Lisa Chesters (Bendigo, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

On behalf of the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties, I present the committee's report entitled Report 232: Papua New Guinea-Australia Mutual Defence Treaty (the Pukpuk Treaty).

Report made a parliamentary paper in accordance with standing order 39(e).

by leave—I rise today to make a statement on the report of the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties regarding the Papua New Guinea-Australia Mutual Defence Treaty, also known as the Pukpuk Treaty. The Pukpuk Treaty marks a significant achievement in Australia's relationship with Papua New Guinea. The treaty binds our two countries together in a formal alliance, tying us closer together and enabling greater diplomatic and defence collaboration. This new alliance is our first for over 70 years and only our third overall, after New Zealand and the United States of America.

PNG is one of Australia's most important partners and closest neighbours, and we are proud to call them our ally. The treaty establishes obligations to consult on security related developments and provide mutual assistance in the event of an armed attack and creates a framework for conducting joint defence cooperation activities.

The Pukpuk Treaty builds on Australia's and PNG's existing defence engagement and develops a clear framework to enable more joint activities, such as combined training and personnel exchanges. It enables a two-way exchange, with Papua New Guinea's defence personnel attending Australian training institutions, and provides Australia with an opportunity to gain specialist expertise in areas such as jungle warfare. It also enables both countries to contribute expertise and capacity and ensure we grow stronger together.

The treaty is well aligned with Australia's strategic focus on building stronger relationships in the Pacific and strengthening regional stability, sovereign capability and prosperity. During the inquiry process, the committee found that the treaty supports Australia's objectives of regional security in the Pacific and opens up new avenues for dialogue and cooperation. By ratifying this agreement, Australia will demonstrate its continued reliability and trustworthiness as a partner of choice in the Pacific. The treaty, further, is important to Australia's national interests by contributing towards a more stable regional security environment and providing a stable, sovereign, prosperous Pacific.

The committee would like to thank the Department of Defence and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade for their engagement throughout this inquiry. I'd also like to thank my fellow committee members for their contributions and the secretariat for compiling this report in quick time. The committee supports the Pukpuk Treaty and recommends that binding treaty action be taken. On behalf of the committee, I recommend this report to the House.

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