Press conference - Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: It's a great honour for me as Australia's Prime Minister to be here to celebrate 50 years of the birth of this great nation of Papua New Guinea. Prime Minister Marape gave a powerful and inspirational speech this morning where he spoke about the fact that the Australian flag 50 years ago was lowered, it wasn't torn down. Australia was partners in what was an effective and peaceful transition, to the great credit of those great leaders, led by Mr. Somare, of whom a statue is placed outside Parliament House here in Port Moresby. But also to the credit of the Whitlam Government. Gough Whitlam showed vision, wanted to make sure that, as he said at the time, that Australia couldn't be free unless Papua New Guinea was as well.

And over my Prime Ministership, now this is my third visit to PNG. On the first visit, I went up to Wewak and addressed the Parliament here, the first foreign leader to address the PNG Parliament. And of course, Prime Minister Marape addressed the Australian Parliament as well. I then came back and walked the Kokoda Track for three days with Prime Minister Marape, the highlight of which was the ANZAC Day Dawn Service at the Isurava Memorial. When you walk that track, you just can't help but be in awe of the sacrifice that Australians made in order to protect our democracy and our sovereign nation during World War II. But we know that they couldn't have done that without the support of Papuans and New Guineans, who were providing support during that time, when they were under fire, dealing with diseases like malaria and cholera and other diseases, working in terrain that was so rough and dense, and in an experience that was far removed, many of them were from Victoria, very different terrain, but they did that. And at that time, I think ever since then, if not beforehand, there'd been such a close bond between our two great nations. And today, participating in the celebration is the next step in that.

JOURNALIST: PM, are you able to sign the defence treaty tomorrow, even though it hasn't yet been approved by PNG's Cabinet?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, the PNG Cabinet, of course, yesterday was due to meet. They didn't have quorum, because everyone's gone back to their places where they're from, to celebrate this as a celebration throughout the entire nation. So we will be able to advance the treaty tomorrow. Prime Minister Marape is dealing with his Cabinet, trying to deal with that remotely, but we'll work those issues through, and it's understandable and we respect the sovereignty, of course, of PNG. Australia is ready to go, but of course, we have to go through our processes as well, including our Treaties Committee.

JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, the treaty between Australia and PNG commits both countries to defend each other from an attack. Do you think Australian soldiers will be willing to die defending another country?

PRIME MINISTER: We have such an interest in the idea that Papua New Guinea could be under attack and we would sit back and watch, ignores the history which is there between our two great nations. Ignores geography and ignores practical issues as well. This is a great democracy. This is about advancing the sovereignty and security of both of our nations.

JOURNALIST: This is a celebration of 50 years of independence. You're also, next week, going to recognise the sovereignty of Palestine. There's another state, well would be state, in this region, Bougainville, that's seeking independence. Some 98 per cent of Bougainvillians have voted to seek that independence. Just, does or will Australia support its aspirations to become an independent state?

PRIME MINISTER: What we'll do is support the process that's been established between PNG and Bougainville. That's a process that's underway. It's one that we respect, and we'll respect those processes.

JOURNALIST: PM, back on the treaty, it also commits both countries to developing each other's militaries. Is there a funding commitment, or what sort of budget is going to go towards building up PNG's military?

PRIME MINISTER: We already provide substantial support and training. I was up at Wewak. There were Australian Defence Force personnel there. We provide significant engagement as well and training. That's a good thing, where training as well, through our Police Pacific initiative, we are now training police officers throughout the Pacific at the Pinkenba facility in Brisbane. In addition to that, we're establishing a centre here in PNG as one of four centres around the region. Now, if we have interoperability, if we have those training, engagement and that interaction, then that just improves the way that we can respond to issues like transnational crime as well. So we see this as a natural progression from the relationship that we have.

JOURNALIST: Is it fair to say that you're not quite sure yet whether you'll be signing the agreement as planned tomorrow?

PRIME MINISTER: No. We agree with the agreement, we're ready to sign off. Prime Minister Marape is talking to his Cabinet who are in different parts of PNG, and we respect that process.

JOURNALIST: PM, would you call this the NATO of the South Pacific?

PRIME MINISTER: No, I'd call this - this about Australia and the South Pacific. This is what we do, and what we do as Australia is act in our own national interest. We don't copy things in other parts of the world. Thanks very much.