John Faulkner (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Vice-President of the Executive Council) Share this | Hansard source

This is an important matter. Of course, Australia is committed to supporting, as it has for a very long time, its regional neighbours in times of crisis. We also maintain teams ready to deploy at short notice for emergencies in the region. Australian enjoys a close and productive relationship with Tonga. This close relationship can be no more clearly defined than by the Defence Cooperation Program with Tonga, which is currently in its 21st year, providing a wide variety of military assistance to the Tongan Defence Service. The Tongan Defence Service is a small but very capable military force that plays an important role in operations such as the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands. At this time our thoughts are with the Tongan community for this ferry disaster. (Time expired)