Results for Australia

More than 100 seasonal workers left Tonga on a chartered flight for Australia this afternoon, February 25. Tonga has since last year been sending seasonal workers to Australia, despite the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions and border closures.

Eight hundred and fifteen additional seasonal workers from the Pacific Islands, including Tonga, have been approved to help fill jobs in horticulture and meat processing industries in New South Wales, Australia.

The 162 seasonal workers who left Tonga on Monday for Australia, are spending 14 days in quarantine in a hotel before they are released to work on farms in Tasmania.

Tonga’s navy has received a second guardian class patrol boat, the VOEA Ngahau Siliva, contributed by the Australian Government. Tonga's High Commissioner to Australia Princess Angelika Lātūfuipeka Tuku’aho formally accepted the new vessel at the town of Henderson in Western Australia last Friday 30 October.

New York Times reporting: They used to call it “the tyranny of distance.” Australia’s remoteness was something to escape... until the pandemic. The virus has turned this outgoing nation into a hermit. Australia’s borders are closed, internationally and between several states. Its economy is smaller, and its population growth has fallen to its lowest rate in more than 100 years. Island living looks like a privilege when the world is pestilent. By Damien Cave.

Tonga’s High Commissioner to Australia, Princess Angelika Latufuipeka Tuku’aho is looking for creative artwork or photos and stories that symbolise and celebrate Tonga's 50 years relationship with Australia - and three cash prizes are offered for the top submissions.

Australia has provided immediate financial assistance to Tonga after severe Tropical Cyclone Harold and supoort in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Queensland Tongan Language School was opened in Brisbane, Australia on Saturday 8 February. The school is hosted at Griffith University Logan Campus and offers a 12-month-course in the Tongan language.

The Brisbane Tongan Community have expressed sadness at the passing of the Prime Minister of Tonga, Hon Samuela 'Akilisi Pōhiva in Auckland, New Zealand.