Cuba owes Australia almost $10m from 1980s

The Cuban government is yet to pay back almost $10 million it borrowed from Australia more than 30 years ago.

The Hawke government issued two loans to Cuba in 1984 and 1985 to support the sale of sugar cultivation and harvesting equipment.

Australia is still owed $9.49 million in principal, after nearly $156,000 was paid in October last year.

No interest payments have been made, Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop said in a written response to a question from Liberal backbencher Eric Abetz.

Under terms of the bilateral agreement of debt treatment, interest does not accrue or become payable until 2021.