Photos by Linny Folau.

Visiting Tonga, Senator Louise Pratt of Western Australia, presented new uniforms to Tonga Police officers at the Police Headquarter in Longlongo today, under a Tonga Police Development Program funded by a Tri-Partite Agreement between Tonga, Australia and New Zealand.

Senator Pratt was a member of a bipartisan delegation who accompanied Hon. Richard Marles MP, the Australian Parliamentary Secretary for Pacific Island Affairs on a one-day visit to Tonga.

The uniforms are no different from the current uniforms, the only new addition is a police cap.

Senator Pratt said the Australian government was very pleased to provide the new uniforms to Tonga Police under the Tri-Partite agreement which represents the spirit of cooperation between Tonga, New Zealand and Australia. 

She said the program had funded the construction of new police stations, the refurbishment of a new Victim Support Unit and provided leadership training.

"It is an important program because it enables Tonga Police to deliver quality services to the people and prevent violence in the community. Uniforms are a part of that important agenda as a symbol of professional pride in your work and authority in the community you serve," she said.

Tonga's Police Commissioner Grant O'Fee thanked the Australian Government for their assistance to the Tonga Police. He said since 2008 Tonga Police had received $5.6 million worth of aid from Australia, with an additional $3 million assistance pledged up to 2016. 

"We have put the assistance into road policing, reconstruction of new buildings, a victim support unit, a professional standard unit with leadership training for police officers," he said.

"This has been a very difficult year for us with the homicide death of New Zealand Police officer Kali Fungavaka who was killed in August leaving five police officers with manslaughter charges. I thank the Australian Federal Police for assisting us from the start," he said.

Fifty new uniforms were presented today.

Visit

Hon. Richard Marles met HM King Tupou VI and Prime Minister Lord Tu'ivakano in Nuku'alofa as a part of his visit to strengthen ties with Pacific Islands.

Accompanying him were Senator Pratt, Bob Baldwin MP for Paterson New South Wales, Ewen Jones MP for Herbert Queensland, Penny Williams the Global Ambassador for Women and Girls, and Saverina Chirumbolo, Mr Marles' advisor.

The delegation arrived in Tonga on December 11 and departed this afternoon for the Solomon Islands and Noumea.