Australia’s newly appointed High Commissioner to Fiji, Peter Llewelyn Roberts, has formally begun his diplomatic posting after presenting his Letter of Credence to the President of the Republic of Fiji, Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu, during a ceremonial event held at the State House today.
The credentials, authorised by the Governor-General of Australia, were accompanied by Letters of Recall for former High Commissioner Ewen McDonald.
President Ratu Naiqama congratulated High Commissioner Roberts on his appointment and, on behalf of the Fijian Government and people, extended best wishes for a successful tenure.
During their meeting, the President reaffirmed Australia’s role as a key strategic partner for Fiji, particularly under the elevated Vuvale Partnership Agreement, which has facilitated initiatives in trade and investment, defence, labour mobility, governance, health, and infrastructure.
“As Fiji’s largest development partner, Australian support is felt widely across key sectors through various assistance programs that have bolstered national development,” President Ratu Naiqama said. He noted that the upcoming Development Partnership Plan will further define the shared priorities between the two nations.
On the critical issue of climate change, the President expressed Fiji’s strong support for Australia’s bid to host COP31 in 2026. He said this would be a pivotal opportunity for the Pacific region to influence global climate policy, accelerate climate action, and highlight the urgent needs of island nations vulnerable to environmental threats.
In response, High Commissioner Roberts congratulated President Ratu Naiqama on his recent appointment as Head of State and expressed enthusiasm for working closely with the Fijian Government to deepen cooperation in areas including trade, tourism, development, defence, disaster response, seasonal work programmes, and climate resilience.
The ceremony included a 30-member Guard of Honour mounted by the Republic of Fiji Military Forces, led by Second Lieutenant Edward Vakatalai, with Captain Arvind Lal serving as temporary Aide-de-Camp to the High Commissioner.
A seasoned diplomat, Roberts previously served as Deputy Head of Mission at the Australian Embassy in Tokyo and was Ambassador to Timor-Leste from 2018 to 2022. His roles in Canberra have included Head of the Strategic Communications Taskforce and Key Sectors Taskforce in the Office of the Pacific (DFAT), Assistant Secretary of North Asia Goods in the Free Trade Agreement Division, and leadership roles in DFAT’s Climate Change Section.
High Commissioner Roberts holds a Bachelor of Asian Studies (Hons) (1999) and a Bachelor of Science (1997), both from the Australian National University (ANU). His appointment signals a continued commitment to the Fiji–Australia Vuvale partnership and the shared vision of a secure, resilient, and prosperous Pacific region.
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