Commissioning of His Majesty’s Armed Forces new landing craft VOEA Late

To His Majesty King Tupou the Sixth;

His Royal Highness the Crown Prince Tupouto’a ‘Ulukalala, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for His Majesty’s Armed Forces;

Chief of the Defence Staff, Brigadier Lord Fielakepa;

Nobles of the Realm;

Members of the Diplomatic Corps;

Distinguished guests;

Ladies and gentlemen;

Malo e Laumalie – good morning. 

It is a true honour to be here today in my role as Australia’s Assistant Minister for Defence, to visit the beautiful Kingdom of Tonga for the first time. 

This is a historic period between our countries. It was a true honour for Australia and our Governor-General to have recently hosted Your Majesties on your recent visit to Canberra and Sydney, which celebrated and reflected upon our more than 200 years of friendship, including 55 years of diplomatic relations, and set a strong path forward as close partners for decades to come. 

Next month, Tonga will mark a monumental milestone with celebrations for the 150^th anniversary of the Kingdom’s constitution – one of the oldest in the world. This too reminds us of the deep links between our countries, with New South Wales’s constitution and governance experiences being drawn upon by Tonga as it formed its own foundational documents. 

We also just shared 110 years of ANZAC commemorations. It is not lost on any Australian that Tonga is the only country, other than New Zealand and Australia, that pauses each year to reflect by marking this day with a public holiday. Together, we understand the meaning of sacrifice in the defence of sovereignty. 

And for 80 years we have maintained a peaceful Pacific, where we have depended on each other while shaping the region we want to leave for our kids. This peace is not a given.

This history matters. Across our broad and growing partnership, security – along with our values – has always played an important role and brought us together. 

Australian defence men and women have worked alongside HMAF for close to 40 years, although our defence cooperation dates to World War 1. This has built deep trust and strong bonds. 

In recent years, we have been proud to help enhance Tonga’s sovereignty by supporting new HMAF infrastructure; two guardian patrol boats, the construction of Northern Command; as well as the refurbishments and climate resilient improvements to Masefield and Taliai bases. 

We are both committed to learning from each other, being there for each other, and building our respective capabilities to defend the region together. 

More than 200 courses in Australia are offered to HMAF staff annually. Together, we train and gain from each other in exercises like Talisman Sabre.  

To HMAF leadership and staff, your exemplary service and commitment to the nation has built Tonga to be a bastion of stability, faith, community and Pasifika leadership.

These values and talents were on full display in May this year, when Australia’s Foreign Minister, Hon Senator Penny Wong and Assistant Minister Thistlethwaite visited Masefield. The music performance by HMAF, together with Tonga Police, Tupou College and Queen Salote College was a highlight of their time here. Thank you for your hospitality then, and your warm hospitality today.   

Today is another proud moment in our shared history. The VOEA LATE represents the depth of our partnership, a partnership that continues to grow and flourish as we face mutual challenges such as climate change and increased geostrategic competition within our region. 

The highly capable vessel commissioned by His Majesty today, the largest in the Tonga Royal Navy, is a fitting symbol of Australia’s commitment as Tonga’s leading maritime partner. 

As a fellow maritime nation, we know how critical it is to operate safely and effectively in our oceans – the lifeblood that connects and sustains us all.

Beyond our maritime cooperation, I am thrilled to see the Australian Army contingent deployed to Tonga for the 2025 Povai Series, its largest iteration yet. Thank you to His Majesty’s Armed Forces for hosting the contingent at Taliai Military Camp, and I look forward to visiting later today. 

We’re also expanding our cooperation into new areas to meet modern threats, including in the cyber domain.  

Training and operating together here in the Kingdom, in Australia, and across our region, makes both our forces more ready for the challenges we face, side by side. 

The recent Blue Pacific Ocean of Peace Declaration, endorsed first at the Pacific Islands Forum Foreign Ministers Meeting chaired by His Royal Highness, and then by PIF leaders, has made our Pacific priorities clear to the world.

Tongan leadership on climate change, disaster resilience, and regional security, is bringing us closer to delivering the collective peace and security initiatives, respectful of national sovereignty, that the Declaration calls for.

Australia shares your deep concern for the effects of a warming climate, recognised by the Boe Declaration [boy declaration] as an existential threat to our peace and security. We are proud to support Tonga’s leadership in hosting the Pacific Resilience Facility, a milestone in addressing this threat.

It remains an unfortunate reality of our region that natural disasters are all too common. Only through our shared capabilities can we be ready to respond. Together we’re building Pacific-led solutions, including the Pacific Response Group, which is coming together again in Brisbane for the upcoming high-risk weather season. All the best to the members of His Majesty’s Armed Forces who will soon depart Tonga to make their contribution.

And should disaster again befall Tonga or elsewhere in the Pacific, the new VOEA LATE will be another tool at His Majesty’s Armed Forces’ disposal, ready to assist the people of Tonga and the region in their hour of need. 

Tonga and Australia have stood shoulder-to-shoulder as close friends or Kaume’a Ofi across 55 years of diplomatic relations.

On 19 September, Your Majesty alongside Australia’s Head of State, Governor-General, Her Excellency the Honourable Sam Mostyn, witnessed the signing of a Statement of Intent committing our two nations to elevate our partnership, through a comprehensive and enduring agreement – the Kaume’a Ofi.

Kaume’a Ofi is a beautiful and evocative term.

It captures the true nature of the connection between the Kingdom of Tonga and Australia – one built over centuries based on warmth, trust, mutual respect, dependability and shared values.

A relationship that has the strongest of ties, the personal, people-to-people, community and blood ties. Kaume’a Ofi is the truest sense of mateship, but may I say we are also family.

And during the visit we saw the Tongan-Australian community come out in force – a vibrant and generous community, a community of faith, and a community of kindness.

These are the values some may consider intangibles, yet faith, family, kindness, humility and love are the most powerful forces in creation that bind us as human beings. 

They also bind our nations together, and light the path ahead, which we walk side by side.  

Your Majesty and Your Royal Highness, thank you for the honour to be here today. 

Brigadier Lord Fielakepa and His Majesty’s Armed Forces, thank you for the continued trust you place in Australia as a defence partner.

And to the crew of Late, ‘fair winds and following seas’ as you serve your people with distinction.