By Tevita Motulalo
Members of the Tonga Police's Special Armed Squad receiving Australian-donated badges from Parlaimentary Secretary Richard Marles last week
Australia’s Parliamentary Secretary of Pacific Islands Affairs, Richard Marles thinks the benefits of seabed minerals should be maximised for the benefit of the Pacific country they are taken from.
Marles was in Tonga last week to reaffirm Australia’s support as a Pacific partner and a friend of Tonga, wrapping up a region-wide tour to all the small states in the Pacific.
“We see ourselves as very close friends and we want to be the best of friends that we can be to Tonga,” he said toTonga Chronicle in a doorstep media conference just before departing Nuku‘alofa.
“The Gillard Labour government regards the Pacific as absolutely crucial to Australia’s Foreign Policy. Whatever else happens around the world our neighbourhood will always be our neighbourhood. And for that reason the Pacific is our collective neighbourhood,” he said.
But the issue of seabed minerals had been a key point in discussions with the Tongan Cabinet, amidst the exchange regarding the ‘partners in development’ program for Tonga.
In Tonga, Australian companies are involved in the prospecting for underwater commercial mining and Marles thinks there are two key issues to be looked at.
“One is that I don’t think this is about to happen tomorrow. This is a long-term prospect, but as a long-term prospect I think it does offer a significant source of hope and opportunity for the people,” he said.
“Secondly, I think what matters [most] as this important issue is discussed is that countries think about ways…such that the return from it is maximised for countries in whose resources they reside and that there is a long-term benefit for the countries involved.”
“And that may ultimately involve,” according to Marles, “with the underwater treasures in each respective exclusion economic zone, being a benefit for the next generation rather than this one but that the important preparatory work being done now for that.”
He continued, “I think in the short term we’re not about to see people make a whole lot of money overnight, and I actually think that [does] not occur so that the returns are maximised.”
Surveillance of Pacific security and EEZs is done by the ‘Quadrilateral Group’- Australia, New Zealand, the United States and France.
None of the smaller Pacific states are involved in that forum, and neither does a rising Pacific presence like China.
“Whilst in a sense those quadrilateral talks are focusing on having those four countries present, the kind of programs that are coming out are involving all of the countries of the Pacific,” he said.
It is clear that the Pacific Patrol Boat program, with three patrol vessels donated by Australia “work in very closely with the network of surveillance which is being built with the assets of the US Coast Guard, the Australian Navy, the New Zealand Navy, and the French Navy.”
He made no comment on China.
“A fantastic day”
Marles met Prime Minister Tu‘ivakano first thing Friday morning after arriving Thursday night, being the first high-level delegation from Australia to do so since last year’s election and the formation of the new government.
“Look, we’ve had a fantastic day here in Tonga and it’s been a real privilege,” he says.
Later on he visited Nuku’alofa Government Primary School, for which Australia has funded new curriculum materials for students and teachers, and then a short ceremony giving out identification badges for Tonga Police members also funded by Australia.
Other than Australia’s overseas development assistance in Tonga, there were also discussions on the Seasonal Worker’s program in Australia.
“Which has had a very strong uptake from people in Tonga. And we’re very pleased about that. That’s a program that we’re keen to see expanding [and] to get an understanding from the government here about how we may improve it.”
On further financial assistance, Marles said Tonga “faces obviously a number of financial challenges going forward.”
He said the Australian government is “very keen and appreciative” of a “Public Expenditure Review Process, which is been undertaken by the Government of Tonga in the context of our aid program with Tonga.”
“And I understand that will continue and that is very good news for us,” he said.
It was also an opportunity for him to clarify the layers in Australian foreign aid structure.
“We’ve got a very structured way in which all of these issues can be processed,” he said, hinting a more “structured way in which each of the requests can be met.”
“I think it’s been a very important step forward having the partnership for development,” said Marles, but not one to be seen as to give “handouts”.
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