Linda Reynolds (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Scarr for that question. PNG is a country that I, like Senator Payne and many others in this chamber, have a deep respect and affinity for. I'm very proud to report to this chamber that Australia's defence partnership with Papua New Guinea is longstanding, deep and built on shared history and friendship—and I think, as Senator Payne would agree, on rugby league. My recent five-day visit to PNG last month for the 27th ministerial forum really reinforced the strength of our maritime, air, infrastructure and people-to-people links. It also coincided with the 40th anniversary of our Defence Cooperation Program—Australia's largest, at $42 million annually. It was wonderful to see the breadth and depth of the relationships that extend between our two forces. In Wewak, I opened Camp Key, a new PNGDF training facility at Moem Barracks, funded through the DCP. It was built by ADF and PNGDF soldiers working side by side under Exercise Puk Puk. I also saw strong people-to-people links on display at Wewak, with fully integrated ADF and PNGDF platoons working side by side, fully integrated, to develop their skills and their joint capabilities as part of Exercise Wantok Warrior.

Minister Soloma and I saw our air relationship in action when we travelled to his home town of Okapa in the DCP-funded PNGDF helicopter. Wonderfully, it was flown by army lieutenant Joshua Pondros, a pilot who completed his flying qualifications through the DCP.

I am confident that, as partners, we are working together, defence force by defence force, to support Papua New Guinea's sovereign priorities in the areas of nation-building infrastructure towards a resilient and sovereign Papua New Guinea. Together we are investing in the PNG of tomorrow to support a sovereign capability. (Time expired)