Australian Minister updates
For the latest news from the Australian Prime Minister and Portfolio ministers –
- Prime Minister of Australia, the Hon. Anthony Albanese MP
- Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator the Hon. Penny Wong
Breaking ground and barriers: Tongan women build more than a port
This International Women’s Day, Australia is proud to stand with Tongan women who are quite literally breaking new ground,
Through the Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific (AIFFP), Australia is supporting the Upgrading Tonga’s international port project, a major investment to strengthen the Queen Salote International Wharf (QSIW).
Australia, through the AIFFP, together with the Asian Development Bank and the Government of Tonga, is delivering AUD138.3 million in upgrades to strengthen Tonga’s primary port in Nuku’alofa. This investment includes an AUD31.25 million AIFFP grant aimed at bolstering climate resilience, economic growth and sustainability.
But beyond better trade and transport, this project is giving more women the chance to step into the construction industry and prove that skill and hard work have no gender.
For decades, construction in Tonga was a male-dominated field. That’s changing. Women like ‘Ofa Halatanu and Susana Fihaki are now working as engineers, leading teams and shaping the country’s future.
‘Ofa Halatanu, a site engineer with AIFFP partner McConnell Dowell, says seeing more women on-site is something she never expected.
“When I started, I was one of the only woman in my field. Now, we have women in every part of construction—engineering, carpentry, concrete testing. It’s not just about getting the job done; it’s about showing young girls in Tonga that they can be here too,” she said.
For Susana Fihaki, construction was a dream she didn’t think she could follow.
“I was a nurse because that was what women were supposed to do,” she said. “But I loved building things. I studied architecture at night, and when I finally got the chance to work on this project, I took it. At first, it was strange telling men what to do on-site, but now I know I belong here,” she added.
They’re not alone. Their colleagues Lesieli Fatongiatau and ‘Asinate Tekina ki Fatumanongi ‘Ohuafi are taking on key roles in quality control at the project’s concrete factory. They’ve been trained to meet New Zealand’s standards for testing concrete, aggregates and soils—ensuring the materials used in this upgrade are strong, safe and built to last.
“This work matters,” said Lesieli. “Every mix, every test—it all adds up to something bigger. This isn’t just about today; it’s about building a future where women can do any job they want.”
Australia’s High Commissioner to Tonga, His Excellency Brek Batley, says the investment isn’t just about infrastructure, but opportunity.
“The Australian Government is committed to investing in skills, jobs and better infrastructure across the Pacific. It’s incredible to see so many women stepping into roles they might not have had access to. Projects like this create lasting change—not just in ports, but in communities and workplaces.”
Australia’s investment is making the port safer, more efficient and more resilient to natural disasters, as well as changing the workforce, as Tongan women prove construction isn’t just for men.
They are laying the foundation for something bigger—equal opportunities, better futures and a workforce in which women and men work side by side to build their country’s future.
Joint Media Release
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.
For more information, please reach out to: [email protected] or [email protected].
Australia Day 2025 – A Sea of Connections
January 26
This Australia Day we celebrate our nation’s history and bright future, as well as the enduring partnership between Australia and the Kingdom of Tonga.
We have chosen a theme of a "Sea of Connections," reflecting the deep bonds between our communities, businesses, institutions, churches, and governments. For over 150 years, we’ve supported each other and shared our culture and knowledge. Our partnership is growing from strength to strength.
The love for our shared Blue Pacific ocean is also a special connection between our two countries, and the other 16 members of the Pacific Islands Forum. It’s a permanent geographical bond that brings us together, with links growing including in areas like sports, trade, maritime security, environmental issues, and health.
There are over 400,000 Pacific Islanders who call Australia home, including 43,000 proud Tongan-Australians. We thank you for being such an important part of our diverse nation.
As we mark Australia Day, we also reflect on Australia’s history. We respect and celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ continuous culture of over 65,000 years, the oldest in the world. We are pleased to share the eye-catching ‘Evolution: Torres Strait Masks’ exhibition (from the Gab Titui Cultural Centre and National Museum of Australia), which will be displayed in Tonga. It depicts the rich tradition of Mask Making among Torres Strait Islanders. The High Commission will arrange the exhibition in public spaces in coming months.
We are also excited to announce a special new round of grants, under our ‘Direct Aid Program’. For this round only, to be held in March, proposal limits will be increased to TOP60,000. This is an opportunity for community groups, town officers and leaders to think even bigger. More information will be available on this special round on our Facebook in the coming weeks.
For further information or media inquiries, please contact: [email protected].
Media enquiries
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Australian High Commission, Nuku’alofa
Salote Rd, Nuku’alofa
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