Prime Minister Hon. James Marape today met with Australian High Commissioner to Papua New Guinea, His Excellency Ewen McDonald, at Melanesian Haus in Port Moresby to progress work on enabling qualified Papua New Guineans to be recruited into the Australian Defence Force.

Prime Minister Marape said the Meeting focused specifically on the practical work required between the Papua New Guinea Defence Force, the Australian Defence Force and relevant Government Agencies to establish the Recruitment pathway. “Our legal clearance has been completed on the Papua New Guinea side, and work is now progressing to enable qualified Papua New Guineans to be selected and enlisted into the Australian Defence Force,” Prime Minister Marape said. “The Australian recruitment system will undertake the selection process according to its established standards and requirements. Those who are successful will be enlisted into  the  Australian  Defence  Force  and  will  have  a  pathway  to  Permanent Residency  and  Australian  Citizenship  under  the arrangements being developed.” Prime Minister Marape said the opportunity would be open to Papua New Guineans who meet the required professional, educational, medical, physical, character and security standards of the Australian Defence Force. “This will not be automatic recruitment. Applicants will have to qualify, pass the required assessments and satisfy the standards of the Australian Defence Force,” he said. “But our responsibility as Government is to work with Australia to create the pathway and ensure that Papua New Guineans are properly informed, prepared and given a fair opportunity to compete for recruitment.”

The Prime Minister said the Initiative was one of the important practical outcomes being advanced under the Papua New Guinea– Australia Mutual Defence Treaty, commonly known as the Pukpuk Treaty. The Treaty entered into force on 8 July 2026 following the Exchange of Diplomatic Notes between Prime Minister Marape and Australian Prime Minister Hon. Anthony Albanese during the Annual Leaders’ Dialogue in Brisbane. The Treaty was originally signed by the two Prime Ministers in Canberra on 6 October 2025. Prime Minister Marape said relevant Agencies from both countries would continue working on the detailed Recruitment arrangements, including eligibility, selection, training, immigration, permanent residency and citizenship processes. “We will work to enable this programme. Papua New Guineans who are selected will be employed and enlisted into the Australian Defence Force, and those who meet the relevant requirements will be provided with a pathway to become Australian citizens,” he said. “This creates a significant employment, training and career opportunity for our young people, especially those who possess the discipline, qualifications and commitment required for military service.”

Prime Minister Marape said Recruitment into the Australian Defence Force would expose Papua New Guineans to high-quality Professional Training in areas such as engineering, aviation, communications, logistics, health, information technology, mechanics, maritime operations, leadership and other specialised fields. “These are life-long skills. Those selected will not only have employment opportunities but will also receive training, discipline and professional development that can benefit them and their families into the future,” he said. However, Prime Minister Marape stressed that the Initiative was not solely about Papua New Guineans joining the Australian Defence Force. He said the Government’s equally important priority was to improve the Papua New Guinea Defence Force, including employment conditions, training, infrastructure, equipment, capability and institutional standards. “At the same time, we want to make sure that the working conditions in the Papua New Guinea Defence Force are stepped up and brought closer to the standards and conditions available in the Australian Defence Force,” Prime Minister Marape said. “We cannot only create opportunities for our people to serve in the Australian Defence Force while neglecting our own Defence Force. The Papua New Guinea Defence Force must also be improved, modernised, properly resourced and adequately supported so that it remains the first line of defence for our country.”

Prime Minister Marape said the Pukpuk Treaty must create greater synergy between the PNG Defence Force and the Australian Defence Force, particularly in training, professional standards, infrastructure, equipment, personnel development and operational capability. “This partnership must build both forces. It must strengthen cooperation with the Australian Defence Force while at the same time building the capacity of the PNG Defence Force,” he said. “Our PNG Defence Force must be modernised, stepped up and capacitated to protect our borders, our sovereignty, our national resources and our people going forward.” Prime Minister Marape said the Government would work with Australia to improve training opportunities for PNGDF personnel and develop infrastructure and programmes within Papua New Guinea.

This would include consideration of improved training facilities, accommodation, communications systems, utilities, equipment, technical programmes and other support necessary to strengthen the operational readiness of the PNG Defence Force. “We want more specialised training to take place in Papua New Guinea so that our soldiers can access professional development without every programme having to be conducted overseas,” he said. “We also want the experience and expertise of the Australian Defence Force to assist us in lifting the professional and operational standards of our own Defence Force.” Prime Minister Marape said improving the welfare and employment conditions of PNGDF personnel was essential to building a disciplined, professional and effective national Defence Force. “Our soldiers serve Papua New Guinea under difficult conditions, and our Government recognises that their welfare, accommodation, remuneration, training and working environment must continue to improve,” he said. “The Pukpuk Treaty gives us an important platform to work with Australia in lifting capability and standards, but the PNG Defence Force will always remain Papua New Guinea’s National Defence Force and our first line of defence.”

Prime Minister Marape said further discussions would be held between relevant PNG and Australian Ministers, Defence Officials, Immigration Authorities, Legal Agencies and Recruitment Specialists to finalise the implementation arrangements. The Government will provide official public information when the recruitment requirements, application processes and timelines are finalised. Prime Minister Marape  warned  Papua  New  Guineans not  to  pay  individuals  or  organisations claiming that  they  could  guarantee Recruitment into the Australian Defence Force. “No person should pay money to anyone promising them a place in the Australian Defence Force,” he said. “All Recruitment will be conducted through official Government and Australian Defence Force processes. Our people must wait for verified information to be released through authorised channels.”

Prime Minister Marape thanked Prime Minister Albanese, High Commissioner McDonald and the Australian Government for their cooperation in advancing the Recruitment pathway and broader Defence partnership. “This is about creating real employment and career opportunities for Papua New Guineans while simultaneously strengthening and modernising our own PNG Defence Force,” Prime Minister Marape said. “We will work to ensure that qualified Papua New Guineans are given the opportunity to be selected, trained and enlisted into the Australian Defence Force, with a pathway to permanent residency and citizenship. At the same time, we will lift the conditions, capability and professional standards of the PNG Defence Force so that it is modern, properly equipped and fully capable of serving as the first line of defence for Papua New Guinea.”