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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese became the first international leader to address the PNG Parliament, pledging enhanced education, healthcare and defence cooperation — while committing to streamlining the visa application process.
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During the address, Prime Minister Albanese evoked the enduring relationship between Australia and its northern neighbour, referring to interactions between Torres Strait Islanders and PNG traders through to more recent humanitarian cooperation.
During the speech, Prime Minister Albanese pledged to deepen the education and healthcare cooperation between the two nations — supporting greater vocational training and healthcare readiness in the Pacific nation.
“The government I lead is committed to strengthening Australia’s education partnership with PNG,” the Prime Minister told Parliament.
“Working with you on the important priorities you’ve identified: including the early years and vocational education and training.
“And making sure that equality for women and girls goes far beyond the opportunity to attend school.
“Australia will continue to provide support to PNG’s health priorities, including in infectious diseases, such as TB, HIV, child and maternal health and malaria.”
The address further committed greater support to PNG’s infrastructure requirements, delivering economic advantages for the Pacific nation.
“Upgrading ports, to create jobs and clear-away bottlenecks, as well as opening the door for developing export industries,” PM Albanese told Parliament.
The promise follows plans under the previous coalition government to upgrade and repair ageing PNG ports.
Then Minister for International Development and the Pacific Zed Seselja explained that upgrading the ports would result in significant benefits for PNG citizens.
“Works will also include urgent repairs and upgrades for deteriorated coastal wharves that are up to 70 years old. By improving community access to healthcare, education and livelihoods, this partnership will make a real difference to people’s lives,” former Minister Seselja said.
Building greater security cooperation with Australia’s northern neighbour has been a priority for the Albanese government following a meeting between Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles and PM Marape in Port Moresby last year.
The meeting included exploring the potential for a new security treaty, aimed at ramping up defence collaboration.
“We’ve been talking a lot about how at a defence level we can do more together, have more coordination, have our servicemen and women working alongside each other more in the spirit of partnership,” Deputy Prime Minister Marles said.
“We’re looking at ways in which we can support that, at a policing level as well, looking at a bilateral security treaty so that we elevate the arrangements between our two countries to the status of a treaty document between our two nations.”
The agreement would reportedly include increasing investment in PNG’s military to fill “capability gaps”.
More to follow.
