Australia commits AUD 8.5million in further budget support for Tonga
Honourable Tiofilusi Tiueti, Minister for Finance, Her Excellency Rachael Moore, Australian High Commissioner to Tonga
22 May, 2023. The Australian Government will provide an additional AUD 8.5 million (TOP 13.2 million) in budget support to the Tongan Government this financial year to support economic recovery and fiscal resilience.
The funds were formalised in a signing ceremony on 17 May 2023 at the Ministry of Finance between the Minister for Finance, Honourable Tiofilusi Tiueti and the Australian High Commissioner to Tonga, Her Excellency Rachael Moore.
The brings the total of Australian direct budget support to Tonga to more than AUD45 million (TOP 70 million) this financial year.
Her Excellency Rachael Moore said that “Australia recognises that Tonga is on a difficult path to fully recover from the triple shocks of COVID-19, the Hunga Tonga Hunga Ha’apai disaster and global inflationary pressures.”
“Our assistance directly supports Tonga’s leadership and priorities, and our development and economic partnership founded on mutual trust, respect and reliability.”
Honourable Minister Tiofilusi Tiueti welcomed the support, “Australia’s partnership with Tonga is always positive and this budget support is timely for our internal deliberations. The increased budget support will further enhance the Tongan Government’s efforts to deliver sustainable development outcomes for our people.”
This AUD8.5 million contribution is part of Australia’s commitment to the Joint Policy Reform Matrix, a policy dialogue platform between the Tongan Government and development partners.
Additional resources will help progress responsive fiscal decisions and to strengthen reforms in the areas of public finances and administration, climate action, social protection, and education.
Australia and Tonga are close partners and friends, working closely together on Tonga’s recovery and development priorities. Australia remains committed to helping build a stronger Pacific family and to navigate shared challenges together.
L-R: Kilisitina Tuaimei’api, CEO for Finance, Honourable Tiofilusi Tiueti, Minister for Finance, Her Excellency Rachael Moore, Australian High Commissioner to Tonga, Erin Gleeson, Deputy High Commissioner to Tonga.
