PM Rabuka to undertake high-level visit to Australia
01/07/2025
PM Rabuka meets Governor-General of Australia, reaffirms commitment to the renewed and Vuvale partnership
02/07/2025Published On: 01/07/2025
Prime Minister Honourable Sitiveni Rabuka was accorded a traditional “welcome to country” ceremony upon his arrival in Canberra, Australia this afternoon.
The ceremony, held in the heart of the capital, was led by senior representatives of the Ngunnawal people, the traditional custodians of the land on which the Australian capital sits, which includes the Federal Parliament and Government institutions.
Ngunnawal Senior Elder Ms Violet Sheridan performed the traditional rites, formally welcoming Prime Minister Rabuka and his delegation onto their ancestral land.
The ceremony is an act of recognition, acceptance, and cultural inclusion, and includes elements such as spoken word, music, dance, or smoke cleansing (smoking ceremony).
In acknowledging the ceremonial greeting, Prime Minister Rabuka expressed his gratitude and respect to the traditional owners of the land for their warm hospitality.
He said the welcome ceremony is a reminder of the deep cultural heritage and connection to land that our peoples share across the Pacific.
“I offer my respect to the Elders, past, present and emerging, and I pray for blessings and unity among our people,” Prime Minister Rabuka added.
Also in attendance at the ceremony was Ms Tara Cheyne MLA, Attorney-General of the Australian Capital Territory who welcomed Prime Minister Rabuka and his delegation to the capital.
The ACT Attorney General stressed that Prime Minister Rabuka’s visit is a testament to the enduring bonds between Australia and Fiji, adding that through the renewed and elevated Vuvale Partnership, both countries continue to strengthen “our collaboration across shared priorities, from regional security to climate resilience and people-to-people ties”.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister is expected to visit some key Australian institutions tomorrow (Wednesday, 02 July 2025), as part of efforts to further strengthen bilateral cooperation between Fiji and Australia in areas such as security, defence, immigration, and regional development, to name a few.
