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Australia–Tonga relations

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Australia–Tonga relations
Map indicating locations of Tonga and Australia

Tonga
Australia

Australia–Tonga relations are foreign relations between Australia and Tonga. Tonga has a High Commission in Canberra, and Australia has a High Commission in Nukuʻalofa.

History

Monthly value of Australian merchandise exports to Tonga (A$ millions) since 1988

In 1999, Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer welcomed Tonga's admission to the United Nations. The Minister said that the Australian Government had helped fund the Commonwealth Small Island States Office in New York so Pacific states can afford to be represented here.[1]

Following the outbreak of violence in Tonga in 2006, the Tongan Government asked the Australian Government for assistance from Australian forces.[2] Following this request, eighty-five Australian soldiers and police were sent to Tonga with support from New Zealand.[3][4]

In 2008 Tonga's High Commission in Canberra opened. Crown Prince ʻAhoʻeitu ʻUnuakiʻotonga Tukuʻaho (now King Tupou VI) became its first chief of mission.[5]

Development assistance

Australia is the largest donor of aid to Tonga[6] through its Ausaid program. In 2008/09, Australian aid amounted to AUD13.2M[7] Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said in 2009 that Tonga was an important partner of Australia in the Pacific. He further added "We have extensive development assistance programs with both countries [Samoa and Tonga] and we have very strong people-to-people links.[8]

In February 2009, fifty Tongan seasonal workers from a federal government pilot scheme aimed at combating a skills shortage in the rural sector arrived in the town of Robinvale, Victoria.[9]

References

  1. ^ "Australia Welcomes Kiribati, Nauru and Tonga to United Nations". Foreignminister.gov.au. Retrieved 2016-10-22.
  2. ^ "PM - Tongan-Australian community in shock over Pacific riots". Abc.net.au. 2006-11-17. Retrieved 2016-10-22.
  3. ^ Fonua, Pesi (2006-11-22). "Foreign Troops Patrol Tongan Capital". The Washington Post.
  4. ^ Fonua, Pesi. "Foreign Forces Secure Airport in Tonga". The Washington Post.
  5. ^ "HRH The Crown Prince Tupouto'a Lavaka: Tonga's First High Commissioner to Australia". Tonga Government Portal. 2008-08-16. Archived from the original on 2011-11-30. Retrieved 2012-03-20. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  6. ^ "Refworld | 2005 Findings on the Worst Forms of Child Labor - Tonga". Unhcr.org. Retrieved 2016-10-22.
  7. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2008-08-24. Retrieved 2009-07-14. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  8. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-07-17. Retrieved 2009-07-03. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  9. ^ "The harvest is ready and so are the Tongan workers". The Australian. 2009-02-17.
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