The newly appointed High Commissioner of Australia to Tonga, HE Mr. Brek Batley, paid his first courtesy call on the Prime Minister Hon. Hu’akavameiliku, 9 May, at Prime Minister's Office, Nuku'alofa.

PM's office reported that the diplomatic ties, longstanding partnership, and cordial relations between the Heads of State, Governments, and Peoples of Australia and the Kingdom of Tonga were re-affirmed.

"As a key bilateral partner, the Tonga Government acknowledges with appreciation the support from the Australian Government of more than $55 million Australian dollars over the last several years. It has definitively enabled the Government of Tonga to deliver on its priorities in health security, stability, and economic recovery," the PM's office stated.

Australia supports Tonga through a number of vital projects such as the construction of a new Tonga Parliament House, sustaining the Tonga Police Development Programme, co-financing the Nuku’alofa Network Upgrade Project, and assisting with projects on climate change, renewable energy, and aviation.