: Prime Minister Hon. James Marape will travel to Brisbane, Australia, tomorrow for a series of high-level bilateral, regional and people-to-people engagements aimed at further strengthening the elevated Papua New Guinea– Australia partnership.
The Official Visit, scheduled from Tuesday, 7 July to Wednesday, 8 July, will culminate in the 6th Papua New Guinea–Australia Annual Leaders Dialogue between Prime Minister Marape and Australian Prime Minister Hon. Anthony Albanese. The Annual Leaders Dialogue will provide an important opportunity for the two leaders to take stock of the rapidly growing relationship between Papua New Guinea and Australia, advance shared priorities, and reaffirm their commitment to a secure, prosperous and resilient Pacific region. In its sixth year now, the PNG-Australia Annual Leaders Dialogue continues to be a significant avenue through which both Prime Ministers meet frequently to discuss and progress practical implementation of issues of mutual importance. Prime Minister Marape said PNG and Australia had moved beyond a traditional donor-recipient relationship towards a deeper partnership founded on mutual respect, shared strategic interests, economic opportunity and the security of the Blue Pacific. “Papua New Guinea and Australia are not merely neighbours; we are family, history and strategic partners,” Prime Minister Marape said. “Our relationship has been elevated in recent years because both countries recognise that the security, prosperity and stability of Papua New Guinea are directly connected to the security, prosperity and stability of Australia and the wider Pacific family. This Visit is about ensuring that our partnership delivers practical and lasting benefits for our people — in security, jobs, telecommunications, energy, climate action, sports, education, infrastructure and economic opportunity.”
The Prime Minister’s programme will include engagements with senior Australian Government Leaders, Parliamentarians and Officials, including Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Hon. Richard Marles, Australian Pacific Leaders and other Regional representatives. A major highlight of Wednesday’s programme will be the Annual Leaders Dialogue at the Commonwealth Parliamentary Offices in Brisbane, followed by the Exchange of Diplomatic Notes marking the entry into force of the PNG–Australia Mutual Defence Treaty, known as the Pukpuk Treaty. Prime Minister Marape said the Pukpuk Treaty reflected a new era of closer Defence Cooperation while fully respecting Papua New Guinea’s sovereignty, Constitutional processes and the independent role of the Papua New Guinea Defence Force. “The Pukpuk Treaty strengthens our ability to protect our people, our borders, our waters and our shared Pacific region,” he said. “However, Papua New Guinea’s position remains clear: our Defence Force must grow as a modern, capable and sovereign national institution. Our cooperation with Australia must build PNGDF capacity, improve training, strengthen logistics, support intelligence-sharing and create opportunities for our young people — while maintaining our national independence and sovereign control.” Prime Minister Marape said a major practical opportunity flowing from the enhanced Defence partnership would be a pathway for up to 10,000 Papua New Guineans to be recruited into the Australian Defence Force over time. He said the Government wanted to progress this opportunity as soon as possible, subject to the agreed recruitment arrangements, eligibility requirements, training standards and the necessary safeguards to ensure Papua New Guinea also benefits from the skills and experience gained by its citizens. “This is one of the significant opportunities arising from our strengthened Defence relationship with Australia,” Prime Minister Marape said. “Up to 10,000 Papua New Guineans can be given a pathway into the Australian Defence Force, gaining discipline, professional training, technical capability, employment experience and leadership skills. We want to start this process as soon as possible, but it must be done properly and in a way that protects PNG’s national interests. Our priority is not simply for Papua New Guineans to leave and remain overseas. We want a circular skills economy where our people gain world-class training and experience, and where those skills can also return home to strengthen the PNG Defence Force, our public service, our communities and the wider national workforce.”
Prime Minister Marape said Papua New Guinea would continue to advocate for a Pacific-led security architecture based on the principle that Pacific security must be shaped and protected by Pacific countries themselves. He said the Leaders Dialogue would also discuss the implementation of Defence Cooperation initiatives, including the proposed Australian Defence Force recruitment pathway for PNG citizens. “Our young people need genuine pathways into employment, skills and leadership opportunities,” Prime Minister Marape said. “But these pathways must complement PNG’s own workforce and Defence Force development. We want a circular skills economy where Papua New Guineans gain world-class training and experience, then bring their skills, discipline, technical knowledge and leadership back to help build our country.”
The Prime Minister said Telecommunications and Digital Transformation would be another important area of discussion, including progress on the Pukpuk Digital Connectivity Initiative and the wider Telecommunications Blueprint for Papua New Guinea. He said affordable, reliable and secure digital connectivity was essential for modern education, health, commerce, public administration, innovation and national development. “Digital connectivity is no longer a luxury; it is a foundation for economic growth and equal opportunity,” Prime Minister Marape said. “Papua New Guinea welcomes partnership with Australia and Private-Sector Partners to expand international cable connectivity, improve resilience and reduce the cost of internet services for our people. At the same time, PNG will preserve its digital sovereignty, protect our data, strengthen cybersecurity and ensure that technology serves our national development priorities.”
The Annual Leaders Dialogue will also cover regional energy and fuel security, climate action, Pacific resilience, high-integrity carbon markets, renewable energy transition and preparations towards the next global climate negotiations. Prime Minister Marape said Papua New Guinea would continue to speak strongly for practical Climate Finance and greater recognition of the country’s role as one of the world’s major Rainforest and Ocean nations. “Papua New Guinea is a green and blue lung of our region and the world,” he said. “Our forests, rivers, seas and biodiversity are global assets, but the people who protect them must receive fair and practical support. We will continue working with Australia and Pacific partners to secure climate finance that reaches communities, strengthens resilience, supports clean energy, protects our forests and oceans, and creates sustainable livelihoods.”
Another key event during the Brisbane programme will be the launch of the Pacific Rugby League Pathways Partnership, involving Australia, the NRL and Pacific Nations. Prime Minister Marape said Rugby League remained a powerful force for national unity in Papua New Guinea and an increasingly important avenue for youth development, education, employment, tourism and international engagement. “In Papua New Guinea, Rugby League is more than sport; it is a unifying force across our more than 800 languages, cultures and communities,” he said. “Our young people have talent, passion and resilience. What they need are clear pathways, quality coaching, education, welfare support and opportunities to build sustainable careers on and off the field. The Pacific Rugby League Pathways Partnership will help create those pathways for boys and girls across Papua New Guinea and the wider Pacific.” Prime Minister Marape said the partnership complemented Papua New Guinea’s preparations for the PNG Chiefs’ entry into the NRL competition in 2028. He said the Chiefs project would generate long-term benefits for tourism, hospitality, aviation, infrastructure, local business and national unity, while providing a platform for Papua New Guinean and Pacific talent to reach the highest levels of rugby league. “The PNG Chiefs will not only be a sporting team,” Prime Minister Marape said. “They will be a national symbol of unity — one flag, one nation, one people — and a vehicle for economic opportunity for our people.”
Prime Minister Marape said he looked forward to constructive and forward-looking discussions with Prime Minister Albanese and Australian leaders, with the shared objective of building a stronger Papua New Guinea, a stronger Australia and a more secure and prosperous Pacific family. “Papua New Guinea approaches this Dialogue with confidence, goodwill and a clear national agenda,” he said. “We value Australia’s friendship and partnership, and we will continue to work together in a spirit of mutual respect, shared responsibility and genuine benefit for both our peoples.”
The Prime Minister is scheduled to arrive in Brisbane tomorrow, Tuesday, 7 July, with official engagements continuing on Wednesday, 8 July, before travel arrangements on Thursday, 9 July. During Prime Minister Marape’s absence on official duties in Brisbane, Deputy Prime Minister Hon. John Rosso will serve as Acting Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea.