Tonga-Australia High-Level Consultations

Nuku’alofa, 11 February 2025

The governments of Tonga and Australia reaffirmed their deep and enduring partnership at the 2025 High-Level Consultations in Nuku’alofa on 11 February.

During the meeting, both governments agreed to strengthen cooperation in economic resilience, climate change, labour mobility, health and collective security, particularly cyber security and transnational crime, for the benefit of all Tongans across the Kingdom.

Both countries agreed to elevate the bilateral partnership in the spirit of kaungame’a falala’anga including through a new partnership arrangement.

Tonga reaffirmed its support for a Pacific COP31 and Australia confirmed its ongoing support to Tonga’s establishment of the Pacific Resilience Facility. Australia acknowledged Tonga’s regional

leadership as part of the Pacific Policing Initiative.

Both sides discussed travel and migration, including opportunities under the new Pacific Engagement Visa. Australia’s support on multiple infrastructure, agriculture and trade projects was also discussed, to ensure continued alignment with the Tongan Government’s economic priorities.

Mr Paula Pouvalu Ma’u, Chief Secretary & Secretary to Cabinet co-chaired the talks involving dozens of officials across most Tongan Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies.

“Our partnership is genuine and respectful, grounded in people-centred development. We share respect for democracy, sovereignty, and rules of law; these shared values bind our partnership.”

“We are proud to host these talks just fourteen days into the new government,” said Mr Ma’u.

Ms Elizabeth Peak, Head of the Office of the Pacific, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade co- chaired the talks for Australia, during her fourth visit to the Kingdom.

“Our two countries hold enduring people-to-people links, nurtured through institutional, educational, cultural, church and sporting relationships and growing diaspora connections.”

“We look back with pride and look forward with enthusiasm. We have ambition for our relationship. Together we will stand together and face the significant challenges of our time including climate

change, strategic competition and economic uncertainty,” said Ms Peak.

Regular and open talanoa is the foundation of the Tonga-Australia relationship. It ensures both countries understand each other’s priorities, navigate shared challenges and embrace new opportunities.

The next High-Level Consultations are expected to be hosted in Australia in 2026.

Background

On 11 February 2025, the Kingdom of Tonga hosted the Australia-Tonga High Level Consultations (HLCs). HLCs were last held in April 2023 in Canberra.

HLCs bring senior officials from both Governments together to discuss past, ongoing and future cooperation. This year’s talks involved over a dozen ministries across both countries, reflecting the breadth and depth of the partnership.

Australia’s delegation was led by Ms Elizabeth Peak, Head of the Office of the Pacific in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Tonga’s delegation was led by Paula Pouvalu Ma’u, Chief

Secretary & Secretary to Cabinet of Tonga.

The new partnership arrangement will be agreed over coming months.