Joint Statement by the PM of the Kingdom of Tonga, and the Hon Pat Conroy Australia’s Minister for International Development and the Pacific
9 December, 2022. Tonga is pleased to welcome Australia’s Minister for International Development and the Pacific, the Hon Pat Conroy MP, for a visit from 7-9 December 2022.
Prime Minister the Hon. Hu’akavameiliku hosted Minister Conroy for productive and warm discussions today (7 December) at the St George Building, joined by Foreign Minister the Hon. Fekitamoeloa ‘Utoikamanu and Finance Minister the Hon. Tiofilusi Tiueti.
Prime Minister Hu’akavameiliku welcomed the opportunity to acknowledge the Australian Government’s ongoing commitment to the Kingdom of Tonga. The Prime Minister said:
“It has been a great pleasure for me to welcome Minister Conroy to Tonga, the third Australian Minister to visit since June of this year.
I am proud to announce that during this visit, Tonga and Australia signed two new arrangements to further strengthen our partnership.
- A Direct Funding Arrangement for AUD30 million in additional budget support to Tonga in 2022-23 to support Tonga’s economic recovery from compounding shocks, including COVID-19, the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai disaster and more recent global inflationary pressures.
- Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme Memorandum of Understanding that renews our joint commitment to implement the PALM scheme to support the economic development of Tonga and builds skills for Tongan workers when they return home.
A third arrangement, an aviation Memorandum of Understanding establishes a framework for Tonga Civil Aviation Division to work more closely with Australia’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) across technical, regulatory, and other areas of support was also announced.
His Majesty’s government looks forward to working with the Australian government to advance our close relations.”
Minister Conroy said he was honoured to make his first visit to Tonga as Minister for International Development and the Pacific. He remarked:
“Australia and Tonga share a long and enduring bond of friendship. Australia always has been and always will support Tonga through good times and bad, just as the people of Tonga have done for us.
Australia is committed to supporting Tonga on its journey back to economic strength after recent crises and shocks. I am pleased Australia is providing additional budget support of AUD30 million to help the Government of Tonga’s economic recovery and the resilience of its people.
I was pleased to sign the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme Memorandum of Understanding. Australia is committed to ensuring the PALM scheme makes a real and substantial contribution to both our economies and brings our communities closer together.
As Australia’s Minister for International Development and the Pacific, I am determined to ensure our development partnership responds to the needs and priorities of Tonga.”
Both Prime Minister Hu’akavameiliku and Minister Conroy pledged to continue to work closely together on issues of bilateral, regional and global interest, as members of the Pacific family.
