The Pacific Australia Labour Mobility scheme lures workers from Pacific Island Nations and Timor-Leste with promises of opportunity and money. Yet once workers arrive in Australia, they have to face the reality of poor working and living conditions. Tonga is home to one of the largest cohorts of Pacific Islanders who come to work in Australia on PALM visas - equivalent to 9% of the Tongan working age population. The bigger issue with this kind of temporary labour scheme is the impact they have on Pacific economies. The PALM Scheme is large, and it is growing – fast. By Alexia Adhikari
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Results for Pacific Islands
Thursday 14 March 2024
Manuka ACT, Australia
Thursday 14 March 2024
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A new classroom for ‘Ahopanilolo Technical Institute was commissioned yesterday, 13 March 2024, funded by the Japanese government through their Grant Assistance for Grass Roots Human Security Project (GGP).
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Thursday 14 March 2024
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
In a continued effort to strengthen relations between the government of Tonga and China, the Prime Minister Hon. Hu’akavameiliku, held a bilateral meeting with the Deputy Director-General of the Department of North American and Oceania Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China, Mr. Tang Zhiwen, on 13 March, at the Cabinet Chamber, in Nuku'alofa.
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Wednesday 13 March 2024
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Rising star, the Tonga Tala, Tonga’s national netball team aims to push up its no. 8 ranking in the top ten world netball teams, in their international competitions coming up for 2024. Tala Head Coach Jaqua Pori-Makea Simpson, in Tonga this week, said they would keep striving, “I think sixth is a place for Tala to sit at," she said.
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Tuesday 12 March 2024
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A Moana Pasifika marketing team is in Nuku'alofa for a couple of days to begin preparations for launching their first match in Tonga, set to be held at Teufaiva Stadium, on 4 May.
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Tuesday 12 March 2024
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A newly upgraded water supply system for Houma was handed over to the village by the Ambassador of Japan to Tonga, HE Mr Inagaki Hisao last Friday, 8 March 2024.
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Monday 11 March 2024
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Suva, Fiji
A tribute to a renowned Tongan writer and Pacific scholar, the late Epeli Hau’ofa, was held by the Oceania Centre for Arts, Culture and Pacific Studies, at the University of the South Pacific (USP) in Fiji, with the launch of a new book, titled ‘Remembering Epeli Hau’ofa His Life and Legacy’ on 7 March.
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Saturday 9 March 2024
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A tree planting ceremony at the Fale Alea compound in Nuku'alofa on 7 March was initiated by the Speaker of the House, Lord Fakafānua and the Chargé d’Affaires ad interim of the Chinese Embassy, Mr Ruan Dewen. A total of $151,893.62 pa'anga was granted by the Chinese Government to the Legislative Assembly’s Tree Planting Initiative and nurseries in Tonga can apply for grants of up to $10,000 under the program.
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Friday 8 March 2024
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
'Ikale Tahi will have a home advantage when they take on Italy, Spain and Fiji later this year, in three confirmed matches that will be hosted by Tonga at Teufaiva Stadium in Tongatapu.
Friday 8 March 2024
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The Prime Minister Hon. Hu’akavameiliku and members of the Cabinet sought an audience with King Tupou VI at the remote island of Niuafo'ou, yesterday, 7 March, following weeks of uncertainty after the King withdrew his confidence and consent to the appointment of two cabinet ministers, Minister of His Majesty's Armed Forces Hon, Hu'akavameiliku, and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism, Hon. Fekitamoeloa 'Utoikamanu.
Thursday 7 March 2024
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tensions rose in the House this week as members of parliament, expressed their frustrations with the politics of the Prime Minister over his disaccord with the King and other issues, including his handling of the Lulutai Airlines. Their questions boiled over into screaming matches, which ended with two members – one from the Nobles’ table and one from the People’s table, being thrown out of the House and suspended for one and two days.
Thursday 7 March 2024
Auckland, New Zealand
Five players from the Junior Ikale Tahi team have been chosen to play for the Moana Pasifika U20 team, in their next game on 11 March. Meanwhile, the Junior Ikale Tahi finally clinched their first win (33-31) over Moana Pasifika in round three of the challenge at North Harbour Stadium in Auckland yesterday, 6 March.
Wednesday 6 March 2024
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Seven males and two females were arrested on charges related to illicit drugs last week by Tonga Police during multiple police raids at different locations.
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Tuesday 5 March 2024
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
International Women's Day was celebrated in Nuku'alofa today, with a call to ‘Build her skills’ and support women in technology training, by women from across government ministries, NGOs, the private sector and community with an event held in the Nuku'alofa CBD, hosted by the Women's Affairs and Gender Equality Division of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
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Tuesday 5 March 2024
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Discussing collaboration on mutual interests in deep sea mining, the Prime Minister Hon. Hu’akavameiliku held a bilateral meeting with the President of the Republic of Nauru HE David Adeang on 1 March 2024.
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Tuesday 5 March 2024
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Awarded the title of ‘Best Vanilla Farmer’, Inoke Maama who was a previous winner, received awards for the Best Quality 1kg Vanilla Beans and the Longest Mature Bean, in a Vanilla Awards event held last week in Neiafu, Vava’u.
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Monday 4 March 2024
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New York, USA
The Government of Tonga formally established diplomatic relations with the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, with the signing of a joint communiqué by the Permanent Representative of Tonga to the United Nations, Viliami Va’inga Tone and Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Nepal to the United Nations, Lok Bahadur Thapa in a brief ceremony held on 1 March, 2024, at the Permanent Mission of Nepal, in New York.
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Monday 4 March 2024
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
BSPTonga, Bank of South Pacific Tonga Limited today, Monday 4 March, 2024, announced a Net Profit after Tax of T$14.7 million for the financial year ending 31 December, 2023.
Monday 4 March 2024
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Manila, Philippines
There is a need for Western Pacific countries to maintain high coverage of measles vaccination and to increase surveillance of cases at international borders, the WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific, Dr. Saia Ma’u Piukala urged, citing a 255% increase of measles cases from 2022 to 2023 in Western Pacific countries. Measles is one of the most infectious diseases on earth, spreading easily when an infected person breathes, coughs or sneezes.
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Sunday 3 March 2024
Nomuka, Tonga
The Tonga Constitution does not prohibit the King from expressing and withdrawing his "consent and confidence"... it's a free speech privilege of everyone. Instead of rejecting or disagreeing with the letter and taking the issue to Court, the Prime Minister and Cabinet should consider whether holding a ministerial position without the King's "consent and confidence" is constitutional. - Seni Penitani.
