Jane Prentice (Ryan, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

In March this year the member for Herbert and I had the privilege to join the Prime Minister, Tony Abbott, on Australia's longest and most extensive prime ministerial visit to Papua New Guinea. The visit was very successful, building on our longstanding strong friendship with Papua New Guinea, which will now see annual bilateral leaders summit's. The economic cooperation treaty signed on 21 March 2014 by Prime Minister Abbott and Prime Minister O'Neill, is paving the way for increasing our trade and investment relationship between Australia and Papua New Guinea, and is now the cornerstone of the relationship in business that we are promoting between our two countries.

These annual summits are just part of the coalition government's goal to shift our relationship with PNG from one dominated by aid to one of economic and strategic partners in the real sense of the word—to generate stronger connections between our people and emphasise our deep and enduring defence and security ties. Indeed, as the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Rimbink Pato, said, 'Australia and Papua New Guinea are friends for life.' This is in no small way as a result of continuing ties and extensive connections such as those that the member for Macquarie, the member for Leichhardt and Senator Ian Macdonald have with our friends up in PNG.

Australia is looking forward to working closely with Papua New Guinea as they move towards hosting the APEC summit in 2018. We couldn't help but be struck on our arrival by the number of large construction projects already happening around Port Moresby and overseen by the local member and minister, the Justin Chechenko. PNG has experienced a decade of strong economic growth. Australia's investment in the country is worth more than $19 billion, almost the same as Australia's investment in China. As Prime Minister O'Neill stated during the March visit, Australia is PNG's largest trading partner, with two way trade valued at $5.7 billion in 2012-13. This strong growth is set to continue with the liquefied natural gas project having come online. This project is a wonderful example of the efficiency and success of privately fronted aid, in line with Foreign Minister Julie Bishop's goal to have our aids success viewed not on the dollars spent but on the actual success and results on the ground. The first shipment of LNG departed for Japan last week and the project is expected to produce more than nine trillion cubic feet of gas over the estimated 30 years of operations.

It is not just the economic benefits; this particular project, which is 450 kilometres in length, coming through some of the most difficult territory in Papua New Guinea, has also resulted in wonderful community outreach programs assisting local villages, helping them in health in fighting disease such as HIV-AIDS and raising awareness in the local communities. As we move forward and the Foreign Minister announces the new paradigm in Australia's foreign aid, I would like to see our aid dollars be spent more on front-line services and results than on duplication and bureaucracy. It is only appropriate that I take this moment to congratulate Prime Minister O'Neill on the wonderful improvements at Port Moresby General Hospital overseen by the chairman he appointed, Sir Theo Constantino. They have now opened the maternity wing, largely funded by Rotary, a new dispensary and a new emergency wing—fabulous improvements.

While we were at the roundtable with the business leaders, Prime Minister O'Neill reported on his extending services and free education to as many children as he can—obviously with very serious challenges with remote villages, with language difficulties and with transport. It was an honour to be with Prime Minister Tony Abbott when he turned the soil at the Koki Primary School, where Australia has funded some new classrooms. That was a wonderful ceremony hosted by Powes Parkop, the local governor and member for Port Moresby, and the local member and minister, Mr Justin Chechenko. Other projects include Motokea, an amazing port development undertaken by Sir Mick Curtin and his daughter Louise. There are also other projects being undertaken and supported by local businesses, such as those by Kostas Constantinou. I congratulate the Prime Minister on the first of what I know will be many significant visits to our nearest neighbours and friends for life.

See this speech in context