The Australian government has provided $86.6 million in budget support funding to Fiji. 

The Direct Funding Arrangement was formalised this morning, by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Professor Biman Prasad, and the Australian High Commissioner to Fiji Ewen McDonald. 

Australia’s Budget Support program is tied to key reform areas including contributing to more effective and accountable Public Financial Management, critical infrastructure like the CWM Hospital, health and education. 

Since 2018, Australia has provided over 450 million dollars in budget support. 

The Finance Minister said that sustainable economic growth and well functioning Public Financial Management are essential for stability, prosperity and providing services to the vulnerable groups.  

“We’re very pleased that we are undertaking these key reforms, which is contributing to more effective and accountable public finance financial management, contributing to economic reforms for enhanced recovery and resilience.”

“We have a number of policy reforms that we have been successful in getting approved, and some of them are in the process of being undertaken,” he said. 

Australian High Commissioner to Fiji Ewen McDonald said the budget support is essential in helping the government meet its fiscal priorities and strategy.

McDonald revealed that Australia will increase its funding to Fiji by 40 per cent in the next financial year.