Opinion: Australia May Be the Biggest Donor, But Tonga Must Remain the Driver
By Melino Maka
Tonga Independent News
Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong returned to Tonga this week with congratulations, chequebooks, and charm. Coming fresh off her party’s election victory, she brought with her a familiar message: Australia is Tonga’s largest development and security partner.
Yes, the dollars are significant—AUD $50 million over four years, plus another $5 million in budget support, $1 million in community grants, and renewed pledges to back climate resilience, health, and governance reforms. But beyond the announcements and carefully managed optics, an important question must be asked:
Is Tonga shaping the partnership—or simply receiving it?
Aid Is Welcome, But Ownership Matters
There is no denying that Australia plays a major role in our development landscape. Its funding spans across education, health, security, and the labor mobility scheme that sends hundreds of Tongans to pick fruit in rural Australia. Senator Wong’s visit and the commitments made are generous and appreciated.
But while Australia touts itself as Tonga’s largest donor, it is Tonga that must ensure it remains the author of its development story. Prime Minister Dr. ʻAisake Eke struck the right tone in the press conference—welcoming the aid but firmly reinforcing Tonga’s sovereignty, strategic neutrality, and the importance of mutual respect.
It was a subtle yet important shift. No longer should Tonga simply thank donors. We must demand accountability, relevance, and results—on our terms.
Climate Finance: Will Australia Follow Through?
A particularly pointed moment came during questions on Tonga’s national Climate Change Trust Fund. Tonga is the only Small Island Developing State (SIDS) with such a domestic mechanism, and yet Australia has not directly funded it.
Instead, Foreign Minister Wong reaffirmed Australia’s commitment to the regional Pacific Resilience Facility (PRF)—an initiative Tonga itself helped lead under its current chairmanship of the Pacific Islands Forum. While the PRF is a regional win, Tonga’s own national fund remains under-supported.
This raises a critical issue: Are donors bypassing local systems in favour of mechanisms they can more easily control? If Australia truly respects Pacific-led solutions, it must invest in both regional and national climate structures.
Labor Mobility: A Double-Edged Sword
On labour mobility, both governments acknowledged the social costs of seasonal work schemes. While remittances are vital, the exodus of young Tongans has contributed to domestic labour shortages, family separation, and the fraying of village life. The Prime Minister called for a redesign of the scheme to better balance economic benefits with social cohesion.
Wong’s response was diplomatic: “We’ll be led by Tonga.” That’s encouraging—but leadership means more than consultation. It means co-designing schemes that serve Tonga’s long-term goals, not just Australia’s agricultural needs.
On Sovereignty: Words Must Become Strategy
Senator Wong repeatedly emphasized “sovereignty”—as if saying the word often enough would reassure Pacific nations that Australia isn’t seeking to dominate. But in a region crowded with external interests—China, the US, and others—talk of sovereignty must be backed by action.
That means not just being the biggest donor, but the most respectful one. One that listens before it launches. One that funds what we ask for, not just what fits Canberra’s strategic calculations.
Prime Minister Eke was wise to reiterate that Tonga remains non-aligned, with “no enemies and friends to all.” That diplomatic posture is essential if Tonga is to navigate today’s complex geopolitical waters. But it must be matched with policy clarity and institutional strength—to ensure aid is a tool of empowerment, not dependency.
A Pacific That Chooses for Itself
Australia is Tonga’s partner—yes. But we must not let ourselves be turned into a client state, no matter how generous the cheque. Our voice must grow louder in the partnership. Our frameworks—like the Climate Change Trust Fund—must be funded. Our citizens, whether here or abroad, must be treated with dignity.
The Pacific is changing. Geopolitical competition is intensifying. Climate threats are growing. In this landscape, aid matters—but agency matters more.
Australia can be a generous friend. But Tonga must be a sovereign driver. Not just the grateful recipient of support, but the clear-eyed architect of its own future.
Let the dollars come—but let our dignity lead.
