Marise Payne (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

This week the Prime Minister very proudly hosted Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister, James Marape, as a guest of government. This was the first guest-of-government visit since the election, which speaks volumes for the importance of this relationship—a relationship that we've also announced we will elevate to a comprehensive strategic and economic partnership.

I'm pleased to say that, within that, Australia and Papua New Guinea have agreed to a range of new initiatives that will build both the breadth and the depth of our partnership in health, in defence, with policing and in a number of other areas. We're working in partnership to grow Papua New Guinea's economy, including through the Coral Sea Cable System, as I mentioned in my earlier response; the Papua New Guinea Electrification Partnership; and the Papua New Guinea-Australia Transport Sector Support Program.

We're investing in a range of new projects in Papua New Guinea's energy sector to not only reduce costs but also, really importantly, increase access to power. We're supporting plans to refurbish hydroelectricity plants and to build a new solar power plant and a new gas-fired power plant. We're committed to working side by side with Papua New Guinea to advance the common interest of our Pacific family.