Marles affirms Australia's support to Tonga's new government [1]
Friday, March 11, 2011 - 18:46. Updated on Wednesday, September 11, 2013 - 10:06.
Australia'a Parliamentary Secretary for Pacific Island Affairs, Hon. Richard Marles, visited Tonga on March 11 and affirmed Australia's support would continue under Tonga's new government.
The one day visit was part of a Pacific tour that initially took him to Cook Islands and French Polynesia.
He said that the Gillard Labour Government regards the Pacific as crucial to Australia's Foreign Policy and he wanted to make it clear how significant they see their relationship with each Pacific country.
Speaking to local media at the Australian High Commissioner's residence in Nuku'alofa, he said this was the first high-level Australian visit since Tonga's historic election held last year and the formation of its new government and they came at a very critical moment in Tonga's history.
"We see ourselves as very close friends and we want to be the best friends we can be to Tonga in the new chapter in its history embarked on by this new government and we affirm that friendship with today's visit."
Issues
Hon. Richard Marles said he met with Tonga's Prime Minister Lord Tu'ivakano and the Cabinet.
He said they talked about a range of issues including Australia's Overseas Development Assistance in Tonga and that of the Seasonal Workers Program in Australia, which has a strong uptake from people in Tonga, "a program we and they are keen to see expanded."
"We are also keen to get an understanding from the Tongan government on how the scheme is working and how to improve it," he said.
He noted another key issue raised was assistance to education and they visited the Nuku'alofa Primary School and viewed curriculum and teaching materials provided by Australia.
He added Tonga faces a lot of financial challenges going forward.
"Australia looks forward to working with the new government to support Tonga's priorities for development as agreed in our Partnership for Development and to assist the Government chart a path of economic stability," he said.
He also said another area of Australia's assistance is the Tonga Police and he handed over some new identification badges at the Tonga Police Training school at Longlongo.
"We have a very close relationship with the Tonga Police particularly under the Tonga Police Development Program," he said.
Pacific
The Minister, accompanied by a three-member delegation including his advisor Karyn Murray, Stephen Gee Assistant Secretary Pacific Island Branch of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Nicholas Notarpietro Director Asia Pacific Enabling Group AusAID, left Tonga this afternoon.
This is the first time he visited Tonga in his position as the Parliamentary Secretary for Pacific Island Affairs since being appointed in 2010.