Tonga and Australia: Opportunities for Collaboration

Image by Adli Wahid

Nestled in Polynesia and numbering over 170 islands, many uninhabited, the Kingdom of Tonga has a long history with Australia. With a population of around 107,000 people, Tonga’s unique constitutional monarchy is over 1000 years old.

Agriculture is the prominent driver of the Tongan economy with the nation producing fruits and vegetables such as squash, coconuts, bananas, and vanilla beans. Other important crops include taro and cassava, as well as watermelons and pineapples. This industry contributes to 20.4% of Tonga’s GDP, while manufacturing accounts for 18.6%.

Mr Uelenitoni Tu'ulakitau (Toni), a Criminal Lawyer in Canberra and Past President of the ACT & Queanbeyan Tongan Association, shared these thoughts on his home country of Tonga:

“Tonga respects its relationship with Australia and understands the importance of maintaining a strong relationship with Australia. Many Tongans have benefited from the aid assistance, the opportunity to migrate to Australia, the opportunity of education and employment. These opportunities have assisted Tongan families and the country as a whole.”

Image by Jovi Waqa

Tonga’s economy is reliant on foreign aid and overseas remittances, with loans, grants and direct aid being important to the local economy. The island’s vulnerability to external shocks, both economic and environmental, presents challenges for the nation. Construction and infrastructure projects are often financed by donor grants, contributing to economic growth.

Mr Tu'ulakitau also commented on the pillars of Tongan culture and its importance:

“The Tongan culture is centred on respect, humility, building relationships, and knowing one's obligations. For many Tongans, supporting family is vital and is an obligation. Therefore, a person's success is shared by his or her family. In addition, the Christian faith plays a big part in the lives of many Tongans and is adopted into the values above.”

With an abundance of tourist activities on offer, over 170 islands boast pristine conditions for snorkelling, diving and whale watching. The Mapu’a ‘a Vaea Blowholes offer a 5km stretch along the south coast that jets 30 metres into the air, near the village of Houma. Ene'io Botanical Garden exhibits over 550 different plant varieties and 150 plant families in Tonga’s only botanical garden, established in 1972. Whilst the Mu’a area has Tonga's richest concentration of archaeological remnants, with ancient tombs dating back to 1200 AD.

Australia and Tonga have an enduring connection that has been deepened through programs such as the Australia Awards, the Defence Cooperation Program, the Tonga Police Development Program and the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme.

Australia’s Acting High Commissioner to Tonga, His Excellency Andrew Ford, shared about some of the main priorities for cooperation between Australia and Tonga:

“Our priority has always been to support a prosperous, stable and secure Pacific and to deliver sustainable programs that support Pacific Island leadership and priorities. This is reflected in a broad range of areas where Australia partners with Tonga including defence co-operation, policing, supporting women’s empowerment and recovery from family violence, clean energy, economic governance and fiscal sustainability, health system strengthening and COVID-19 response and pandemic preparedness, infrastructure, labour mobility, skilled workforce and scholarships, and disaster response and recovery.”

Image by Sangga Rima Roman Selia

In 2020, Australia and Tonga marked 50 years of diplomatic relations, celebrating the long-standing and interconnected people-to-people and cultural linkages. Australia’s Foreign Minister, Penny Wong, visited Tonga in June 2022, less than two weeks into her term.

There are several opportunities for further engagement between the two countries, as articulated by Australia’s Acting High Commissioner to Tonga, His Excellency Andrew Ford:

“Australia has always been committed to our Pacific neighbours and we recognise the need to listen to and support the priorities of Pacific regional and national leaders. While we will continue to deliver outcomes under our existing programs in Tonga and across the region, we will also be responsive to the needs of Tonga and our Pacific family more broadly. During her recent visit to Tonga, Minister Wong spoke at length with His Majesty King Tupou VI, Prime Minister Hu’akavmeiliku, Foreign Minister ‘Utoikamanu and Cabinet Ministers about their priorities for Tonga and the bilateral relationship moving forward. Main topics of these discussions included action on climate change, recovery from COVID-19 and the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai disaster, economic development, and regional security.”

There are approximately 32,000 Australians who have Tongan ancestry. In 2021, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) estimated that around 5000 seasonal workers from Tonga were working in Australia. Moving forward into the future, there are several opportunities for collaboration between Australia and Tonga that can be harnessed for increased productivity and security, as well as to address shared challenges.

Written by Dominic McCarthy