High Commissioner to the Kingdom of Tonga

Today I announce the appointment of Mr Brek Batley as Australia’s next High Commissioner to the Kingdom of Tonga.

Australia is deeply committed to our longstanding partnership with the Kingdom of Tonga.  It is underpinned by decades of close cooperation and strong community and people-to-people links. 

This relationship was further strengthened by our support for Tonga’s response to the devastating impacts of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcanic eruption and tsunami in January 2022.

Australia will continue to support Tonga’s priorities in economic recovery, climate change, health and infrastructure and will work closely with Tonga in its year as Chair of the Pacific Islands Forum.  

Mr Batley is a senior career officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and was most recently Assistant Secretary, Solomon Islands Branch.

He has previously served overseas as Ambassador to the Marshall Islands, and has had postings in Pakistan, Papua New Guinea and Afghanistan.

I thank outgoing High Commissioner Rachael Moore for her contributions to advancing Australia’s interests in Tonga since 2021.