Australia and Papua New Guinea discussed direct recruitment of Papua New Guineans into the Australian Defence Force and the implementation of key security agreements as the two countries hold their first ministerial forum since becoming allies.
The 32nd Australia-Papua New Guinea Ministerial Forum opened in Port Moresby Tuesday, with ministers from both countries focused on strengthening defence and security cooperation, trade, investment, health and education.
Australian Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles said the new alliance marked a significant change in the relationship between the two neighbours.
“We have always been the deepest of friends. Now we have each other’s back. That’s what it means to be allies,” Marles said.
He said the forum examined how the alliance could be advanced, including plans to recruit Papua New Guineans directly into the Australian Defence Force (ADF).
Australia has eight ministers attending the meeting, which brings together senior representatives from both governments to advance agreements and identify practical outcomes.
PNG Foreign Minister Justin Tkatchenko said the forum was an opportunity to take the relationship to another level across several sectors.
“Papua New Guinea and Australia are allies. Our relationship has gone to the highest level ever,” Tkatchenko said.
He said cooperation in health, education and security was important to ensuring both countries and the wider Pacific remained safe and prosperous.
Australian Foreign Minister, Penny Wong said the alliance was not only about what the two countries did together, but also how they worked with each other.
“Being allies goes to what we do together, but it also goes to how we do it,” Wong said.
She said consultation, engagement, respectful cooperation and joint implementation would be central to the relationship.
Australian Minister for Pacific Island Affairs, Pat Conroy said implementation of existing agreements would be a major focus of the two-day forum.
“Fine words on paper are important, but implementation is even more important,” Conroy said.
He said progress had been made on the bilateral security agreement and the alliance, but the priority was ensuring people in both countries experienced tangible benefits.
“Implementation must be the North Star of everything we do so that the people of both Papua New Guinea and Australia see the close benefits from our close relationship,” he said.
Australia is Papua New Guinea’s largest trading and investment partner, Marles said, describing the relationship as one of unique importance to Canberra.
The forum comes as both governments seek to translate the strengthened alliance into closer defence cooperation, economic opportunities and practical benefits for their people.
