Australia and NZ commit $1.5m each for political reform in Tonga [1]
Thursday, December 11, 2008 - 23:15. Updated on Thursday, July 30, 2015 - 14:38.
The Australian and New Zealand Government today have confirmed and reaffirmed their commitment in supporting Tonga's Constitutional and Electoral Reform process by providing a grant of $1.5 million dollars each over the next three years.
This was announced by the Prime Minister, Hon Dr Feleti Sevele today in a joint press conference with the New Zealand High Commissioner HE Ms Christine Bogle and the Australian High Commissioner HE Dr Bruce Hunt at the Prime Minister's Office.
The Prime Minister said they had come to an agreement whereby the Australian and New Zealand Governments will contribute the sum of $1.5 million dollars each in the next three years to assist the work of the Constitutional and Electoral Reform Commission, formed earlier this year.
The aim of the commission is to move forward with the work relating to political and electoral reform.
At the same time the Government of Tonga had provided $500,000 pa'anga this year and will similarly continue to do the same over the next three years.
The Prime Minister confirmed that the sudden death of Cabinet's alternate member Hon. Dr Langi Kavaliku last week would not delay the schedule set for the Constitutional and Electoral Reform Commission.
"The timetable set will be adhered to and after the funeral this week we will inform the public of a replacement, which government will make with a nomination to put through to Privy Council next week."
Signing
The New Zealand High Commissioner Ms Christine Bogle said they were signing a document formally committing New Zealand to this funding of $1.5 over the next three years.
She said the grant is to support the work Constitutional and Electoral Commission and other work building up to the election in 2010 and the whole democratisation process, which will included civic education.
" Tonga is our closest neighbour in the world and obviously the future of Tonga and New Zealand are linked and so we want to make sure that we are supporting this country in having the best future possible."
The Australian High Commissioner Dr Bruce Hunt added that the Australian Government is proud to contribute over three years beginning 2008-09 toward the reform as they had done so over the last few years by supporting the work of the late Prince Tu'ipelehake and his National Committee for Political Reform.
"As regional partners we are very pleased to come forward again and support this particular initiative by government, thus assisting the commission over the next three years," he said.
"Tonga has a special place in NZ and Australia's foreign policy and we are all part of a small region of the world, the South Pacific and we should assist one another," said Dr Hunt.
Established by the King in Council on November 21, the Commissioners' appointments will come into effect on January 5, 2009 with Mr Gordon Ward, a former Chief Justice of Tonga as the Chairman.