Speech to MORDI event, Tonga

Thank you very much. Can I begin by acknowledging the Minister for [indistinct], the Minister for Internal Affairs, the CEO of Finance, CEO of Agriculture, members of the clergy, community members, Board CEO, and staff affording all protocols observed. 

It's been a delightful morning here and an inspiring morning. So, thank you for letting me attend today and congratulations to the people of the Government of Tonga on such a successful Pacific Island Forum Leaders Week. It's been important coming together as a Pacific family to discuss important issues and work on our shared priorities, like climate change, regional security and economic prosperity. And here we are in a place that embodies all three of those priorities; action on climate change, shared regional security, and prosperity. Australia deeply values our relationship with Tonga and it's one that's strengthened by our community, cultural, church and sporting links and endures throughout development partnerships. 

And I'm so pleased to come to MORDI today, to see the Development Corporation in action. For more than a decade, as the CEO mentioned, we've been working together on rural development, disaster response and agricultural research. And I'm delighted to announce today that the Tonga-Australia Resilient Communities program and Australia's commitment of Tonga for under 15 million or Australian $9.5 million for the new program. Thank you. 

The program will provide grants to all communities across Tonga to implement their priorities identified in Community Development Programs, and I saw some of the products there. Projects like water storage, food security and community evacuation, and projects which build resilience to climate change. And that's what struck me today. Australia's new international development policy is all about being led by our partners in the Pacific and being led by people on the ground. And what is happening here through the Community Development Programs, in consultation with 80 per cent of communities, is that in action. So, it's been a real privilege to see it. With the backing of the Government of Tonga and support from MORDI, Tongan communities have come together to develop those robust plans that reflect their priorities, particularly the needs of women, youth and people with a disability. 

And that's what also struck me on the tour was how much it was focused on women in the community. These are things that are focused on giving an income to women, giving them self-sufficiency, reliance and independence. And we're committed to those locally led, locally developed solutions. And I can say this line is a symbol of that planned to be partnership with Australia through ACIA and the [indistinct] and the contribution of that to your local community. I should also thank the Government and people of Tonga for leaving a bag of kava in my room and a bag of beautiful Arabica coffee from Tonga. I look forward to bringing both of them home to my community and really enjoying the fruits of your prosperous, vibrant, fertile island chain. So, I look forward to coming back and seeing this program in action going forward, and I wish the program and all the participants every success, particularly those on the other islands. But malo 'aupito for having me here today. Thank you.