CANBERRA, ACT, Sept. 17 -- The Prime Minister of Australia issued the following media release:
JAMES MARAPE, PRIME MINISTER OF PAPUA NEW GUINEA: Alright, thank you very much. And to Papua New Guinea, happy 50th anniversary. Yesterday was reflection, yesterday was our commemoration of our 50th anniversary of democracy, a free market economy, freedom of religion, freedom of worship and existing as an independent state. And we are pleased, I am pleased on behalf of every son and daughter of our country to acknowledge that on my right hand is the Prime Minister of Australia, the present Labor leader of the Australian Labor Party, under whose words we have in this press conference today. It was this moment 50 years ago where great grand chief, Sir Michael Somare, then leader of Pangu party, one day after independence had his moment with then Prime Minister of Australia, leader of Labor then, Gough Whitlam, as they made their conversations for the construct of a country that was better. And I said in my dinner conversation on 15 September, two nights ago, that from the womb of Australia, we were birthed into our sovereign nationhood. These are not just statements picked out for want of a word. These are a deliberate choice of words on where we've come from. Children of Papua New Guinea and children of Australia must not forget that we come from the same sovereign design. Before 1975, the military units we had in our country were Australian military units. The government structure we had in our country was an Australian government structure. The flag we had in PNG was the Australian flag. It was not torn, as I said yesterday morning at the flag raising occasion, 16 September 1975, the flag was lowered with dignity, purposefully lowered, handed back to Gough Whitlam then, and our own flag was hoisted for the first time then. I want to tell our country 50 years later, Australia has never abandoned us, true to the words of Gough Whitlam that Australia will find its purpose and meaning in the construct of a modern Papua New Guinea that is vibrant, prosperous and democratic. And every Australian government since 1975, both Coalition governments as well as Labor governments, have had a strong hand in the construct of our country thus far. And I want to place a record right now, the present Labor government, Prime Minister Albanese and his team, the last three years we've worked, we've worked to entrench our relationship much deeper into solid rock and to elevate it even higher. Where we're not subservient in a master relationship, but equal partners relating, coexisting, working side by side going forward into the future. And today it is not accident that we decided to have this bilateral meeting to discuss security issues, to discuss people issues, and how people-to-people and our two nations in as far as coexistence over security approaches and environment can assist our space. Lest we forget, Australia is a big continent with huge ocean space and airspace. Papua New Guinea is part of a landmass that is the second biggest island on planet Earth. We also have a big ocean space. In those spaces, it is in our mutual interest to have a defence focus and strategy that is mutual for two nations working side by side. And I want to announce today to every Papua New Guinean child, as your Prime Minister - the Prime Minister's role, number one, is the defence of this country. Today at the 50th, I ought to say with no element of shame, but admitting where we are 50 years on - our defence capacity is not at a level where your Prime Minister or your Defence Minister or your defence commander can defend our 462,840 square kilometres of land or threemillion square kilometres of ocean space we have. And so, it is in this vein and in the thought of preservation, in the thought of our national interest, security comes number one. And as your Prime Minister, I made a conscious choice. A choice knowing our history, knowing our culture, knowing our ethic value and moral value systems, knowing our democratic ideals, we made a conscious choice that Australia remains our security partner of choice. We have no choice but to live side by side. We have been living side by side. We'll be here forever. We have people in Australia who are Papua New Guineans. We have people in Papua New Guinea who are Australians. Before '75, we were from the same stock in as far as citizenry was concerned. And so, I want to announce to our country, today we've signed a communique. A communique that depicts both Australians and Papua New Guineans. And we are becoming security partners as we go forward into the future. The security treaty, for Papua New Guinea, would be the highest in terms of security relations we've given to any country. Just last year we signed a defence cooperation with Australia. And we felt defence cooperation is okay, but because we're in the same space, the threats that face us are exposed also to Australia. Threats that face Australia are exposed to Papua New Guinea. We got no choice. 1945 reminds us that threats that face our region - we're both exposed to the same threats. And Papua New Guinea remains friends to all enemies to none. I see no threat immediate. But as leaders, we have a duty to construct constructions of public policies and construction agreement that secures our country into time. This is not for 2025. This is not for 2026. But this is a foresight and investment in a strategy that secures not just Australia, but Papua New Guinea. But our space in world map, our space in the Pacific, Indo-Pacific map, it is us at the end of the day that will be here. Others will go where they have to go. But at the end of the day in this part of the world, it is us that will remain here.So, it is really in thatcontext that my brother agreed to my proposal. I put on record. It was not Australian proposal. Australia never asked for this. And I want to say thank you very much my brother. You know, I looked at my big country, you saw the diversity we have today. Over 800 plus languages, over 1000 tribes. We have internal security. We don't have so much of external threat. We have internal security issues. Part of this construct in defence treaty is not an isolated defence treaty program. Working with the police, working with the judiciary, working with the full government of the law and justice sector. In the next 10 years, we want to deliver PNG a safer country for all the children of this country to be safe. That means 7,000 in our military, 7,000 people, 5,000 land soldiers, 1,000 air soldiers, 1,000 in the sea. That is our defence capability right now as we speak, police - we have 10,000 policemen and women in our country, more than policemen, properly skilled, properly trained, with the right ethics to make a defence of our law and justice sector interests. And Papua New Guinea, this conversation is not mistake. Right after our first day from our 50th, my first work, and I've dragged my brother to make it his first work today. And so, he has work to do. But accordingly, his first work on 17 September 2025 is to make sure we ink this joint communique to be transparent to every one of you that we're not doing something that is out of the blue. Treaties all around the world in brother sister nations, they sign treaty the same. We are in the process of delivering our treaty to his Cabinet and my Cabinet and of course to his parliament and my parliament for the closure and cement of the treaty that is being bettered as we speak.So, it is in this context that I want to say thank you to you for being here. Coincidentally, you got a Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for the Pacific also here. By the fact that three senior Ministers are here. Prime Minister Albanese have relocated his cabinet to Melanesia Haus for once, that's history in the making. We don't take our Deputy Prime Minister with us when we travel outside. And this treaty aside, this document aside, they came to honour our 50th and for Labor, they have a special affinity to PNG because it was Labor at '75. So, the entire Labor leadership with us, and I want to say thank you for a strong affinity. The work we're doing in PNG is to make sure we become prosperous. Our youth are engaged and employed. This country is a prosperous country to contribute to the security and safety of our said region. So, in this context, I want to welcome you, my brother. I know we spoke on a rugby league team that is coming in 2028. I want to thank you for your support in the space. I want to thank you for your other support in all the bilateral programs that is running. At 50th anniversary, it would be remiss of me not to indicate this at our 50th. Australia remains head and shoulders above any other bilateral nation we have in as far as support for our development costs. Thank you, Australia.
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTEROF AUSTRALIA:Thank you so much, my friend. It has been a great honour for myself and the Deputy Prime Minister and the Defence Minister and the Assistant - he's assistant in Defence, but also the Pacific, Pat Conroy - for us to be here celebrating what is a momentous and historic occasion. Yesterday, we celebrated 50 years of history, 50 years of independence and the birth of a great nation. Today, we take historic steps going forward as well. Australia and PNG are the closest of neighbours. Saibai Island, you can look across and you can see PNG, literally. And we are the truest of friends. We're there for each other when times are tough, but we take pleasure and joy in each other's achievements. All Australians congratulate the people of Papua New Guinea on the 50th anniversary of their nation's independence. And last night was truly a spectacular occasion. It's been very special to join the Prime Minister and his colleagues here and also to attend the State Dinner with His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh as well, representing His Majesty King Charles on Monday evening. And I've got to say as well, that the message from His Majesty last night was a real highlight. The fireworks were fantastic, the drone show was extraordinary, but the best element of last night was the people - showing the diversity of Papua New Guinea's population. The celebration of all those young people out there on the field dancing, celebrating with joy, they will remember that moment for the rest of their lives. I thoughtit reminded me of the opening of an Olympic Games in Sydney, just that expression that we saw last night. It was a wonderful occasion. And it followed in 1975, our great predecessors, Grand Chief, Sir Michael Somare, and it was wonderful to see his relatives once again there over the last couple of days. Prime Minister Gough Whitlam celebrated the birth of an independent Papua New Guinea. Independence was, in Gough's words, an idea whose time has come. While Papua New Guinea independence was formalised by an act of the Australian Parliament, it was made possible not by that, it was made possible by the acts of courage, imagination and leadership from the people of Papua New Guinea. Because independence was never Australia's gift to give, it was Papua New Guinea's right to assert, and your opportunity to seize. It was your people's dream, and together you worked to make it real and have worked to build this nation in the last 50 years. It is fitting that Australia and Papua New Guinea mark this historic anniversary with a partnership that will shape the future. Today, Prime Minister Marape and I subsigned a joint communique for a PNG-Australia Mutual Defence Treaty. The text of this treaty has been agreed and it will be signed following cabinet processes in both countries. This treaty will elevate our relationship to the status of an alliance. It will be Australia's first new alliance in more than 70 years and only the third in our entire history, along with the ANZUS Treaty with New Zealand and the United States. The Treaty, of course, is so important going forward for us. Our mutual defence treaty will build on 50 years of cooperation between our nations, including our long standing defence relationship. It contains a mutual defence commitment under which both countries recognise that both Australia and PNG have a mutual interest in our security. It also will be a reflection of our shared commitment to regional security, our shared values and the depth of our partnership. Importantly, as Prime Minister Marape has said, this was initiated by Papua New Guinea. It was a request to Australia and it was a request which we readily agreed to. It's a request that is in the interest of building the sovereignty of both of our nations. In addition to today our security and defence cooperation, of course, we spoke about economic development, investment, infrastructure. Of course, it did come down to rugby league as well, and we look forward to the NRL team commencing here. Our nations share, as well, great democracies, and one of the things that this treaty will do is to allow for even further training and experience of Papua New Guinea citizens in the Australian Defence Force. We already have a considerable engagement, of course, the second in charge of one of our divisions in Townsville is indeed a Papua New Guinea citizen. And they are proud of that and we are proud of that as well. Just half a century ago we worked towards laying the foundations of what was then a new nation. What we will do with this agreement today is really step up to a new level. We will go through our respective cabinet processes and expect to finalise the signing of the Treaty, the words of which have been agreed, in coming weeks. As I said after walking the Kokoda Track with Prime Minister Marape last year, Australia and PNG will keep walking together side by side, step by step towards the future. And I very much value my friendship with the Prime Minister, but importantly as well, I value the friendship between our two peoples. This at the end of the day is a people-to-people relationship and it will be strengthened in the years ahead. And the measures and steps forward that we've made today will be a part of that. Thank you, Prime Minister.
PRIME MINISTER MARAPE: Thank you to everyone. The text of our communique will be released to the public so the public is aware, and it respects our respective sovereignty for the construct of our joint coexistence going forward into the future. And as I said to anyone listening in from around the world, we relate to all nations on an equal placement. But as far as security is concerned, Australia is our security partner of choice. We work with them. That doesn't compromise elsewhere. My Defence Minister will be on a road show talking to all our bilateral partners elsewhere from around the world who may ask what is this all about? We will be transparent and we'll ask them, please stick to where you relate with us, but as far as security is concerned, we look inward at home first. Home first, because it is home front in our defence interests. Anyway so the Prime Minister has got to catch a flight. Please, we've got time for few.
JOURNALIST:Prime Minister Marape, Prime Minister Albanese. How does this agreement align with the strategic priorities of both nations?
PRIME MINISTER MARAPE: Of course for my government, it is in my number one interest to make sure our country is safe and secure. And as I said earlier, to everyone Papua New Guinean, as your Prime Minister and your number one defender, right now if someone choose to press long range missiles someplace, I have no ability to defend this country. So as Prime Minister, I have to work fastest, quickest, earliest, to the best of our ability to make sure that our country is able to protect itself. This one now enables, if we finally reach the text that our officials have signed upon, if the cabinet process is retired and Parliament does pass the treaty, then it gives us ability and it also, part of that also entails that if one of us is under threat, then we have a responsibility to each other to assist. And so this one enables us to mobilise our strong help at the earliest. Mind you, my brother, we're not running around creating enemies. We respect all sovereignties that relate to us. But this is a construct for the future and our two forces, the capacity we must build in Australia too. And the Prime Minister did indicate that if you need more manpower to recruit into your Australian Defence Force, then Papuan citizens are available for them to recruit and serve as Australian Defence Force personnel. So, mutually beneficial to both as a strategic value to both nations. It is in our shared interests that our defence are interoperable and work side by side, step by step into the future. My number one task is to protect the country. In the interest of protecting the country, I'm making this call.
PRIME MINISTER ALBANESE:And similarly, as the Prime Minister has said, the key word here is mutual. This is in the interest of Papua New Guinea and in the interests of Australia - and that is why this is a historic move forward. We of course cooperate all of the time across the board. What this does is formalise, what I think, is a common sense position resulting from our history and resulting from our geography.
JOURNALIST:Prime Minister, thank you. Mr Albanese, your Minister said that you would sign the treaty today - it's not finalised. Is that embarrassing that it hasn't been finalised today? And if it's not finalised, is the NRL deal, Rugby League deal at risk? Prime Minister Marape, congratulations on the Golden Jubilee, a wonderful celebration. I want to ask you though, can you guarantee this deal will be done? That you will stake your leadership on finalising this treaty?
PRIME MINISTER ALBANESE:Well, can I say that one of the things about this, not just this Treaty, but this relationship, is we respect sovereignty and we respect the processes of the Papua New Guinea government. What this is about is the processes of their Cabinet, that we respect. It's been a busy week, this week. Monday, the Cabinet members were in various parts of Papua New Guinea - that is perfectly understandable. But the wording has been agreed to, the communique today has signed outlines precisely what is in the Treaty. We're releasing that for everyone to see today. And this is very positive, very positive. There is no downside in this whatsoever. This is all upside for Australia and upside for Papua New Guinea. And I can't think of a better time for us to be releasing the communique than, as I discussed with Prime Minister Marape on Monday, for us to sign a communique today on the day after the 50th anniversary of the birth of this great nation.
JOURNALIST:And the NRL team?
PRIME MINISTER ALBANESE:The NRL team is going to be running on the field, and get on board. And I tell you what, get on board for them to do very well, very quickly. They will have the biggest junior rugby league academy right throughout PNG that any, all the other teams are going to be very jealous of the PNG team. They are aiming for 1 million members of the team. My team thinks it's going pretty well, we've got 30 something thousand members. Put that in perspective.
PRIME MINISTER MARAPE: All right, I want to appreciate this question. Even if there was no rugby league team in NRL, this treaty would still have been signed today. This has nothing whatsoever to do with the rugby league. It is in my national interest, as I said at the fastest, quickest, earliest, to build up my defence force. There was some insanity back in my country's history over 25 years ago where our defence force was eroded to absolutely nothing. I said earlier I'm ashamed as Prime Minister I cannot defend my country. And I asked Australia, to Papua New Guineans, Australia said we can help. We work together. So, Australia did not ask for this. Papua New Guinea asked for this in the interest to defend my sovereignty. Australia said we'll step with you. Australia's got many friends to choose from in as far as defence training is concerned. In case you did not hear, this is the only second or third since 70 years.
PRIME MINISTER ALBANESE: Yes.
PRIME MINISTER MARAPE: 70 years. And so I want to distance rugby from this treaty. Even if there was no Rugby League team in 2028, I would have signed this treaty today. As Prime Minister, I go to sleep every night worrying if someone invades my country, what is my defence for my country? Quickest, fastest, the country that battled with us said we will work with you. If someone attacks you, we will put our body on the line. Just like the 1st Papuan Infantry Battalion 1942 to 1945 in the just one single shotguns, were working side by side with young Melburnians, young Sydneysiders, young Western Australians who were deployed into Kokoda to fight the war. So, we have history, shared history, and it is leaders' interest to construct the future they want for their country. So, please distance from small minded. If something happens in PNG or Australia, by default you'll be drawn into these conversations. And investing in defence is a defence strategy in itself of peace. I want to repeat this. In good times, investing in defence is a defence strategy in itself. You don't have to wait for war to invest in defence. For PNG, we are friends to all. And that friends to all is a dominant policy that remains. This investment is into capacity. Australia may need manpower. We deploy manpower. You recruit from PNG. Your capacities and technology etc we import into PNG. They must be interoperable side by side going forward into the future. World around have partnerships. Unfortunately, you cannot one night pick up the Australian continent and place on the other side of the world. You're here for perpetually, forever. I was telling, I think some people inside - geography and history you cannot change. Two classes taught by all of us. We're all students, imagine us, and sitting here as learned people, you can never change geography and history. And so, we're stuck here forever. And so, we got to make to do with what we have. And for me, even without a rugby league team, I would have signed this today.
JOURNALIST: Since it's been a hectic four days. Where do we go from here? [inaudible]
PRIME MINISTER MARAPE:Alright, for me there's no holiday. No holiday for me except my Saturdays when I rest on my Sabbath. That recuperates my soul and my body. But there's no holiday in public life. And it is a pointer to every Papua New Guineans. As I said last night in the closing ceremony, as we conclude 16th of September, there's the 17th of September coming up. What are you going to do on the 17th of September? Are you going to party your way through life, or get to serious work and work? This is a pointer to everyone that work for our country, the next 50 years must start with no rest for all of us. We want our citizens to enjoy life in a developed country. That's the dream I have for Papua New Guineans. It starts with us getting back to work. I slept at 2 o'clock last night and I got up for work at 4:30 this morning. I want every Papua New Guineans - you have to give your time, the best ability. You rest only on Sundays or Saturdays. For every public servant, Chief Secretary, every one of you. My first instruction: work full time or more time. Saturdays and Sundays, I allow you to rest. Every other day, please work for your time.
PRIME MINISTER ALBANESE: Thanks very much. Australia is very proud of the contribution that we made to the Parliament House here in Port Moresby. And I was proud to be the first foreign leader to address the PNG Parliament. It's something that I will never forget. And Prime Minister Marape addressed our Parliament in Canberra as well, in what was a historic occasion. I confirmed that Australia's gift to PNG to commemorate the 50th anniversary of independence is the new wing of the Parliament building. Importantly, the new wing of the Parliament building will be like if you're facing Parliament House, the wing that is there to the right, will be on the other side. And the D wing is coming. And what it will do, with both of it being elevated as well, is it will - if you look from above, which there's a few drones we know now are here in PNG from last night - is it will look like the bird of paradise, such an important, that we see on the flag and we see as such an important symbol of Papua New Guinea. It is also a signal from Australia that we value your democracy. And there's nothing better that we could do than fund the very institutional building that will house the growth of PNG's democracy going forward.
PRIME MINISTER MARAPE:Thank you very much, Australia Government and Australia Prime Minister just announced Australia will assist in the D wing. It was an unfinished business, in 1985 when our country celebrates 10th anniversary. We had the new Parliament that we moved in and was celebrating our 10th anniversary in the new Parliament. The C wing was put in, the D wing was left uncompleted. And so 40 years on, since the first move into a new Parliament, the Australian Government - and I thank every Australian taxpayers - they're again assisting us in the setup of the D wing and part of our reconstruct. And borrowing his word, appreciating our democracy that we present for the last 50 years. Thank you, so much.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister Marape, what was the sticking point that meant you did not sign the treaty today? And Prime Minister Albanese, has there been any foreign interference to try to undermine this treaty?
PRIME MINISTER MARAPE:There is no sticking point. The communique we signed establishes the core principles of the Treaty that has been processed below the Cabinet level. So, both Cabinets got to run the process to run. Then after Cabinet gives its blessing, it goes to Parliament for that Treaty to be ratified. This important institutional processes are running. So, we cannot, we're not, we're not running a military dictatorship here. It's a democracy. So, you got to, you got to run the, you got to allow the process, new process to, to complete this course.
JOURNALIST:[inaudible]
PRIME MINISTER MARAPE:Process of Cabinet is confined to the Cabinet itself. That's a reason why you call it Cabinet. What comes out in a democracy, majority agrees. And as I say today, the Cabinet will have a handle on this matter as soon as Cabinet finishes it, it will then be processed to the next stage. And we anticipate to have a quick turnaround. Answering the first question raised by our friend from Sky, it will not be delayed. It's an important monumental occasion to commemorate our 50th anniversary, and as I said earlier in my speech there is no greater task for a Prime Minister than security of its sovereignty. And so, to make this poignant occasion with this poignant statement, my Cabinet will process it at the very earliest. When Cabinet resumes this matter will be processed. I will be out of the country. Deputy Prime Minister will chair the Cabinet to go through this, and as the Cabinet processes this, then it will go to the next stage. We have an imminent PNG-Australia Ministerial meeting that is coming up, and we hope that the next stage these discussions then find its place in the agenda of the PNG-Australia Minister forums. It's an annual dialogue that takes place every year in any case. As it goes through the Annual Ministers' Meeting, and both parliaments, then we'll have a handle on this one. I would bring to my Parliament. He will of course bring to his Parliament, and we run this one. This is a process that is a deep precedent is running. We don't run it through his call or my call. The entire process must funnel it through.
PRIME MINISTER ALBANESE: Yeah. The answer to your question to me is no.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister Albanese, this is twice in a week after Vanuatu, pretty much returning home without the anticipated security grant. Are you overreaching here trying to convince countries to sign on to these deals when they aren't ready for them? And Prime Minister Marape, thank you very much for your hospitality. Thanks for having us in your country. Are you concerned that another nation perhaps China now they have a window of opportunity maybe trying to lobby your Ministers to scuttle this deal?
PRIME MINISTER ALBANESE:On the first, this was a request from Papua New Guinea to Australia. So, I think that answers your question. This is a request from PNG to Australia, to which Australia agreed. Democracies aren't the same as authoritarian regimes. They go through processes. We respect them. Processes are important, and sovereignty is important, and we respect it. And Papua New Guinea, as we'll go through its Cabinet processes, but we have been agreed on the words in this treaty. We have not had a new alliance in more than 70 years. This is a very significant agreement going forward. And it will be, of course, finalised as the Prime Minister has said we have coming up our Ministerial Meeting, which is an annual event that will take place this time in Australia, because we are the hosts. And the dates of that are being finalised but we expect that they obviously will be this year and next month is what we are looking at.
PRIME MINISTER MARAPE: All right. In terms of your issue on and your reference to China, I want to ask all of you as you stay in PNG please let's give respect to China. China has been an enduring friend of PNG for the last 50 years. We maintain one China policy. But China also knows clearly that in, as far as security, we have security partners of choice. And so, this is in no way, shape or form Chinese have any hand in saying don't do this etc. They have their own space. The last six years under my watch they have given great respect to our Government's shepherd of this. We've been very transparent. For security aspect, we work with a lot of security partners. For you, we work in the spaces of trade and economic and other relations, we work. So, we've been very transparent in that, and in fact, in the next two days or so, I will dispatch our Defence Minister to go first to China, and elsewhere in all of our security nations, USA, France, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines, to inform them all exactly what this is all about. For us, this is home run for us. It is in our shared interests to do this. And it's got nothing against our relationship with them, we asked them too, even through this press, that they do respect PNG's Government's choice of security partners. It is our choice. And we feel at home with Australia, and we make this choice. We go to them, and we be transparent about this and telling them this is the way it should be, and it is.
PRIME MINISTER ALBANESE: Thank you very much everyone.
PRIME MINISTER MARAPE: Thanks so much.
Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.
