Tim Watts (Gellibrand, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I am happy to second the motion, Deputy Speaker. I too rise to congratulate the people of Papua New Guinea on the 40th anniversary of their nation's independence. Papua New Guinea is our nearest neighbour. Although it is a relatively young nation on the international stage, the bonds between Australia and PNG stretch back many centuries—indeed many thousands of years. Anthropologists believe that our nation was first settled by people that had travelled to Australia over the land bridge that existed between Australia and PNG 50,000 years ago. PNG was present at the birth of our nation geographically, and we were present at the birth of the nation of PNG on the international stage.

Today, Australia and PNG are separated by only 3.7 kilometres of water at the nearest point. As a result, both nations will also always have a strong shared interest in each other's prospects. It is not just a shared interest in the exploits of Johnathan Thurston, Greg Inglis and the mighty Melbourne Storm; Australia's geographic connection with PNG has been reinforced by bonds forged in times of war. During the Second World War, Australians and Papuans fought alongside each other in the most desperate of circumstances—resisting an aggressive invasion from the north. The stories of this joint Australian-Papuan resistance live on in the collective memory of many Australians. Passed on from one generation to another, there is a bond of friendship that will last for some time.

One story that Australians hold particular reverence for is, of course, of the four months that Australians and Papuans spent protecting the most direct route through the mountains between Gona and the capital, Port Moresby—the Kokoda Track. More than 600 Australians were killed during those months, and over 1½ thousand were wounded, making it one of the most significant battles in Australian military history. During that conflict, Australian soldiers were assisted by sympathetic locals who aided the war effort, particularly when the injured and sick needed assistance in returning to aid stations and barracks. Close relations grew between the Australians and the locals, who were affectionately referred to as the 'Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels'. The wartime photo of an injured Australian soldier, Private George 'Dick' Whittington, being guided away from the battlefield by Raphael Oimbari has become an iconic image from that conflict, as well as an iconic representation of the people-to-people connections between our countries. The battle along the Kokoda Track has become one of the stories that have helped Australia to define our national identity—a story that will always remain inextricably connected to PNG and its people.

Today, both Australia and PNG retain a strong interest in each other's progress. Government relations are formally underpinned by the Joint Declaration for a New Papua New Guinea-Australia Partnership, but our relationship extends much deeper than official agreements. Our political leaders meet annually to promote trade and collaboration on defence agreements, climate change, development targets and joint management of our shared commons, such as the oceans and fisheries to Australia's north. Our economic ties are also growing, with two-way trade between our countries worth $6.8 billion in 2013-14. Australia has also welcomed many Papua New Guineans to Australia to attend universities, including the children of the current Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, Peter O'Neill. Bringing the best and brightest to Australian universities to study has increased our people-to-people relationships. We should reciprocate and ensure that young Australians are given the opportunity to live and study in PNG.

Australia also continues to partner with PNG to deliver extensive development assistance in that nation. I emphasise 'to partner'. Australia provides more development assistance to PNG than any other country—assistance that, thankfully, has not experienced the kinds of cuts that we have seen elsewhere in Australia's foreign assistance programs in recent years.

Last month I travelled to PNG with Save the Children on a delegation with other MPs and senators to see what our development assistance programs are achieving on the ground. Australian aid works—in 2013-14 alone we established 14 family and sexual violence units, trained 4,315 teachers and financed 600,000 children to attend primary school in PNG. We strengthened health and HIV-AIDS services which enabled 24,848 babies to be delivered under supervision of skilled staff, immunised 54,393 children against measles and other diseases, and maintained over 2,000 kilometres of PNG's most economically important roads in the past. However, PNG continues to need Australian assistance—38 per cent of the population lives below the poverty line and it is estimated that the growth of approximately 40 per cent of children is stunted.

PNG has confronted major challenges in achieving the targets set out in the Millennium Development Goals. As we speak, the country is experiencing the further challenge of a devastating drought resulting from the intensification of unusual weather patterns continuing. Problems stemming from the lack of water are amplified by overnight frosts that are destroying what is left of subsistence farm crops and food gardens. With almost 85 per cent of the population living in rural areas and many relying on subsistence farming, these extreme weather conditions are having crippling effects. According to PNG's weather service, these conditions are likely to last through 2016.

PNG is facing challenges and, like any nation in difficult times, we owe them our attention and our support. Our relationship with our closest neighbour will only remain strong while we continue to value it and work on it. I would like to reaffirm Australia's commitment to our closest neighbour and our region, and our commitment to working together to find collective solutions to our shared problems. I thank the people of Papua New Guinea for their hospitality and congratulate them on the 40th anniversary of their independence.

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