Story and pictures by Linny Folau

Australia's new Foreign Minister Senator Hon. Penny Wong reaffirmed the new Australian Government's commitment to Tonga and the Pacific in Nuku'alofa today, 3 June.

In a joint press conference with Tonga’s Prime Minister Hon. Hu’akavameiliku this afternoon, the Foreign Minister said it was a real honour to be received by the King and the Prime Minister and other counterparts.

"The reason is we wanted to be very clear on the importance of our relationship with the Kingdom of Tonga, its people and more broadly our relationship with the Pacific."

She also expressed how saddened they were and shocked by the volcanic eruption and tsunami that the Tongan people endured.

“We are grateful and glad that Australia's assistance was of benefit to Tonga and hope we can continue to work together on the reconstruction,” she said.

She said that the new Australian Government was elected less than two-weeks ago with a very clear position on climate change.

“We were elected with a very clear position, that we would put in more energy and more resources...for our relationship with the Pacific....”

“But I do want to say to you that the experience of your country and the experience of Pacific Island nations, the real presence of national security, economic, and existential risk and threat, which is the climate change that you are experiencing gives you a powerful voice in the world and in the region, and rest assured we have heard that and we will be working with you. 

They had also announced a number of other policies, which she discussed with the Prime Minister, and Foreign Minister, and other Ministers.

She said they were keen to build on what was already a deep and strong relationship with changes and improvements to the Pacific Labour Scheme, as well as climate resilience that is infrastructure, and recognizing the risk of climate change.

"I thank your people and your Tongan Government for the welcome we have received. We have a deep friendship, it will continue. Thank you very much."

Tonga

Hon. Hu'akavameiliku in welcoming the Foreign MInister's visit to Tonga for the first time, said Tonga remained deeply grateful for the Australian Government's helping hand immediately, after the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcanic eruption and tsunamis.

“The Foreign Minister decided to visit us two-weeks into her appointment.This is a clear sign of the Australian Government’s strong commitment to strengthening our bilateral relations and engagement with our region,” he said.

"We are particularly pleased with the Australian Government’s recognition that climate change is an existential threat including to the security of our islands. We are pleased to learn of Australia’s effort to reduce carbon emissions and increase the share of renewable energy. We islanders over generations know how it is making us strong and it is only through this shared collective efforts as bilateral partners and members of our cherished blue Pacific region that we can tackle the climate crisis and many other pressing challenges of our times."

The Prime Minister said this included COVID-19, the economic and social challenges ahead .

"Today the Foreign Minister reiterated the Australian Government’s commitment towards its bilateral assistance to Tonga. We commend the size on the outreach of the program and look forward to our continued joint efforts to archive our development priorities including education, health, defence, trade, police, and democratic governance."

The Prime Minister said they also looked at a range of renewed and strengthened areas for our partnership.

“This includes the increase of aid out here into the Pacific, the extended opportunities for Tongan workers in Australia and improving trade for supporting our private sector to export their products to Australia,” he said.

He said he had thanked Minister Wong, for her generous assistance of Australia to the implementation of Tonga's planned recovery from the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcanic eruptions.

“Such assistance has underlined Australia’s commitment to the longer term recovery efforts of His Majesties Government, to build back better, and to build a better future."

Pacific family

The Foreign Minister said they went into the election with quite a detailed policy in relation to the Pacific.

She said this includes additional development assistance over and above what had been budgeted for, an additional labour scheme, an additional visa class, and more.

“We also went to the election with a commitment to use some of our existing infrastructure funding for climate resilient infrastructure recognizing that the reality of climate change, the reality of extreme weather events, you know I think this is something Tonga understands, the prevalence of those will increase. So one of the things we can do is work with you on more climate resilient infrastructure,” said the Minister.

“In terms of the security of the region, Australia is very blessed to have a partnership with the Tongan government on these issues, she said.

"We want regional security to be dealt with to be the responsibility of the Pacific family of which we are a part."

The Foreign Minister also reaffirmed that Australia will continue to engage with friends and partners in the region.

"We will respect, and we will encourage others to respect the regional architecture. There is a reason why my first speech and my first visit, I’m sorry it wasn’t to Tonga Prime Minister, but was to Fiji to the Pacific Island Forum, and I did that deliberately to make a clear statement about the centrality of that forum, and the centrality of Pacific architecture to dealing with a world that is more challenging and what I’d say is my side of politics in Australia, we believe we are stronger together, and we will bring that to our foreign policy as well."

The Foreign Minister departed Tonga this afternoon.