Australian Minister updates
For the latest news from the Australian Prime Minister and Portfolio ministers:
- Prime Minister of Australia, the Hon. Anthony Albanese MP
- Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator the Hon. Penny Wong
Australian High Commission media
For more information on a press release, please contact [email protected].
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Joint Media Release
Australia provides additional TOP7.8 million for health service upgrades
Nuku'alofa, 12 June 2025
Australia is boosting its support for a healthy Tonga with additional budget support of TOP7.8 million (AUD5 million) to help upgrade health clinics across the Kingdom.
The new funding was agreed today at the Mu’a Health Centre between Tonga’s Prime Minister, the Hon Dr ‘Aisake Valu Eke and Australia’s High Commissioner to Tonga, His Excellency Mr Brek Batley, in the presence of the Minister for Health, Hon Dr ‘Ana ‘Akau’ola.
Prime Minister Eke thanked Australia for its financial assistance and ongoing health partnership.
“As Tonga finalises its budget for the year ahead, these funds will make a real difference in reducing deficits and strengthening health services for all Tongans.”
“By again injecting budget support, Australia continues to support our national priorities and systems, a true reflection of a close partnership grounded in kaungame’a falala’anga.”
High Commissioner Batley said that the funding reaffirmed Australia’s commitment as Tonga’s number one health partner.
“Health is at the heart of Australia’s development partnership with Tonga, because health is central to community wellbeing and economic prosperity. This new funding will continue to ensure everyone who needs healthcare can access it, across all islands of Tonga.”
“We continue to listen to Tonga’s priorities and act as a responsive development partner. This new funding was pledged by Australia’s Foreign Minister, Senator the Hon Penny Wong just 21 days ago during her visit to Tonga. And I am proud to deliver on that commitment today.”
The funding complements Australia's extensive existing support for health in Tonga through its twenty-year health systems strengthening program. The funding is also in addition to the four-year TOP133 million (AUD85 million) budget support commitment announced by Australia and Tonga in March 2025 to support a stronger economy and national budget.
Translation
Kuo toe fakalahi mai ‘e ‘Aositelēlia ‘enau tokoni ki ha Tonga moʻui lelei ‘aki hono tānaki mai ‘a e tokoni fakapatiseti feʻunga hono mahuʻinga¢ mo e paʻanga ‘e 7.8 million (AUD5 miliona) ke tokoni ki hono fakaleleiʻi e ngaahi kiliniki moʻui lelei ‘i he fonua¢.
Ko e tokoni fakapaʻanga foʻou¢ ni naʻe fakamoʻoni ki ai ‘i he ‘aho¢ ni ‘i he Senitā Moʻui ‘i Muʻa¢ ‘i he vahaʻa ‘o e ‘Eiki Palēmia ‘o Tonga¢, Toketā ‘Aisake Valu Eke mo e ‘Eiki Talafekau Lahi ‘a ‘Aositelēlia ki Tonga¢ ni, HE Brek Batley, ‘a ia ne meʻa ai mo e ‘Eiki Minisitā Moʻui¢, Toketā ‘Ana ‘Akauʻola.
Naʻe fakamālōʻia ‘e ‘Eiki Palēmia Eke ‘a ‘Aositelēlia ki heʻenau tokoni fakapaʻanga¢ ni mo e hokohoko atu ‘a e fengāueʻaki ‘i he tafaʻaki ki he moʻui lelei¢.
“ʻI he fakamāʻopo’opo atu ‘e Tonga ‘enau patiseti ki he taʻu fakapaʻanga ka hoko mai¢, ‘e tokoni lahi eni ki hono fakasiʻisiʻi ‘a e feʻamokaki¢ mo fakamālohia ‘a e ngaahi sēvesi ki he moʻui lelei ‘a e Tonga kotoa.”
“ʻI hono toe ‘omi ‘a e tokoni fakapatiseti ko eni¢, ‘oku hokohoko atu ai pē ‘a e poupou ‘a ‘Aositelēlia ki he ngaahi kaveinga mahuʻinga fakafonua¢ mo e ngaahi faʻunga ngāue, ‘a ia ‘oku hoʻata mai mei ai ‘a e vāofi ‘a e fengāueʻaki ‘a ia ‘oku uho ‘i he kaungāmeʻa falalaʻanga.”
Naʻe meʻa ‘a Talafekau Lahi Batley ‘o pehē ko e tokoni fakapaʻanga¢ ni ‘oku ne toe fakapapauʻi ‘a e hoko ‘a ‘Aositelēlia ko e hoa ngāue fika ‘uluaki ‘a Tonga¢ ni.
“Ko e moʻui lelei¢ ‘a e uho ‘o e fengāueʻaki ‘a ‘Aositelēlia mo Tonga¢ ni, koeʻuhi ko e moʻui lelei¢ ‘oku tafe mei ai ‘a e moʻui lelei ‘a e kominiutii¢ mo e tuʻuloa ‘a e fakalakalaka fakaʻekonōmika¢. ‘E hoko ‘a e tokoni fakapaʻanga foʻou¢ ni ke hokohoko atu ai hono fakapapauʻi ko e tokotaha kotoa pē te ne fiemaʻu ha tokoni fakamoʻui lelei, te nau lava pē ‘o maʻu ia ‘i he kotoa pē ‘o e ngaahi tukui motu ‘o Tonga¢ ni.”
“ʻOku hokohoko ‘emau fanongo ki he ngaahi kaveinga mahuʻinga ‘a Tonga¢ ni mo tali ‘a e ngaahi fiemaʻu¢ ‘i homau fatongia ko e hoa ngāue fakalakalaka. Ko e tokoni ko eni¢ ko e tukupā ia ‘a e Minisitā Kimuli ‘a ‘Aositelēlia¢, ‘Eiki Senatoa Penny Wong ‘i he ‘aho ‘e 21 kuohili¢ lolotonga ‘ene meʻa ‘aʻahi mai ki Tonga¢ ni. Pea ‘oku ou fiefia lahi ke fakahoko atu ‘a e tukupā ko ia¢ ‘i he ‘aho¢ni.”
Ko e tokoni ko eni¢ ‘oku ōua ia mo e ngaahi tokoni lolotonga ‘a ‘Aositelēlia ki he tafaʻaki ‘o e moʻui¢ ‘i Tonga¢ ni ‘o fakafou ‘i heʻenau polokalama tokoni taʻu ‘e uanoa ‘i he polokalama tokoni ki hono fakaivia ‘a e faʻunga ngāue ‘i he moʻui¢. Ko e tānaki atu eni mo e tokoni fakapaʻanga¢ ni ki he tokoni taʻu ‘e fā feʻunga mo e paʻanga ‘e 133 miliona (AUD85 miliona) ki he tokoni fakapatiseti ‘a ia naʻe fakahoko mai ‘e ‘Aositelēlia mo Tonga ‘i Mā’asi 2025¢ ke tokoni ki hono fakaivia ‘a e ‘ekonōmika¢ mo e patiseti fakafonua¢.
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Op-ed - Australian Foreign Minister, Senator the Hon. Penny Wong
Australia is a partner the Pacific can count on
Wedneday 28 June
What a pleasure it was to be back in Tonga last week, meeting with His Royal Highness the Crown Prince Tupouto’a ‘Ulukalala and Prime Minister Eke and to see the strength, pride and talents of Tonga on full display.
Three years ago, I promised Australia would listen, learn and deliver on Pacific priorities.
That is what we have done, and I am inspired by what we as a region have accomplished together – hand in hand with the Pacific family, because we share an ocean and a future.
That future is becoming more uncertain, the Pacific is facing growing challenges, from climate change, cuts to global aid and rules under strain.
None of us can solve these problems on our own. We are counting on each other to support the prosperity and aspirations of all the people who make up this great Pacific family.
In the face of global aid cuts, we have reprioritised our development assistance to dedicate 75 cents of every Australian development dollar to support our region. We have built on our position as the region’s largest development partner by lifting our development assistance to record levels, to more than $2.1 billion to the Pacific.
We have partnered to better integrate our economies, making it easier for people to move between countries to live, work and study, and for business and tourism, creating more opportunities for Pacific islanders looking for jobs and economic options.
We will continue to help goods and services move across the Pacific and beyond by investing in aviation, seaports and road infrastructure and banking – just as we are doing in Tonga.
We will continue to be your reliable partner and respond to Pacific priorities, delivering on quality infrastructure, skills, banking and budget support. That’s why, during my visit to Tonga, I made three announcements in line with these commitments.
I announced AUD50 million for the next phase of the Tonga-Australia Support Platform and Tonga Health Systems Support Program to deliver stronger public governance, better health services, more vocational training and greater disability inclusion and gender equality across Tonga.
An additional $5 million in budget support to Tonga, which I understand Tonga’s government will use to upgrade health clinics across Tonga’s Islands.
Finally, we committed an additional $1 million over two years to increase the number of small community grants to support local leadership and community priorities.
Genuine partnership in trade matters – 40 years of tariff-free access into Australia has helped contribute to the prosperity of the Pacific. And that will not change.
Together we have built a stronger Pacific family - working with Pacific institutions on Pacific-led solutions, partnering in new Pacific-led policing, disaster preparedness and defence arrangements, enabling Pacific security to be provided by the Pacific family, assuring our stability and safeguarding our sovereignty.
We will continue to invest in locally-led solutions to security challenges such as health and community safety, cyber-crime, corruption and maritime security.
Nowhere has this been more important than on climate change. To protect the great ocean that we all call home, Australia has enacted our commitments to reduce our country’s own carbon emissions, as we said we would. Australia will advocate with you to hold the world’s largest emitters to account.
We are on track to deliver $3 billion in climate finance by this year and we are backing Pacific climate solutions by investing in the Pacific Resilience Facility, a Pacific-led and Pacific-owned facility to deliver climate finance directly to communities.
We know that none of our nations can achieve the future we want on our own. We are stronger together. That’s why we have worked closely with our regional counterparts to help the Pacific family stay united, and will continue to be your reliable partner, working in the Pacific way to support a peaceful, stable and prosperous region.
Thank you to the people and Government of Tonga for your warm welcome and for sharing your beautiful culture – the brass band music and Tupou boys’ singing was impressive and will stay in our hearts. Our trusted partnership, our kaungāme’a falala’angá, stands out as a regional story of embracing history, sovereignty respect, and opportunity.
Translation
Naʻe fakafiefia ‘eku toe foki ki Tonga he uike kuoʻosi¢, ‘o fakataha ai mo e Tama Pilinisi Kalauni¢ Tupoutoʻa ‘Ulukalala mo e ‘Eiki Palēmia¢ ‘Aisake Eke ‘o vakai ki he hāsino mai e kaukaua, mālohinga mo e ngaahi talēniti ‘o e kakai Tonga¢.
‘I he taʻu ‘e tolu kuoʻosi¢, naʻa ku palōmesi ai ki ‘Aositelēlia teu fanongo, ako pea teu fakahoko ‘a e ngaahi ngāue ‘o fakatatau ki he ngaahi kaveinga ngāue mahuʻinga ‘a e Pasifiki¢.
Pea ko e ngāue ia kuo mau fai¢, pea ‘oku hoko ko e fakalotolahi kiate au ‘i he vakai ki he ngaahi ngāue kuo tau lavaʻi fakataha¢– ‘i he fetakinima mo e fāmili ‘i he Pasifiki¢, koeʻuhi ‘oku tau vahevahe ‘a e ‘ōseni¢ mo e kahaʻu¢.
Ka ko e kahaʻu ko ia¢ ‘oku tuʻu taʻepau, he ‘oku fekuki ‘a e Pasifiki¢ mo e ngaahi pole lalahi, kau ki ai ‘a e feliuliuaki ‘a e ‘ea¢, fakasiʻisiʻi mai e ngaahi tokoni fakapaʻanga fakamāmanilahi mo e fehuʻia ‘a e tūkunga ‘o e ngaahi tuʻutuʻuni ngāue¢.
Heʻikai te tau lava ‘e kitautolu ‘o veteki fakafoʻituitui ‘a e ngaahi palopalema¢ ni. ‘Oku fai leva ‘a e fefalalaʻaki ke poupou ki he tupulaki mo e ngaahi fakaʻamu hotau kakai¢ ‘a ia ‘oku nau kau ki he fāmili ‘o e Pasifiki¢.
‘I he vakai ki hono fakasiʻisiʻi fakamāmanilahi mai ‘a e ngaahi tokoni fakapaʻanga¢, kuo pau leva ke mau fakamahuʻingaʻi ‘emau tokoni fakalakalaka¢ ‘aki ‘a e seniti ‘e 75 mei¢ he tola ‘Aositelēlia kotoa pē ‘oku tokoni mo poupou ki he fakalakalaka hotau feituʻu Pasifiki¢. Kuo mau hokohoko langa ngāue ‘i homau tuʻunga ko e hoa ngāue fakalakalaka lahi taha¢ ‘aki ‘emau hiki hake ‘emau tokoni fakalakalaka¢ ki he lēkooti foʻou, ‘o laka hake ‘i he $2.1 piliona ki he Pasifiki¢.
‘Oku tau ngāue fakataha ai ke toe lelei ange e fengāueʻaki fakalakalaka fakaʻekonōmika hotau ongo fonua¢, ke faingofua ai e fefolauʻaki e kakai¢ ‘i hotau ongo fonua¢ he kumi moʻui, ngāue mo ako, pea ki he fakahoko pisinisi mo e takimamata, ‘o lava heni ke toe lahiange ai ‘a e ngaahi faingamālie maʻae kakai ‘o e Pasifiki¢ ki heʻenau kumi ngāue¢ mo e vakai ki ha ngaahi fili fakaʻekonomika makehe.
‘E hokohoko atu ‘emau tokoni ki hono feʻaveaki e ngaahi koloa¢ mo e sēvesi ‘i he Pasifiki¢ pea ope atu ‘aki ‘emau ‘inivesi ‘i he fefolauʻaki vakapuna¢, ngaahi taulanga¢ mo e ngaahi ngāue ki he hala puleʻanga¢ mo e pangikee¢.
‘E hokohoko atu ‘emau hoko ko e hoa ngāue falalaʻanga mo fakaongo ki he ngaahi kaveinga mahuʻinga ‘i he Pasifiki¢, ke ‘omi e poupou lelei ki he tafaʻaki ki he ngaahi ngāue lalahi¢, ngāue ‘a e kakai¢, ngāue fakapangikē mo e tokoni fakapatiseti. Ko e ʻuhinga eni, ʻi he ʻaʻahi mai ko eni ki Tonga¢ ni, naʻe tuku atu ai ʻa e fanongonongo ʻe tolu ʻo hōhoa tatau mo ʻemau ngaahi tukupaa¢.
Naʻa ku fakaongo atu ai ‘a e tokoni AUD50 miliona ki he hoko atu ‘a e Polokalama Tonga-Australia Support Platform (TASP) mo e Tonga Health Systems Support Program (THSSP) ke toe fakaivia e ngaahi ngāue ki he pule lelei¢, ngaahi sēvesi ki he moʻui lelei¢, ngaahi ako maʻolunga ange mo e kau kātoa maʻae kakai faingatāʻia¢ mo e potupotu tatau e ngaahi faingamālie maʻae tangata mo e fefine¢ ‘i Tonga¢ ni.
Naʻe toe tānaki atu mo e $5 miliona ki he tokoni fakapatiseti ki Tonga¢ ni, ‘a ia ‘oku mahino kiate au ‘e ngaueʻaki ‘e he pule’anga Tonga¢ ki hono fakalelei ‘a e ngaahi kiliniki he ngaahi ‘otu motu kotoa ‘o Tonga¢ ni.
Ko hono aofangatuku¢, ko e tukupā atu ‘a e $1 miliona ‘i he taʻu ‘e ua ka hoko¢ ke fakalahi e ngaahi sino paʻanga tokoni ki he ngaahi tukui kolo¢ ke poupou ki he kau taki¢ mo e ngaahi kaveinga mahuʻinga ‘a e kominiutii¢.
Hoa ngāue falalaʻanga ‘i he ngaahi kaveinga fefakatauʻaki¢ – Kuo taʻu ‘e 40 eni ‘a e ‘ikai tukuhau e hū koloa atu ki ‘Aositelēlia¢ ke tokoni ki he tupulaki ‘a e Pasifiki¢. Pea heʻikai liliu eni.
‘I heʻetau kau fakataha¢ kuo tau fatu ai ha fāmili Pasifiki kaukaua – ‘o ngāue mo e ngaahi kautaha Pasifiki ki he ngaahi solovaʻanga ‘oku tataki fakaPasifiki, pea ngāue fakataha ki hono fatu e ngaahi tuʻutuʻuni ngāue ‘oku tataki fakaPasifiki, ‘i he mateuteu ki he ngaahi fakatamaki fakaenatula¢ mo e ngāue fakakautau¢, ‘o malava ai ke fengāueʻaki e fāmili Pasifiki¢ ki he malu e nofo¢, ‘o lava ke maʻumaʻuluta ange ai mo maluʻi ‘etau tauʻatāina¢.
‘E hokohoko atu ‘emau ‘inivesi ‘i he ngaahi solovaʻanga fakalotofonua ki he ngaahi pole ki he malu e nofo¢ hangē ko e moʻui¢ mo e nofo e ngaahi tukui kolo¢, ngaahi hia ‘i hono ngaueʻaki ‘a e ‘initaneti¢, ngāue halaʻaki e mafai¢ mo e malu hotau potu tahi¢.
‘Oku ‘ikai ha toe tafaʻaki ‘e toe mahuʻinga ange ai eni ka ko e feliuliuaki e ‘ea¢. Ke maluʻi ‘a e ‘ōseni ko eni ‘oku tau ui ko hotau ‘api, ‘o toe fakaivia ai ‘e ‘Aositelēlia ‘emau ngaahi tukupā ki hono fakasiʻisiʻi hono tukuange ‘a e ngaahi kasa kona ki he ‘ea¢, ‘o hangē pe ko ‘emau tukupā ke fakahoko¢. ‘E taukapo ‘a ‘Aositelēlia mo kimoutolu ke mahino ki he ngaahi fonua lalahi ‘oku lahi ‘enau tukuange ‘a e kasa kona ki he ‘ea¢ ‘a e mafatukituki ‘o e kaveinga¢ ni.
‘Oku mau fononga atu eni ki hono tuku atu ‘a e $3 piliona he taʻu¢ ni ki he fakapaʻanga e ngāue ki he feliuliuaki e ‘ea¢ pea ‘oku mau poupou ki he ngaahi solovaʻanga ‘a e Pasifiki¢ ki he ngāue¢ ni ‘aki ‘emau ‘inivesi ki he Kautaha Matuʻuaki ‘a e Pasifiki¢ (PRF), ‘a ia ‘oku taki ‘e he Pasifiki¢ pea fakalele ‘e he Pasifiki¢ ke fakahoko e ngāue ki hono fakapaʻanga fakahangatonu ‘a e ngaahi ngāue ki he feliuliuaki e ‘ea¢ maʻae ngaahi komuinitii¢.
‘Oku mau laveʻi heʻikai lava ‘e ha fonua ‘o tuʻu tokotaha ke aʻusia ‘a e kahaʻu ‘oku tau fiemaʻu¢. ‘Oku tau kaukaua ange ‘i heʻetau tuʻu fakataha¢. Ko e ‘uhinga ia ‘oku mau ngāue vāofi ai mo hotau ngaahi kupu fekauʻaki fakafeituʻu¢ ke tokoni ke faaitaha ‘etau fāmili Pasifiki¢, pea ‘e hokohoko atu ‘emau hoko ko e hoa ngāue falalaʻanga, ‘o ngāue ‘i he founga fakaPasifiki¢ ke poupou ki he feituʻu ‘oku melino, maʻumaʻuluta pea koloaʻia.
Fakamālō atu ki he kakai mo e puleʻanga ‘o Tonga¢ ‘i hoʻomou talitali māfana mo vahevahe mai hoʻomou ‘ulungaanga fakafonua¢ - naʻe mālie ‘aupito ‘a e ifi palasa¢ mo e hiva ‘a e fānau ako Toloa¢ pea ‘e toka fuoloa ia ‘i homau mafu¢. Ko ‘etau fengāueʻaki falalaʻanga¢, ‘a ‘etau kaungāmeʻa falalaʻangá, ‘oku hulu atu ia ko e talanoa fisifisimuʻa ki hotau feituʻu Pasifiki¢ ki hono tali ‘etau hisitōlia¢, fakaʻapaʻapaʻi e tauʻatāina¢, mo e ngaahi faingamālie¢.
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Joint Media Release
Tonga secures major Australian development financing
Nuku’alofa, 26 March 2025
Australia and Tonga have agreed to an AUD85 million (TOP125 million) budget support program over the next four years to support a stronger economy and national budget.
This is the largest investment in our partnership’s history. It builds on closer ties developed over recent years and is timely after last week’s National Development Summit. It helps answer the call for accelerated action to support Tonga’s development ambitions.
Prime Minister Dr ‘Aisake Valu Eke acknowledged Tonga’s strong and growing bilateral relationship with Australia.
“This new support is delivering the ambition we have for our relationship in the spirit of kaungame’a falala’anga. It’s helping us to provide services and more opportunities to all Tongans across all islands, as well as implement reforms that will improve the efficiency of our public administration.”
“Budget support allows us to be in the driver’s seat and maintain our sovereignty as we navigate a path towards economic resilience.”
This announcement reflects the strategic trust in the bilateral partnership, including a shared commitment to Pacific-led approaches to regional prosperity and stability.
Australia’s High Commissioner to Tonga, His Excellency Brek Batley said that “Australia recognises that Tonga is on a difficult path to recover fully from the economic shocks of recent disasters while also managing significant debt repayments until 2029.”
“Our assistance will directly support Tonga’s leadership and national priorities. It reflects our partnership founded on mutual respect and a shared outlook on our region’s security.”
Funds will be provided on the basis of performance against jointly determined policy reform priorities, including those identified in the Joint Policy Reform Matrix between the Tongan Government and development partners. It will support and be based on continued prudent fiscal management by the Government of Tonga.
This funding builds on Australian direct financing to the Government of Tonga of more than AUD142 million since 2020 to stabilise the budget and support the Government to deliver new initiatives such as social infrastructure upgrades and renewable energy access. It is in addition to Australia’s annual development budget to Tonga.
Translation
Kuo felotoi ‘a e ongo Pule’anga ‘o Tonga pea mo ‘Aositēleliá ki ha tokoni ‘oku fe’unga mo e TOP125 miliona (AUD85 miliona) ke ngāue’aki ‘i he ta’u ‘e 4 ka hokó ki hono fakamālohia ‘a e tu’unga faka‘ekonōmiká mo e patiseti fakafonuá.
Ko e tokoni lahi taha ‘eni ‘i he hisitolia ‘a e va fengaue’aki ‘a e ongo Pule’anga. Ko e ngāué ni ‘oku fakatefito ia ‘i he vā fengāue’aki vāofi ne tanumaki mai mei he ngaahi ta’u kimu’á pea ‘oku taimi fe’unga mo lelei hili ‘a e Fakataha Fakafonua ki he Fakalakalaká ne fakahoko ‘i he uike kuo’osí. ‘Oku ne tokoni ki hono tali ‘a e ui ke fakavavevave ‘a e ngāué ke fai poupoua ‘a e ngaahi taumu’a fakalakalaka ‘a Tongá.
Na’e fakamālo’ia ‘e he ‘Eiki Palēmia ‘o Tongá, Dr. ‘Aisake Valu Eke ‘a e kaukaua mo e tupulaki ‘a e vā fengāue’aki mo ‘Aositēleliá.
“Ko e tokoni fo’ou ko ení tene fakahoko ‘a e faka’amu ki he’etau fengāue’aki ‘i he laumalie ‘o e kaungāme’a falala’angá. ‘Oku tokoni eni kiate kimautolu ‘i hono fakahoko ‘a e ngāué pea fakalahi mo e ngaahi faingamalie ki he Tonga kotoa pē ‘i he ‘otu Tongá, kau ki ai mo hono fakahoko ha ngaahi fakalelei ke fakalakalaka mo ola leleiange homau ngaahi fatongia ki he kakaí.”
“’Oku ‘omai ‘e he tokoni ki he patisetí ‘a e faingamalie ke mau ‘i he fohe ai ‘o pukepuke ‘a e tu’unga tau’ataina ‘i he folau ‘oku tau faí ki ha tu’unga faka’ekonōmika ‘oku tu’uloa.”
‘Oku fakaha mei he fanongonongo ko eni ‘a e falala fakapotopoto ki he fengaue’aki fakavaha’apule’anga, kau ai ‘a e tukupā ke tau muimui ki he ngaahi founga ngāue ‘oku tataki ‘e he Pasifikí ke a’usia ha vahefonua ‘oku mahu mo ma’uma’uluta ange ‘a e nofo.
Na’e pehē ‘e he Talafekau Lahi ‘a ‘Aositelēlia ki Tongá, His Excellency Brek Batley, “‘oku fakatokanga’i ‘e ‘Aositelēlia ‘a e hala fononga faingata’a ‘oku fou ai ‘a Tonga ke fakaakeake kakato mei he ngaahi fakatu’utāmaki faka’ekonōmika ‘o e ngaahi fakatamaki ne toki hokó, ‘i he taimi tatau ‘oku ‘i ai ‘a e ngaahi mo’ua lalahi ‘oku fiema’u ke totongi ki he 2029.”
“Ko ‘emau tokoní ke poupou fakahangatonu ki he fatongia fakataki ‘a Tonga mo ‘ene ngaahi kaveinga ngāue fakafonua mahu’ingá. ‘Oku ho’ata mei heni ‘a e vā fengāue’aki na’e makatu’unga ‘i he faka’apa’apa mo e vahevahe ‘o e ngaahi fakakaukau tatau ki he malu hotau vahefonuá ‘i he kaha’ú.”
‘E tuku atu ‘a e tokoni fakapa’anga ko ení ‘o fakatatau ki hono leva’i ‘o e ngaahi ngaue kuo felotoi ki ai ‘a e ongo Pule’angá, kau ki ai ‘a e ngaahi ngāue ‘oku hā ‘i he Ngaahi Tu’utu’uni Ngāue kuo felotoi ke fakalelei’i ‘i he vaha’a ‘o e Pule’anga Tongá pea mo hono ngaahi hoa ngāué. ‘E poupou mo fakatefito eni ‘i he hokohoko atu hono pule’i fakapotopoto ‘e he Pule’anga Tongá hono ngāue’aki ‘o e pa’angá.
Ko e pa’anga ko ení ne fatu ia mei hono fakapa’anga fakahangatonu ‘e he Pule’anga ‘Aositelēliá ‘a e Pule’anga Tongá talu mei he ta’u 2020, ‘a ia ‘oku laka hake hono mahu’inga ‘i he pa’anga AUD 142 miliona, ke fakapalanisi ‘a e patiseti fakafonuá mo poupou ki hono fakahoko ‘e he Pule’anga Tongá ‘e ne ngaahi palani ngāue fo’ou hangē ko hono fakalelei’i ‘a e ngaahi langa lalahi fakasosiale mo hono ngāue’aki ‘o e ngaahi ma’u’anga ivi fakafo’oú. Ko e fakalahi atu eni ki he patiseti fakalakalaka fakata’u ‘a ‘Aositelēlia ki Tonga ní.
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Media Release
Breaking ground and barriers: Tongan women build more than a port
Nuku'alofa, 8 March 2025
This International Women’s Day, Australia is proud to stand with Tongan women who are quite literally breaking new ground,
Through the Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific (AIFFP), Australia is supporting the Upgrading Tonga’s international port project, a major investment to strengthen the Queen Salote International Wharf (QSIW).
Australia, through the AIFFP, together with the Asian Development Bank and the Government of Tonga, is delivering AUD138.3 million in upgrades to strengthen Tonga’s primary port in Nuku’alofa. This investment includes an AUD31.25 million AIFFP grant aimed at bolstering climate resilience, economic growth and sustainability.
But beyond better trade and transport, this project is giving more women the chance to step into the construction industry and prove that skill and hard work have no gender.
For decades, construction in Tonga was a male-dominated field. That’s changing. Women like ‘Ofa Halatanu and Susana Fihaki are now working as engineers, leading teams and shaping the country’s future.
‘Ofa Halatanu, a site engineer with AIFFP partner McConnell Dowell, says seeing more women on-site is something she never expected.
“When I started, I was one of the only woman in my field. Now, we have women in every part of construction—engineering, carpentry, concrete testing. It’s not just about getting the job done; it’s about showing young girls in Tonga that they can be here too,” she said.
For Susana Fihaki, construction was a dream she didn’t think she could follow.
“I was a nurse because that was what women were supposed to do,” she said. “But I loved building things. I studied architecture at night, and when I finally got the chance to work on this project, I took it. At first, it was strange telling men what to do on-site, but now I know I belong here,” she added.
They’re not alone. Their colleagues Lesieli Fatongiatau and ‘Asinate Tekina ki Fatumanongi ‘Ohuafi are taking on key roles in quality control at the project’s concrete factory. They’ve been trained to meet New Zealand’s standards for testing concrete, aggregates and soils—ensuring the materials used in this upgrade are strong, safe and built to last.
“This work matters,” said Lesieli. “Every mix, every test—it all adds up to something bigger. This isn’t just about today; it’s about building a future where women can do any job they want.”
Australia’s High Commissioner to Tonga, His Excellency Brek Batley, says the investment isn’t just about infrastructure, but opportunity.
“The Australian Government is committed to investing in skills, jobs and better infrastructure across the Pacific. It’s incredible to see so many women stepping into roles they might not have had access to. Projects like this create lasting change—not just in ports, but in communities and workplaces.”
Australia’s investment is making the port safer, more efficient and more resilient to natural disasters, as well as changing the workforce, as Tongan women prove construction isn’t just for men.
They are laying the foundation for something bigger—equal opportunities, better futures and a workforce in which women and men work side by side to build their country’s future.
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Joint Media Release
Tonga-Australia High-Level Consultations
Nuku’alofa, 11 February 2025
The governments of Tonga and Australia reaffirmed their deep and enduring partnership at the 2025 High-Level Consultations in Nuku’alofa on 11 February.
During the meeting, both governments agreed to strengthen cooperation in economic resilience, climate change, labour mobility, health and collective security, particularly cyber security and transnational crime, for the benefit of all Tongans across the Kingdom.
Both countries agreed to elevate the bilateral partnership in the spirit of kaungame’a falala’anga including through a new partnership arrangement.
Tonga reaffirmed its support for a Pacific COP31 and Australia confirmed its ongoing support to Tonga’s establishment of the Pacific Resilience Facility. Australia acknowledged Tonga’s regional leadership as part of the Pacific Policing Initiative.
Both sides discussed travel and migration, including opportunities under the new Pacific Engagement Visa. Australia’s support on multiple infrastructure, agriculture and trade projects was also discussed, to ensure continued alignment with the Tongan Government’s economic priorities.
Mr Paula Pouvalu Ma’u, Chief Secretary & Secretary to Cabinet co-chaired the talks involving dozens of officials across most Tongan Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies.
“Our partnership is genuine and respectful, grounded in people-centred development. We share respect for democracy, sovereignty, and rules of law; these shared values bind our partnership.”
“We are proud to host these talks just fourteen days into the new government,” said Mr Ma’u.
Ms Elizabeth Peak, Head of the Office of the Pacific, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade co-chaired the talks for Australia, during her fourth visit to the Kingdom.
“Our two countries hold enduring people-to-people links, nurtured through institutional, educational, cultural, church and sporting relationships and growing diaspora connections.”
“We look back with pride and look forward with enthusiasm. We have ambition for our relationship. Together we will stand together and face the significant challenges of our time including climate change, strategic competition and economic uncertainty,” said Ms Peak.
Regular and open talanoa is the foundation of the Tonga-Australia relationship. It ensures both countries understand each other’s priorities, navigate shared challenges and embrace new opportunities.
The next High-Level Consultations are expected to be hosted in Australia in 2026.
For more information, please reach out to: [email protected] or [email protected].
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Media Release
Australia Day 2025 – A Sea of Connections
Nuku'alofa January 26
This Australia Day we celebrate our nation’s history and bright future, as well as the enduring partnership between Australia and the Kingdom of Tonga.
We have chosen a theme of a "Sea of Connections," reflecting the deep bonds between our communities, businesses, institutions, churches, and governments. For over 150 years, we’ve supported each other and shared our culture and knowledge. Our partnership is growing from strength to strength.
The love for our shared Blue Pacific ocean is also a special connection between our two countries, and the other 16 members of the Pacific Islands Forum. It’s a permanent geographical bond that brings us together, with links growing including in areas like sports, trade, maritime security, environmental issues, and health.
There are over 400,000 Pacific Islanders who call Australia home, including 43,000 proud Tongan-Australians. We thank you for being such an important part of our diverse nation.
As we mark Australia Day, we also reflect on Australia’s history. We respect and celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ continuous culture of over 65,000 years, the oldest in the world. We are pleased to share the eye-catching ‘Evolution: Torres Strait Masks’ exhibition (from the Gab Titui Cultural Centre and National Museum of Australia), which will be displayed in Tonga. It depicts the rich tradition of Mask Making among Torres Strait Islanders. The High Commission will arrange the exhibition in public spaces in coming months.
We are also excited to announce a special new round of grants, under our ‘Direct Aid Program’. For this round only, to be held in March, proposal limits will be increased to TOP60,000. This is an opportunity for community groups, town officers and leaders to think even bigger. More information will be available on this special round on our Facebook in the coming weeks.
For further information or media inquiries, please contact: [email protected].
Media enquiries
- Telephone: +676 20 400
- Email: [email protected]
Australian High Commission, Nuku’alofa
Salote Rd, Nuku’alofa
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