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Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Tuvaluan Prime Minister Kausea Natano signed the treaty known as the Falapili Union.
photo: Anthony Albanese
One scholar said that immigration issues United Library Trade between Tuvalu and Australia is a very good deal for the Tuvaluans.
Stephen Howes, Executive Director of the Development Policy Centre at the Australian National University, said Recently published details The treaty provides Tuvaluan immigrants with benefits not available to other countries in Australia.
The Farapili Alliance provides special visas for 280 Tuvaluans each year and is part of a comprehensive agreement that includes providing Australia with vital safe passage within Tuvalu.
Professor House said the immigration agreement had two standout features.
“Generally speaking, Australia’s immigration system is quite discriminatory. It’s like that in every country, if you’re over a certain age or have a disability, generally you can’t immigrate.
“But none of those restrictions apply to this visa, there is no maximum age requirement and there are no disability restrictions,” he said.
He said the second thing that stood out was related to permanent residency visas.
Stephen House.
photo: Sintumajig
While these visas allow people to stay in Australia indefinitely, they do not usually include the right to return if they leave the country.
“After five years, there are certain requirements that must be met to get a permanent residency visa to return, but for this visa, those requirements have been completely waived. So it lasts indefinitely, you can be away for as long as you want and come back at any time.”
While citizenship can eventually be achieved, Howes said the visa is “very close to citizenship.”
“Obviously if you come in on this visa you won’t be able to vote or you won’t be able to work for the Australian government.
“But the right to return to Australia at any time is actually a citizen’s right, so in a sense Australia is providing a form of citizenship for Tuvaluans.”
The academic said he thought that was a good thing because otherwise Tuvaluans might apply to come to Australia and stay long enough to get citizenship, and then they could return at any time.
“The way it’s set up it’s a bit like an option. It’s going to be very popular and I think everyone will want one of these visas. But not everyone is going to come to Australia straight away and people can use it as an option and maybe apply now so they can use it later.”
He said it was not a passport but it was very similar to one.
Currently, Australia has a very small Tuvaluan population, but Mr Howes said that number would soon increase.
It is China’s influence in the Pacific that has prompted Australia to embrace Tuvalu in this way, and the security element of the Farapili alliance is key.
Article 4 Security and Stability Cooperation
- 1. Australia shall, consistent with its international law obligations, international commitments, domestic procedures and capabilities, and upon Tuvalu’s request, provide assistance to Tuvalu in response to: a) a major natural disaster; b) a public health emergency of international concern; or c) military aggression against Tuvalu.
- 2. The Parties shall sign a document setting out the conditions and time frames applicable to Australian persons operating within the territory of Tuvalu.
- 3. In addition to the rights and freedoms enjoyed by both Parties under international law, Tuvalu shall provide Australia with the right to enter, remain in and overfly the territory of Tuvalu, upon prior notification by Australia, if such activities are necessary for the provision of assistance requested by Tuvalu pursuant to this Agreement.
- 4. Tuvalu shall mutually agree with Australia on partnerships, arrangements or engagements with any other country or entity on security and defence related matters. Such matters shall include, but are not limited to, defence, policing, border protection, cyber security and critical infrastructure, including ports, telecommunications and energy infrastructure.
There have been concerns that these security issues could undermine Tuvalu’s sovereignty since the alliance was first formed late last year.
Professor House said the security clauses were clearly aimed at China.
For example, he said, if Tuvalu wanted to have a relationship with China, such as receiving some aid from China, which under some interpretation might involve security issues, then it would need Australia’s permission.
“Tuvalu doesn’t even recognise the People’s Republic of China and has diplomatic relations with Taiwan. Given that things aren’t going to change much, I think it might make it harder for Tuvalu to switch sides, but under the current arrangement, it won’t actually cost Tuvalu anything because it doesn’t even recognise China.”
He said there was little chance Australia could reach a similar agreement with other countries facing the threat of climate change, but it would be a problem as countries such as Nauru and Kiribati had recently switched their support from Taiwan to Beijing.
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