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

I thank Senator Scarr for his question and, in particular, his interest in this very important area. The COVID-19 situation in Papua New Guinea is very concerning. We're seeing a new surge in cases associated with the delta strain and it is placing significant pressure on the health system. Both the Prime Minister and I have spoken with our Papua New Guinea colleagues to discuss the challenges they're dealing with, including to assure them that Australia is standing by them at this very difficult time.

Since the start of the pandemic, we've been partnering closely with the government of Papua New Guinea on their needs. That includes over two million pieces of PPE; testing equipment and supplies; oxygen concentrators and pressurised air masks; over 100,000 genomic tests, with support from Melbourne's Doherty institute, to identify COVID-19 variants of concern; and support to enable increased provincial health service delivery through church health services. We have now deployed five Australian medical assistance teams, or AUSMATs, to Papua New Guinea to provide critical care planning and clinical care.

We're now providing further assistance as Papua New Guinea responds to this most recent, and concerning, surge in cases. That includes partnering on the reopening of the Nightingale Centre to increase the capacity of Port Moresby General Hospital, and support to provincial health authorities to maintain essential operations. We're supporting Papua New Guinea to vaccinate more frontline health workers, and expanding commercial vaccination hubs, including in major urban centres such as Lae. The Australian Defence Force is providing logistics support and vaccination training to the Papua New Guinea Defence Force—and I acknowledge the exceptional working relationship between the PNGDF and the ADF. Australia will continue to meet Papua New Guinea's vaccine supply needs and support its vaccination rollout program in partnership with the Papua New Guinean government.