Navnesh Reddy
8 January, 2021, 6:06 am
Pallets of humanitarian aid bound for Fiji are loaded on to Royal Australian Air Force No. 36 Squadron C-17A Globemaster III aircraft at RAAF Base Amberley, Queensland. Picture: AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE
FORCE
A Royal Australian Air Force C-17 aircraft brought in relief supplies on Monday for families impacted by STC Yasa.
The supplies included medical items, sleeping mats, kitchen kits, shelter tool kits and electrical materials.
Acting High Commissioner to Fiji Anna Dorney said the relief items would help a lot of families living in the North.
“The Australian government, through the Australian Defence Force (ADF), is pleased to deliver a third batch of relief supplies for our Fijian vuvale this week,” she said.
Felix Chaudhary
Fijians leaving for work to Australia under the Pacific Labour Scheme. Picture: SUPPLIED
One hundred and eighty-two Fijians, the single largest cohort from any Pacific country until now, departed for work in Australia yesterday under the Pacific Labour Scheme (PLS).
According to a statement from the Australian High Commission in Suva, the workers would take up positions in the agricultural industry across New South Wales.
The Australian government said the PLS “helped address workforce shortages in rural and regional Australia, while providing opportunities for Fijian workers to gain experience, earn an income and send remittances home to support their families and communities”.
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Wanshika Kumar
31 December, 2020, 1:54 pm
Fiji’s Attorney- General and Minister for Economy Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum and Australia’s Acting High Commission to Fiji Anna Dorney at the signing in Suva on Thursday, December 31, 2020. Picture: JONA KONATACI
A direct funding agreement was signed between the governments of Australia and of Fiji today.
Attorney- General and Minister for Economy, Civil Service and Communications Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum said AUD$20million of the agreement fund would be allocated to the poverty benefit scheme.
“Of the AUD$22.5million support, AUD$20million would go specifically to the social welfare support and the funding that has been already allocated to it would be used for other areas such as for some of the expenses that we did not anticipate – for example, the cyclone expenses, so we’ll be able to meet that expenses and other general budget support,” Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said.
Australia provides $35 million support to Fiji
Australia provides $35 million support to Fiji
Minister for Economy Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum and Acting Australian High Commissioner to Fiji Anna Dorney [Image: fijivillage]
Australia has provided $35 million support to help Fiji cope with the economic and social impacts brought by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The funds will be used to support initiatives such as the social welfare payments where $31 million will be allocated to the Poverty Benefit Scheme and $4 million will be directed towards budget support.
Minister for Economy Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum says they can now use the money which was earlier allocated for Social Welfare to provide assistance for those who have been affected by TC Yasa.