Six new species of squaloid sharks of the genus Etmopterus are described from the Arafura and Banda Seas (south-east Indian Ocean), and the Coral Sea (south-west Pacific): E. fusus sp. nov. from the slope of northwestern Australia; E. evansi sp. nov. from northwestern Australia and eastern Indonesia; E. dianthus sp. nov. from the Coral Sea; E. dislineatus sp. nov. off tropical eastern Australia; and E. caudistigmus sp. nov. and E. pseudosqualiolus sp. nov. from the slopes of the Chesterfield Islands, New Caledonia, and the northern part of the Norfolk Ridge. They can be distinguished by their coloration, body shape, teeth morphology, vertebral counts, dermal denticles, the position of their fins, and the size and shape of luminescent markings on the flank, caudal peduncle and caudal fin. A key for the Etmopterus species of tropical Australasia is provided.