Australia commits $1.9 billion to Pacific [1]
Thursday, May 11, 2023 - 23:10. Updated on Friday, May 12, 2023 - 14:25.
Around $1.9 billion dollars has been committed over the next five-years to the Pacific, including Tonga, by the Australian Government.
This is in response to the priorities that Australian Prime Minister Albanese and Foreign Minister Wong have heard on their visits to the Pacific, including Minister Wong’s visit to Tonga in June 2022.
High Commissioner Moore on 10 May in Nuku'alofa said that Australia values our bilateral relationship and the connections between our people.
“We will continue to work with Tonga on our shared prosperity and resilience to future challenges.
“Building on our longstanding contributions to regional stability, Australia is deepening connections between our people and enhancing cooperation across labour mobility, maritime security, policing, responding to and preparing for humanitarian disasters, media and sport.
“Australia will also continue to work with the Government and people of Tonga to deliver investments in economic recovery, health, education, climate resilience and infrastructure.
“Australia is further expanding and improving the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme to maximise its economic contributions to Pacific economies. This includes:
- expanding the scheme beyond the current 35,000 workers, in line with Pacific aspirations and the needs of Australian businesses;
- strengthening conditions and better supporting workers;
- providing access to Medicare for an initial 200 families in the government’s family accompaniment pilot;
- embedding skills development through training; and
- supporting workers to access superannuation savings when they return home.
“We are proud to be increasing access to Australian media content and boosting media connections in the region, improving visa service delivery, and continuing our sport engagement. We are also boosting our contribution to meeting Pacific security priorities to support the Pacific family first approach to security agreed by Pacific Islands Forum Leaders in July 2022, and the peace and security commitments under the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent. Australia will bolster its investment in Pacific regional architecture, including the Pacific Islands Forum, to further support the Pacific family.”
Australia is committed to continuing to work with Tonga towards our shared vision for a peaceful, prosperous and resilient Pacific.