bainimarama’s undemocratic government.

And could West Papua be the next Pacific issue to concern Australia? There's the potentially explosive issue of independence from Indonesia, reports of Indonesian troops on the rampage and possible conflict on the Papua New Guinea border.

WATCH - Find out about the international issues facing the election candidates.

EXTRA - Find out which countries make up the 16 members of the Pacific Islands Forum, plus country profiles and stories about them from the Dateline archives.

VOTE 2010 - SBS's World News Australia has full coverage of the 2010 Australian election, including interactive maps showing the ethnic make-up of every electorate.

Photos: AAP