Australia–Tuvalu relations

Tuvalu – Australia are bilateral relations between Tuvalu and Australia.

Tuvalu – Australia relations

Tuvalu
Australia

History

Australia has strong ties with Tuvalu and was one of the three founding donating countries to the Tuvalu Trust Fund and continues as a major donor of aid and technical assistance to Tuvalu.[1] The official currency of Tuvalu from 1966 to 1976 was the Australian dollar, which strengthens the economic bonds between the two countries in particular. Since 1976, Tuvalu began issuing its own coinage (see Tuvaluan dollar) but the country continues to use Australian banknotes as official currency, and the value of the Tuvaluan currency is directly tied to the Australian dollar. In this regard, the Tuvaluan dollar is similar to the Faroese króna's relationship to the Danish krone as the Tuvaluan dollar is not an independent currency but has been assigned an ISO 4217 currency code, although it is treated as equivalent to the Australian dollar.

In August 2009, Australia signed a Pacific Partnership for Development between Australia and Tuvalu at the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders held in Cairns, Australia. Australia was (along with New Zealand and the United Kingdom) one of the three founding donating countries to the Tuvalu Trust Fund.

Australia is a major aid donor to Tuvalu.[1] In 1994, even before the Pacific Partnership between the two countries was signed, Australia donated a Pacific-class patrol boat (HMTSS Te Mataili) provided by Australia under the Pacific Patrol Boat Program for use by the Tuvaluan police force for search and rescue missions and maritime surveillance and fishery patrol.[2] Australia has agreed to provide its maintenance until 2024 as well as training for its operation. Australia's Defence Cooperation Program supports Tuvalu's maritime police force with training, fresh water and supplies. On 7 April 2019, Australia donated a Guardian-class patrol boat that was named HMTSS Te Mataili II, and which will be operated by the maritime surveillance unit of the Tuvalu Police Force.[3][4]

The government of Australia responded to the 2011 Tuvalu drought by working with New Zealand to supply temporary desalination plants;[5] Australia also provide water tanks as part of the longer-term solution for the storage of available fresh water.[6]

Tuvaluans can participate in the Australian Pacific Seasonal Worker Program, which allows Pacific Islanders to obtain seasonal employment in the Australian agriculture industry, in particular cotton and cane operations; fishing industry, in particular aquaculture; and with accommodation providers in the tourism industry.[7]

Technical and Vocational Skills Development (TVSD) in Tuvalu is supported by the Australian Pacific Training Coalition (APTC).[8]

Australian High Commission in Tuvalu

In the 2018 Federal budget, Australia allocated funding to establish a High Commission in Tuvalu,[9] which was established in Tuvalu Road, Vaiaku, Funafuti.[10]

The first Head of Mission is Ms Karyn Murray, Australian High Commissioner to Tuvalu.[10]

See also

References
  1. "Development assistance in Tuvalu". Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. April 2019. Retrieved 11 April 2019.
  2. "Tuvalu country brief". Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
  3. Christopher Pyne (2019-04-07). "Guardian Class Patrol Boat gifted to Tuvalu". Department of Defence. Retrieved 2019-04-07. Te Mataili II was received by the Prime Minister of Tuvalu, the Right Hon Enele Sosene Sopoaga at a handover ceremony attended by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Trade, Tourism, Environment and Labour, the Hon Taukelina Finikaso, the Minister for Natural Resources, the Hon Dr Puakena Boreham, and the Commissioner of the Tuvalu Police Service, Commissioner Luka Falefou.
  4. "Australia hands over Guardian-class patrol boat to Tuvalu". Naval Today. 2019-04-06. Retrieved 2019-04-07. The 39.5 meter steel hulled patrol boat was built by Australian shipbuilder Austal under an AUD 335 million program that will see 21 boats gifted to 12 Pacific Island countries and Timor-Leste.
  5. Macrae, Alistair (11 October 2011). "Tuvalu in a fight for its life". The Drum – Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 12 October 2011.
  6. Marles, Richard, Parliamentary Secretary for Pacific Island Affairs (Australia) (12 October 2011). "Climate change poses a Pacific problem". The Punch – News Limited. Archived from the original on 13 October 2011. Retrieved 12 October 2011.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  7. "Seasonal Worker Programme". Department of Employment (Australia). 2017. Archived from the original on 15 August 2012. Retrieved 13 October 2017.
  8. "How TVET Change Happens: Tuvalu Stakeholder Perspectives" (PDF). Australian Pacific Training Coalition (APTC). November 2019. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  9. Murray, Lisa (9 May 2018). "Federal budget 2018: Australia sets up a diplomatic post in Tuvalu". Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 30 December 2018.
  10. "Australian High Commission -Tuvalu". Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Retrieved 6 January 2021.

[[[Category:Tuvalu and the Commonwealth of Nations]]

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