Prime Minister Hon. James Marape says Papua New Guinea’s relationship with Australia has entered a new era of equal partnership, with the ultimate goal of creating greater opportunities for people, businesses and both nations.
Speaking after the annual Papua New Guinea–Australia Leaders’ Dialogue, Prime Minister Marape said the meeting was part of the long-established annual engagement between the leadership of both countries, ensuring Port Moresby and Canberra remain closely aligned on shared priorities and regional developments.
“Australia remains Papua New Guinea’s closest foreign partner because of our geography, our shared history, our democratic values, our free-market economies and the enduring people-to-people links that bind our nations,” Prime Minister Marape said.
“Under my Government, we have deliberately elevated this relationship from one of traditional cooperation to one of equal partnership, where both countries work together with mutual respect, shared interests and common aspirations.”
Prime Minister Marape said while recent public attention had focused on initiatives such as the Bilateral Security Treaty and Papua New Guinea’s entry into Australia’s National Rugby League competition, these represented only part of a much deeper relationship.
“Security cooperation and rugby league are important, but they are not the heart and soul of this partnership,” he said.
“The real objective is to strengthen connections between our people, expand business-to-business engagement, increase investment flowing both ways, and create more opportunities for Papua New Guineans and Australians alike.”
The Prime Minister said Papua New Guinea wanted to see more Australian businesses investing in PNG while encouraging Papua New Guinean companies to explore opportunities in Australia as both economies became increasingly integrated.
He said one of the greatest opportunities for cooperation lay in Australia’s growing demand for skilled workers.
“Australia faces significant labour shortages across many sectors, including construction, trades, healthcare, aged care, policing and defence,” Prime Minister Marape said.
“Papua New Guinea is well positioned to help meet these workforce needs. We are an English-speaking Christian nation, Australia’s nearest neighbour and a Pacific family member with a long-shared history.
“My Government has consistently encouraged Australia that, whenever it looks overseas to meet labour shortages, Papua New Guinea should be considered among its first partners.”
Prime Minister Marape said Papua New Guineans possessed the skills, work ethic and cultural compatibility to make valuable contributions to Australia’s workforce while gaining experience, income and expertise that would ultimately benefit PNG’s own economic development.
He also welcomed growing defence cooperation between the two countries, including opportunities for Papua New Guineans to serve alongside Australian counterparts under agreed arrangements.
“This cooperation is not only about strengthening Australia’s defence capability but also about building the professionalism, discipline and capacity of our own Papua New Guinea Defence Force through training, exchanges and shared experience,” he said.
“The benefits of this partnership will flow both ways as we continue modernising and strengthening our own defence institutions.”
Prime Minister Marape said he was encouraged by the maturity the bilateral relationship had achieved over recent years.
“Our relationship with Australia today is stronger, more mature and more balanced than ever before. We are neighbours by geography, partners by history and increasingly partners in prosperity.”
“As we continue these annual dialogues, our shared objective remains clear: to build a relationship that delivers tangible benefits for our people, strengthens our economies, promotes regional stability and creates greater opportunities for future generations of Papua New Guineans and Australians.”