50th Anniversary of Fiji's Independence
- The Hon Scott Morrison MP, Prime Minister
- Senator the Hon Marise Payne, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Minister for Women
- The Hon Alex Hawke MP, Assistant Defence Minister, Minister for International Development and the Pacific
Australia joins the Government and people of the Republic of Fiji in celebrating 50 years of Fiji’s independence. On 10 October 1970, Fiji took its place in the international community as an independent state.
Since that time, Fiji has made its mark — globally and regionally — as a strong voice for sustainable development, a valued contributor to peacekeeping and a formidable force on the sporting field.
While COVID-19 is keeping us apart physically, we stand in spirit with our Fiji vuvale to celebrate this milestone, which also marks 50 years of diplomatic relations between our two countries.
The Australia-Fiji relationship is one built on strong political, security, economic and people-to-people links, and one that continues to grow stronger through the Fiji-Australia vuvale Partnership and Australia’s Pacific Step-Up.
It is a relationship marked by mutual respect and mutual regard; as we have shown during this testing year, Australia and Fiji are there for each other.
Australia is deeply grateful for the support provided by Fiji’s Bula Force to assist communities affected by bushfires earlier this year.
We have been proud to support Fiji’s response to COVID-19 and Tropical Cyclone Harold, with urgent medical and humanitarian supplies, and with budget support to assist Fiji in these unprecedented times.
Australia looks forward to the next 50 years — and beyond — standing with Fiji and forging an even stronger future in our Pacific.