Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

As I said in my first answer, our stability, our security and our prosperity lie in our region. This is an historic time in the story of Australia and Papua New Guinea. Papua New Guinea and Australia are old friends, close neighbours and now we are allies. Last month, we saw Prime Minister Albanese stand with Prime Minister Marape to celebrate 50 years of PNG's independence. On 6 October, our two leaders signed the landmark Pukpuk Treaty, a treaty that elevates our relationship to an alliance—PNG's first and Australia's first in more than 70 years. As you mentioned, I had the privilege last week of co-chairing the first-ever Australia-PNG ministerial forum as allies. Twenty ministers from two nations came together to demonstrate our unprecedented level of strategic trust. A stronger, safer PNG is good for PNG, good for Australia and it is good for our region.