Australian High Commission
Kingdom of Tonga

Security Partnership with Tonga

 

Security Partnership 

Australia is committed to supporting Tonga's security, including through the Defence Cooperation Program, the Pacific Maritime Security Program, and the Tonga Australia Police Partnership. Australia and Tonga are close security partners, bound by decades of cooperation and a joint desire for a safe & prosperous region.

Defence

The Defence Cooperation Program in Tonga spans cooperation on maritime security, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR), capability development, land force engagement and infrastructure support. As part of the Pacific Maritime Security Program, Tonga received two Guardian-class Patrol Boats: VOEA Ngahau Koula in 2019 and VOEA Ngahau Siliva in 2020, including a comprehensive package of infrastructure, sustainment and training. Defence is proud of its close people-to-people links with His Majesty’s Armed Forces, and in-country Australian Defence Force advisors work side by side with their Tongan counterparts every day.

Policing - the Tonga-Australia Police Partnership (TAPP)

The Tonga-Australia Policing Partnership (TAPP), supports the Tongan Police to achieve their goal of becoming a 'trusted and respected policing service that works in partnership to reduce crime and build safe and secure communities'. The Australian Federal Police (AFP) contributes to the TAPP by providing police advisors to the program and contributes significant support to Tonga Police development projects. 

The overarching goal of the partnership is that “communities in Tonga are safe and secure, especially for women, girls and marginalised groups.” 

Three Partnership Outcomes support this goal: 

  • Enhanced national security, focusing on illicit drugs and transnational crime.

  • Strengthened capacity and capability for ethical and effective policing. 

  • Improved frontline response to survivors of family violence. 

The Families Free of Violence (FFOV) Program is an Australian Government-supported initiative implemented to support the Government of Tonga to achieve its objectives in strengthening its response to gender-based violence (GBV). The program contributes to Australia’s regional gender program, Pacific Women Lead, and its commitments to Pacific Island countries including Tonga. The FFOV Program is fully funded by Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and is led by the Australian Federal Police (AFP). FFOV is currently on implementation of Phase II of the program from July 2022 – June 2026.    

The overarching goal of the program is that “Survivors of family violence in Tonga access better quality services and ongoing support.”   

Three End of Program Outcomes (EOPO) will support this goal:  

  • EOPO 1: Women’s Affairs & Gender Equality Division (WAGED), under the Ministry of Internal Affairs, is effectively coordinating implementation of the Family Protection Act, including the Tonga National Service Delivery Protocol (SDP), with diverse service providers. 

  • EOPO 2: Tonga Police demonstrates improved frontline response to survivors of family violence, including on the outer islands.  

  • EOPO 3: Civil Society Forum of Tonga supports increased awareness and engagement in implementation of the Family Protection Act and Tonga National Service Delivery Protocol by diverse Community Service Organisations.