'Aisake Eke, Prime Minister of Tonga: Thank you very much. Good morning to all of you, and it's my privilege to warmly welcome Senator the Honourable Penny Wong, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Australia, and also the Assistant Minister Honourable Thistlethwaite, here to Tonga. And it's a privilege, and also we're really fortunate to have you here, in fact, just after re-elections. So, we take the opportunity on behalf of His Majesty, and also the people of Tonga, to wish you all the best and also congratulations to you and also the Honourable Prime Minister for being successful in your re-elections. And also for having the opportunity to come here to Tonga and, and I'd like to warmly welcome you to our country.
In fact, as you all know, Australian and Tongan partnership, has been a strong relationship going back to start for - actually going back to the beginning of this country. Actually, as you know, our constitution, part of constitution is actually, started with assistance of Australia. And also education also actually started of with the assistance of Australia. So, in different areas as well. Of course, the development assistance we have, and we'd like to thank Australia for that opportunity and the assistance you provided. And you are here after the second elections for the new government, I'd like to just to assure you our commitment to strengthen and also continue our strong relationship in terms of partnership and also something that actually guided by mutual respect and also common interest, not only between our two countries but also the regions. Also, thank the Honourable Senator for strong leadership being exercised in terms of the regional organisation, and in Pacific - it is very, very central. Particularly in our set of circumstances where it's very, very global, she is very assertive. Particularly with changes in terms of trade. It's important, very important role in Australia being standing up and in terms of common values that we have to work together in the Pacific, particularly now how we could improve our trade. And also in terms of partnership, in terms of trading.
And also we discuss and we thank you for the opportunity we had this morning, not only planning of meeting myself and also the Crown Prince and also the Cabinet. We had the conversation, formal conversation with the Ministers in terms of assistance they had received directly from your Government.
So, again I'd just reassure our long standing cooperation in several areas including security. That's very important going forward. Climate change, also health, education and also the PALM, the Labour Mobility Program that we have – it actually, the impacts, go down to a root, but [indistinct] not only for our partner but also to acknowledge your assistance for our Tonga diaspora in Australia. And I think you're looking after them and also attending to their needs. So I would like to thank you.
So, I hope your visit here to be successful and try our best to make sure that our cooperations actually live up to your expectations. We have to make use of relationship, our assistance to us, in a way that we are accounted for. I think this will be symbolised by our trusted friendship. I think this was a very faithful and trustworthy partner. And I think that that's what we know. We know we have a responsibility for our people. But again, thank you for the financial assistance, assistance provided for Tonga. So, wish you all the best. And we hope your visit here will be something that encourages and enrich our relationship. Thank you very much.
Penny Wong, Foreign Minister: Well, thank you very much, Prime Minister and can I thank you for your warm welcome to both myself and to my Assistant Minister. I'd like to thank your Cabinet for the opportunity to engage with you. I have been really appreciative of the discussions we have had. It's always such a wonderful honour to return to Tonga. Tonga stands out in our nation, in our region, as a nation that understands strength and sovereignty, but also acts with humility. And that leadership is very important to the Pacific family.
We're joined not just by geography, but also by history and by friendship. And we are also joined by a shared vision of the blue Pacific; peaceful, stable, prosperous, in which our sovereignty is assured. And I know Tonga is a nation that has proudly assured its sovereignty, defended its sovereignty over centuries. We are honoured to be Tonga's largest development and security partner. But you know what we value most? We value most your trust. That is what we value most. That is why we are here. And that is why we want to continue to be, trusted friends.
This visit is an example of that commitment. But I'm pleased to build on the partnership that we have built together. So, today, Australia is committing $50 million over four years to launch the next phase of the Tonga-Australia Support Platform and the Health Sector Support Program. These are initiatives which will help deliver stronger public governance, better health services and greater gender equality. And all driven by your priorities, Tonga's own priorities. As you and I discussed, Prime Minister, we are also providing an additional $5 million in budget support to help you strengthen your health infrastructure, and also that difficult task which you and I discussed as current and former finance ministers, of balancing the budget.
These are contributions which are about economic resilience. These are contributions with the objective of continuing to work with you to build that strong foundation for your long-term sustainability. Because financial and economic sustainability contribute to safeguarding a country's sovereignty. And I know the Kingdom of Tonga, the people of Tonga understand that. And sovereignty is about making sure that decisions for your country continue to be made by your country, by your people. We have a vision of, as you discussed, Prime Minister, Pacific security, which has the PIF, Pacific Islands Forum, and its members at its core. And when we together can decide our own destiny, when we are strong and independent and collaborative with each other, that is when we are all more secure. We are all more secure.
I'm also happy today to be able to announce more support for the incredible work of communities across Tonga. Another million dollars in new community grants, empowering local leaders and organisations to deliver locally-led solutions. And as an example of the breadth of our partnership, I'm going to give what we in Australia call a shout out today, which is that we have a group of traditional ecological experts who are here in Tonga. They include Australians Bob Muir and Lala Gutchen. They are demonstrating Pacific and Indigenous led approaches to climate challenges. It's an example of how we are drawing on traditional knowledge, First Nations knowledge and wisdom, sharing expertise, listening to each other and working together to tackle shared challenges. And all of this that we do together builds on a 172-year partnership between our countries which began when King Tupou the First visited Sydney in 1853. We stand shoulder to shoulder with Tonga as your reliable partner. Pacific nations can count on Australia and together we will keep working to assure our region's stability, prosperity and independence the Pacific way. Ofa Atu.
'Aisake Eke: Thanks very much, Senator. Now we have the opportunity to give you perhaps two or three questions to each of us, and then, okay, we may start with you, thank you.
Journalist: Minister Wong, you recognise climate change as a big challenge and the importance of supporting climate resilience. However, while in Fiji, you were facing resistance from a faction of Australians back home. How difficult is it to convince Australians that climate resilience in the Pacific Islands is worth fighting for? And how are you going to tackle that?
Foreign Minister: Well, we are a country that has, I think, seen climate change be an issue of great discussion for many years. I was Australia's first ever Climate Minister when I was much younger. And I think what you saw at the last election was what you saw at the 2022 election, which is, notwithstanding some different views, the Australian people voted very clearly for action on climate change. Very clearly. We stood in that election, just as we did in 2022, with a very clear position on - we will transform Australia's economy, and we will work with the rest of the world in the face of climate change. That was the position we took to the Australian people, and the Government was returned, and we have a responsibility to carry that mandate forward.
We see one of the things that I think gives the Pacific such authority in speaking about climate is because you live it and you see it every day. It's not a tomorrow thing, it's a here thing. And we are already seeing it in Australia. I come from South Australia. We are the driest inhabited state and the driest continent in the world. And we see the impact of climate change already in terms of rainfall patterns. We see it also in the storms that we have seen in Australia, where we've always had storms, but now we have them more often. So, we know this is a shared challenge, and it is one we want to work with you on. Including in our collective bid to hold a Conference of the Parties to elevate the Pacific perspective. As I said, you are a nation, the Pacific peoples are people who speak with authority on climate. And your voice should be heard in the world.
Journalist: Australia is serious, reportedly, about cutting back emissions in the Pacific. The Pacific is serious about building resilience. Tonga is the only small island development state with it's own national climate change fund, supported by some countries. Australia is not one of them. During this trip I know you announced that there is $50 million on the table now, but will Australia directly support this national, local initiative that Tonga is doing during this time of climate change?
Foreign Minister: Well, first the access to global climate finance is important to countries in the Pacific, and we have been a responsive partner. So, as Foreign Minister, I have asked Pacific leaders to prioritise, tell me what was their priority in terms of climate finance. And the very clear message from Pacific leaders was the Pacific Resilience Facility which is a Pacific-led entity which and I pay tribute to Tongan leadership. It is under the leadership of Tonga as chair of the Pacific Island Forum that the Pacific Resilience Facility was established. And we made the foundational investment in that of a $100 million. We've also committed around $700 million in total for climate finance to the Pacific. Now I think the Prime Minister and I have spoken about the PRF becoming operationalised here in Tonga as quickly as possible. And I'm sure that Tonga will discuss how your climate change fund, which preceded this, interacts with the PRF. As you probably know, we've also provided $85 million in budget support as part of our bigger ODA program.
Journalist: In the light of recent geopolitical shift in the Pacific region involving security challenges, shift in regional allies, competition in resources, and global power competition. How does Tonga maintain, and this word was used by the Senator Honourable Penny Wong, how does Tonga maintain its sovereignty and security, adapt to changing dynamics, enhance its security infrastructure, strengthen diplomatic engagement, and participate in multi-level initiative to address shared security threats and promote regional stability?
'Aisake Eke: Thank you very much. In terms of our foreign policy, the Government of Tonga is basically no enemies and friends for all. This is first of all our policy, and at the same time, regional security is very important, and we have a program with Australia on security. And also some from also from other states. American also, but also, there are some within the regions, I think you're specifically referring to. But as far as the security and the thing is basically something of you know working closely with Australia because we maintain that kind of security. And I think there's probably something for the Forum also that we actually united together in terms of looking after our own interests. We also, you know, the assistance comes from another area that might have some space - have some involvement in this space. But I think this comes also to a collective issue. Even though we have each country of sovereignty to make them or making decisions. But this is something correct and we know the history, World War II, I think that is something that's also still vivid in our mind, but again in a way, navigating our way forward. This is the strong partnership we have actually worked in terms of strengthening our regional security. Thank you.
Foreign Minister: May I add to that? Because I agree with the Prime Minister, but it's a very good question because it's actually the central question that we've been discussing, and so many of my interactions in the Pacific are defined by. I have a short answer. So, the question is, 'What do we do in the face of all of these things happening to assure our sovereignty?' I think it's trusted partners and a strong region. And you get a stronger region with strengthening and investing in and working within the Pacific Islands Forum as the key regional architecture.
Journalist: As Tonga chairs the Pacific Islands Forum and at this time of growing geopolitical competition and also climate change urgency, how is Australia ensuring that its strategic interest in the region does not overshadow Pacific priorities? Especially when it comes to supporting Tonga's leadership in voicing or amplifying Pacific voice towards Pacific finance, security and sustainable development?
Foreign Minister: Well, I think we share strategic interests. So, I don't accept the way you asked the question. I think we all want to assure our sovereignty. We are a middle power. We're not a great power. We're not one of the superpowers. We want a region and a world where our sovereignty is assured. I think that's what Tonga wants. And so our question should be, well, how do we assure our sovereignty in a world which is changing? China is more assertive. The Trump Administration has a particular set of economic policies which we take a different view on. We're a tariff-free country and we're going to stay that way. So, what do you do in the face of that change? And it comes back to my answer to your colleague. We want the PIF to work well. We want the PIF to operate in a way that reflects the needs of all of its members.
We believe that the provision of security within the Pacific Islands Forum is a contribution to stability. One of the leadership - there's two things that Tonga has done as chair which I think have been so important. One is the PRF, the Pacific Resilience Facility, that the Prime Minister and I were discussing. One is the Pacific Policing Initiative. It's Australia-backed, but it's Pacific-led. It's Pacific countries saying we will take responsibility for our own security. And that is an action of resilience.
Journalist: Many communities in Australia are facing immigration challenges, including overstaying visas. Is the Australian Government considering any other pathway to residency or support service for the return of overstayers from Tonga or the Pacific?
Foreign Minister: Well, I know this is something that the High Commissioner has spoken to me about and is very aware of. And what I would say is this is an aspect of our relationship which is important. The movement of people and the people-to-people links. And we are always open for discussions about how that can be of maximum benefit to both our countries.
Journalist: My question is based on many Tonga's leave Australia under the seasonal work schemes. And we face significant challenges here in development of trade, including shortage in, labour shortage, and also in our local economy has impacted on it. And from our record, Honourable Minister, during your last visit, we discussed this issue and yet it still remains a concern of ours.
Foreign Minister: Sure.
Journalist: My question is can you clarify on what Australia has been - plans to take a short term for addressing these issues, and just add up on that to the Prime Minister of Tonga, how to envision both Governments in addressing the same issues?
Foreign Minister: Well, we will be led by what you want. So we make this access available because it is important, the remittances are a contribution to your economy. But we will take your lead on it. If Tonga doesn't want as many or wants to make requirements about who is part of it. We're open to that. We want it to work for you and for us. And we've taken measures as a Labor Government to improve the conditions of workers. They have the same rights as Australian workers. They have the same wages and conditions. We have put an effort into more compliance so that that side is dealt with. But in terms of the design of the scheme, how many and who, that's a matter that we would be led by Tonga on.
'Aisake Eke: Thank you very much. Just to add on to this. Of course, like anything else in life. There are always two parts. One is the advantages, and disadvantages. And I think compared to your comment, we are looking to the design. How we could design the scheme in a way to just actually take care of the social issues that we have, and I think aren't too obvious. Of course, some of our people here are very successful. But also, there are some social issues about this. Again we will have to weigh up. But also at the same time how I mean we work together. How we could have a scheme adaptable to the current situation. I thank Australia for being communicative in terms of that respect. Thank you.
Journalist: Honourable Minister Australia's Foreign Affairs, Senator Honourable Penny Wong. This is an honour for me on behalf of Tonga media to welcome you to the Kingdom of Tonga. Welcome.
Foreign Minister: Thank you.
Journalist: You are visiting three countries. Fiji, Tonga and Vanuatu in the Pacific Islands. Why come to Tonga over other countries in the Pacific Islands?
Foreign Minister: We are very good friends. We are very good friends. We are old friends and we are partners. We're old friends. We're partners for the present, and we are partners for the future. So, that's why I'm here, and it's such an honour to be here. So, thank you.
'Aisake Eke: Thanks very much. I think that's for the time given for us. And again, in conclusion, I want to thank you once again, Honourable Minister for Foreign Affairs being here. And also the announcement of extra resources to our health and also support is something I'm very grateful. And all the best for you and also your new Government. And we're always here to make sure our partnership is successful to both of us. And thank you very, very much.
Foreign Minister: Thank you.