Minister of Finance happy with bilateral talk with Australia High Commissioner

In a government press release issued by the Office of the Minister for Finance and Ministry of Infrastructure, Minister of Finance and Infrastructure Honourable Crossley Tatui and Australia High Commissioner Her Excellency Louise Ellerton met at Fale Fono II yesterday to discuss Niue and Australia’s bilateral relations. 

According to the press statement, the aim of the meeting was to highlight Niue and Australia’s diplomatic relations over the years since setting up a diplomatic office in Niue in May 2020. 

Hon. Crossley Tatui says the two focus areas between Niue and Australia’s relations include “increasing accessibility of quality services for the wellbeing of our people” and to “build resilience in sustainable budgeting and infrastructure management from natural disasters and Climate Change impacts”. 

In addition to these focus areas, Hon. Tatui says that “specific goals from the aid programs should see Niuean graduates using their acquired qualifications and skills to contribute to Niue’s social and economic development. In addition the ongoing small grants funding support to benefit village communities and civil society.”

Ms. Louise Ellerton emphasised the importance of growing Niue’s International Trust Fund to help support Niue’s fiscal sustainability and supporting critical infrastructure which can deliver clear and sustainable development outcomes.BCN News obtained a copy of the government’s financial report up to 31 December 2021 which recorded donor project funds received by the government over the past 8 months up to end of February this year, where the Australia government provided a total of $1.4 million dollars support – $800,000 received in October last year for the Wharf project, $400,000 received in January this year to help with the new parliament building and in February this year, the Australian government provided an additional $250,000 towards the Waste recovery project.