By Pesi Fonua

Australian Foreign Minister, Hon Julie Bishop in her first official visit to Tonga today, met the Prime Minister Hon. ‘Akilisi Pohiva and his Cabinet and discussed Tonga’s  economic and political reform agenda.

Australia is the biggest aid donor to the Pacific Islands, ahead of the USA, Japan, New Zealand and China.

In a joint press conference at the Fa’onelua Convention Center, Hon Julie Bishop and Hon ‘Akilisi Pohiva emphasised the close and the deep relations between the two countries, as neighbours, friends and development partners; and Australia “as a major economic and security partner”.

A constant reminder to Tongans of Australian security assistance is Tonga’s three operational patrol boats. Donated by Australia, the Patrol Boats Program assists Tonga to protect fisheries, combat transnational crime and strengthen maritime security.

The Foreign Minister also announced the handing over of AUD$400,000 for two innovative private sector initiatives to support smallholder vanilla farmers, and for the construction of infrastructure to facilitate exports.

There was also another grant of AUD$200,000 for the development of a new national strategy to control and prevent Non-communicable Diseases, a major cause of death in Tonga.

Another Australian initiative is the launching of a New Colombo Plan in Tonga, when 16 Australian under-graduates will come to Tonga to work and study for four weeks. Ten of these under-graduates will be nursing students from the University of Canberra and six eco-tourism students from the University of the Sunshine Coast.

Pacer Plus

With regards to the future of the Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations known as “Pacer Plus”, Hon. Julie Bishop was certain that the agreement would be finalized before the next Forum Leaders meeting in Papua New Guinea later in the year.

The PACER Plus agreement has been under negotiation since 2009, with the issues of Labor Mobility and an agreed percentage of Development Assistance being the stumbling blocks.

Currently many qualifications from the Pacific Islands are not recognized or only partially recognized in New Zealand and Australia. For example, qualifications from the University of the South Pacific are recognized only if high points are scored.

An agreement on mutual recognition of qualifications among the PACER Plus Parties would provide a further boost to labour mobility across various occupational areas and enhance the participation of the PICs in international trade.

Diplomacy

Tonga's Prime Minister responded to a question on his position with regards to a proposal by Fiji for Australia and New Zealand to be kicked out from Pacific Island Forum Countries.

Hon. ‘Akilisi Pohiva said that after Fiji's suspension, “Fiji continues to remain isolated up to now, and I think they have a good reason not to come back to the Forum.”

Julie Bishop responded that Australia was talking to Fiji and restoring relations.

'Akilisi stated his government's position on regionalism.

“Julie Bishop wanted to know Tonga’s position in relation to regionalism, which is now a topic of debate. . . . The policy of Tonga in the past ‘friends for everyone and enemy of none’ - that has been the position of Tonga in the past - it is sound ridiculous for someone because in the real world there is always an enemy,” he said.

“There is always an enemy, there is always an enemy, however, I have to follow suit. The position of Tonga, ah, in relation to this issue of regionalism: Tonga will remain neutral. In another word we don’t want to see New Zealand and Australia push out from the Forum, as someone has mentioned that we have more Tongans living in Australia and New Zealand than in the United States, so it would be well, stupid for Tonga, you know, to turn around and say we have to consider seriously the position of Fiji ...to form a newly [organisation] in the Pacific. But my position and the position of my government that we will continue to remain as an independent sovereign state, we will continue to support New Zealand and Australia as members of the Forum - this is our position,” he told the press conference.