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
SENATOR THE HON PENNY WONG
LEADER OF THE GOVERNMENT IN THE SENATE
MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS
CHRIS BOWEN MP
MINISTER FOR CLIMATE CHANGE AND ENERGY
MEDIA RELEASE
Tuesday 27 January, 2026
Today, we welcome Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manele, Tongan Prime Minister Lord Fakafanua, Palaun President Whipps and the Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Baron Waqa to Australia for a meeting of the PIF Troika in Brisbane.
The Albanese Labor Government will strengthen our commitment to backing Pacific-led climate solutions by investing a further $550 million for the Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific (AIFFP).
At the invitation of the PIF Secretariat, Minister Bowen will join the PIF Troika, consisting of the current PIF Chair (Solomon Islands), incoming Chair (Palau) and outgoing Chair (Tonga), to discuss progress on arrangements for a special pre-COP hosted in the Pacific.
Minister Bowen will sign a Memorandum of Understanding on a Renewable Energy and Climate Partnership with Tonga, and meet with President Whipps to discuss climate solutions and progress of the Palau-Australia Renewable Energy Partnership.
Minister Wong will welcome Lord Prime Minister Fakafanua for his first visit to Australia since his election as Prime Minister in December 2025, and since Australia and Tonga committed to elevate our partnership through the Kaume’a Ofi agreement.
Minister Wong will also meet with Prime Minister Manele to discuss Australia’s commitment to our economic, development and security partnership with Solomon Islands.
In discussions with President Whipps, Minister Wong will confirm Australia’s support for Palau to deliver a successful and impactful PIF Leaders meeting later this year.
The AIFFP, Australia’s major critical infrastructure provider, is already delivering 58 projects across 11 countries, including ports, airports, renewable energy infrastructure and undersea cables. For more information visit: The Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific (AIFFP)
Quotes attributable to Foreign Minister Penny Wong:
“Australia is backing Pacific-led climate solutions – investing in the Pacific Resilience Facility and in new energy partnerships.
“At a time of major global uncertainty, Australia’s additional $550 million investment will deliver further critical infrastructure projects, with a particular focus on digital infrastructure development.
“As a founding member of the PIF, Australia is a reliable partner for the Pacific, working to shape a peaceful, stable and prosperous region.”
Quotes attributable to Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen
“We are bringing the world to the Pacific to see climate impacts and solutions through the COP process.
“Climate action remains the greatest lever to protect the livelihoods, security and wellbeing of the people of the Pacific.
“Today Australia and Tonga strengthened our collaboration on renewable energy and climate action, delivering on Pacific priorities to cut emissions while cutting the cost of energy.”
Media note: Imagery will be available via: FM Pacific Island Forum Troika meetings - FotoWeb
Media Contact:
Taylah Hill (Minister Wong): +61 403 204 386
Connor Wherrett (Minister Bowen): +61 499 972 259
Australian High Commission media
Recent Speeches and Press Releases
H.E. Brek Batley's speech on the occasion of the 200th Anniversary of Christianity and the 102nd Free Wesleyan Church Conference
Event: Choral Night with Development Partners
Date: 29 June, Centenary Church-Nuku'alofa
The Church in International Collaboration and Connection
Mālo ē hiva mālie. ʻOku ou tui ko e mana ʻo e tau ʻe ua ngeau kuohili ki Tongani mo e Pasifiki.
Fakafou ʻi he talēniti ʻo e mūsika mo e hiva himi, ʻoku makehe hono fai ʻe he kakai Tonga.
Ka ʻoku ou vakai ʻoku langa ai ʻe Tonga ha fehokotaki mālohi, fakalaumālie mo hēvani.
(Translation: Thank you for your wonderful performance. I am convinced that 200 years ago, there was a quiet miracle in Tonga and the Pacific. The heavens opened up and the Angels gave their divine voices and musical talents to the Tongan people. And now, with this special gift of music and hymn, the Tongan people have built a spiritual bridge to heaven.)
How blessed we are this evening, united in solidarity across the churches, to celebrate 200 years of Christianity in Tonga, among some of the best musicians and choristers in the world. This is indeed a bridge to heaven here tonight. Two hundred years is no small milestone. It speaks to devotion carried across seas and across generations, growing stronger with every challenge, and with every dream. I am honoured to join you in celebrating this moment – one that also reminds us of the deep and enduring Christian ties Tonga has across the world, especially Australia, from where so many of the missionaries came and from where the roots of our strong partnership were formed.
Tonight, I pay my respects to those early missionaries, as well as their partners who sacrificed so much and often dedicated themselves as nurses, teachers and translators – Mary was the wife of Reverend Walter Lawry, Sarah was the wife of Reverend John Thomas, and another Mary was the wife of Reverend John Hutchinson, and Elizabeth was Shirley Baker’s wife. These were family units that came here. And I honour the hundreds of missionaries and their partners that followed, so many from Australia, serving God and helping to build Tonga into the strong, confident, caring, friendly - and blessed - country that it is. What a privilege it has been to meet some of you here this week and hear your stories. You have played such an important role. Thank you.
As you know too well, education became one of the strongest expressions of this new faith, a vision of King George Tupou I. I pay my respects to Dr James Moulton and his wife Emma, who of course helped found Tupou College, and to all the visiting Methodist educators and families who followed in his large footsteps. These pioneers set up partnerships that continue to this day, some of the longest and strongest in the Pacific. We welcome these bonds of faith in our schools, with our kids, to help shape the next generation to be one of faith and love. Tonga’s faith connections are wide, including America, New Zealand and across the Pacific. It makes me so happy to see the Tongan diaspora and church leaders from around the world here in Nuku’alofa. The Tongan Māfana is everywhere. But the story of Australia and Tonga and our faith connections has never been one-directional. It is a story of fetokoni‘aki - always supporting one another. It is a story of tauhi vā - carefully nurturing the relationships between us. And it is grounded in ‘ofa – along with care, duty and responsibility.
Let me thank all the Tongans in Australia, the church groups, the choir groups, and the charities for their work and leadership. And a warm welcome to the President of the Uniting Church in Australia, Reverend Charissa Suli – the first Tongan to ever hold that role and Rev Salesi from Melbourne and Rev Mata from Sydney. Let me also thank the Tongan missionaries who travelled to the Northern Territory, among other parts of the Pacific region, and shared and strengthened our own spiritual journey. Rev Dr Kioa, you noted that international development is the theme for tonight. Our development partnership with Tonga is comprehensive, as is New Zealand’s. We work side by side with Tonga in so many areas. But importantly, this pillar of our partnership is just that - it is a part of the relationship, it does not solely define us.
We always apply principles in our development assistance
- Our work is always at the request of the Government or the community
- It must lead to long-term and sustainable change
- It must be in partnership, with Tonga always leading
- It must help everyone - from old to young, women to men, and abled and the less abled. It must also assist every island.
- And it must always be designed and delivered with Pacific unity in mind - we are stronger together.
For many international partners, we often look to support momentum. Momentum - often through strong local leadership - can bring positive change. And we recognise the power of the diaspora and faith in our development work, including through the incredible generosity of the diaspora after crises. We welcome doing more together. But tonight, we are also reminded of the power of music. Faith is carried in our close partnership so often through song. It lives in hiva fakalotu, hymns of faith. Last year in Sydney, the Tongan choir from Brisbane sang the roof off the Uniting Church in Australia in the presence of Their Majesties. It was a true honour, marking our Kaume’a Ofi partnership, and a beautiful expression of our intertwined stories. There was singing in every hotel lobby where they stayed. And of course, many football teams have been mesmerised and intimidated by the power of Tongan crowds singing hymns at football games. I know in the World Cup for Rugby League in Sydney in November, Tonga will carry a secret weapon with them. These hymns are more than just music. They are a living archive of the Tongan language, they hold cultural heritage, scripture, history, joy and hope, all bound together in harmony.
The musical talent here in Tonga is undeniable. And Australia believes in supporting talent and commitment. Our Deputy High Commissioner travelled to Niua Toputapu a year or so ago and was captured by the angelic voice of a young girl in the church and school. Mele was her name. We sent her to Australia to practise with the Gondwana National Choir. We want to support every kid in Tonga with opportunity, to let them shine, but they always have to do the hard work. As we reflect on 200 years of Christianity in Tonga tonight, we honour those who came before us. The choirs who sing tonight, the parents and grandparents who taught them, those who composed them, the musicians who learned them, and the young people who will carry them forward. All of you are preserving culture, telling stories, energising our spirit, and uniting us. May Tonga’s voice in leadership, service, education and song, continue to resonate across the entire Pacific.
Talamonu atu. May God bless Tonga.
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