"Australian Immigration Laws Still “Racist” Towards Tongans" ^Featured

"The recent State Visit of Australian Foreign Minister, Julie Bishop to Tonga was a big disappointment".

When I asked the Madam Minister about Australian immigration laws regarding Tongans, she answered that Australia was not responsible for the disparity between a mere 20,000 Tongans living in Australia compared to 70,000 in New Zealand, and 65,000 living in the U.S. currently.

Foreign state representatives are not saying it, but the “Ugly American” arrogance (We know better than you do) of the 1960s, is alive and well among our foreign-aid benefactors today. Anymore the protocol niceties of the current era in global relations, for example, on an Australian “aid” which may read:

“We give you this million-dollar foreign aid, but we have Australian experts who will come down and do the work in your country,” the stipulations and conditions are outlined. Therefore, the money flows right back to Australia when their aids return home.

“And if you don’t like that arrangement,” the stipulations continue, “the aid will be cancelled.”

I know why the “big incentive” for Australia to increase foreign aids to their Pacific Island little brothers: Isn’t it because Big Bad China is now a major global player in the Pacific?

Tongan Government Colonial-times “Gatekeepers”    

But let me digress on Madam Minister Julie Bishop’s visit to Tonga. She was given the royal treatment, all right as if she was a British Royalty. The Tongan Government’s over-zealous “gatekeepers” herded journalists into the Fā‘onelua Center, and vetted by security agents posing as greeters.

A female greeter asked why I was not wearing a “ta‘ovala,” and I replied that I was from Fiji. (I actually did not think the “ta‘ovala” was necessary because the guest speakers were neither a member of Tongan nobility, nor of the Royal Family).

I was dressed in a Fijian-style “tupenu” and long-sleeve shirt. She asked for my passport, but in the nick-of-time, a Fijian gentleman (Melanesian race) walked by in his familiar attire, and the security lady quickly ushered us both in.

Consequently, a papālangi who was dressed in fashionable Levi pants entered the Center. He was obviously a member of the foreign press corps − a videographer − and he was shown all courtesies. I thought there was something drastically wrong then:

I get the feeling that a Tongan journalist works as a “second-class” citizen in Tonga. Foreign journalists are allowed to enjoy the same privileges they enjoy in their home countries, but Tongan journalists are held to a higher standard in Tonga.

For a More Democratic Tonga

Suggestion for PMO Press Conference Protocols for a fairer and a more democratic policy on journalists’ minimum dress standards at press conferences:
    (a) The PMO announces to the media in advance a list of dignitaries who will be guest speakers, and available for questioning by the press corps.
    (b) “Ta‘ovala” is required if a Tongan nobility, or of the Royal Family, is among the press conference dignitaries; foreigners should be required to wear a suit and a necktie or bow tie (photographers included).
    (c) A “tupenu” and necktie/bow tie for men, and dresses (no pants) for women should be the dress standards when guest speakers are dignitaries from elected government leaders, and the Prime Minister of Tonga is from the commoners’ rank.
    (d) Foreign male press agents should at least wear a necktie/bow tie; females should be wearing dresses (no pants).

But worst of all decisions was the Tongan Government’s restriction allowing only “four” media questions from the entire floor of journalists. It was a non-transparent decision, and undemocratic and “Nazis Gestapo-style” arm-twisting tactic against the media.

By whose authority was it to protect government leaders from media representatives in a press conference? We were advised by Kalafi Moala, before the press conference, and again reminded by the master of ceremony repeated this restriction during the press conference. This is undemocratic!

Where is the “good governance” and so-called leader of “democracy,” and “transparency” leadership that was promised by this government? I don’t think they know what democracy is.

Australian Discriminatory Immigration Policies

But let me return to the recent Australian Foreign Minister’s state visit to Tonga. She was quite disappointing on important questions such as (a) Australian immigration policies in regards to Tonga, and the (b) Kava issue. Madam Minister Bishop brushed aside the questions and repeated her country’s prohibitive policies.

Her disappointing answers to two important issues to Tongans at home, and those living in Australia, were typical bureaucratic hogwash, and a waste of my time. She should have distributed the regular bureaucratic notice: Australia has no new answers to your questions.

I asked the Madam Minister: What can Tonga expect from Australia in the future possibly allowing more Tongans to immigrate to Australia? Since there are 70,000 Tongans living in New Zealand; 65,000 living in the USA; but there are only 20,000 Tongans living in Australia, which does show how more restrictive Australia’s immigration laws than New Zealand and the U.S. are.

She claimed that the disparity is not Australia’s fault, but it’s people’s preference if they want to live in America or New Zealand. She is either ignorant of immigration trends as a bureaucrat, or she must think she was talking to 12-year-olds.

Australian immigration laws have been accused of being “racist” in the past because of their “white” preference nature. It does not seem to me that the accusation is far off target.

Australia’s Policy: “Evil” Tongan Kava Cartel

Despite the fact that Australia is the only major country, which restricts the importation of kava, Madam Minister replied that Australia is doing it to protect their indigenous people. When will Australia stop treating their Native Aborigines peoples as if they were inferior species?

First the white Australian government forced children of Native Aborigines into forced-foster-homes, because their biological parents were deemed incapable and unfit to raise them. And now, the same white Australian government is taking away Aborigines’ freedom to choose by “protecting” them from the “evil” Tongan Kava cartel.   

According to Australians, Kava is a banned substance as narcotics. I wanted to ask the Madam Minister if they have similar importation laws against alcoholic beverages. How many Native Aborigines have become victims of alcohol compared to Kava?

Because New Zealand, Canada and America have indigenous peoples of their own, doesn’t it seem ridiculous that Australia can use their Native Aborigines for an excuse to restrict the importation of Kava?

This is a protectionist policy against one of Tonga’s best commercial agricultural products. Foreign Minister Julie Bishop was very insensitive to these two grave concerns for Tongans at home and those living in Australia.

Sione A. Mokofisi
Director: English, Journalism & Languages
Tonga International Academy