Joint Remarks, Port Moresby

SUBJECTS: Visit to PNG; LandCruisers gifting; PNG-Australia relationship

RICHARD MARLES, DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER: Thank you. Can I acknowledge my good friend, Minister for National Defence Billy Joseph. Can I also acknowledge the Chief of the Defence Force, the Vice Chief of the Royal Australian Navy, the High Commissioner, the Secretary of Defence, and all the distinguished guests who are here today. It is an honour for me to be here to participate in the handing over of these 12 vehicles to Papua New Guinea to play their part in the PNG Defence Force. This is a commitment of $3 million to see these 12 vehicles constructed specifically for the PNGDF, and they will greatly enhance the capabilities of the PNGDF. They represent a moment where today the closeness of the Australian Defence Force and the PNG Defence Force has never been greater. We see this in so many different ways. We’re seeing it in the fact that Exercise Talisman Sabre, the major exercise that the Australian Defence Force engages in every two years, for the first time conducted an element beyond the Australian shores – here in Papua New Guinea. The PNGDF has participated in Talisman Sabre on a number of occasions – but this is the first time Talisman Sabre has come here, and representatives, servicemen and women, of both the PNGDF and the ADF have worked together in this exercise, which was a really important statement about the closeness of our two defence forces. We, of course, have a long history – a long history of training, a long history of exercises, a long history of operations – in fact, dating back to well before the independence of PNG itself. The defence-to-defence relationship is at the heart of what is, for Australia, one of the most significant relationships that we have on the planet, and that is our relationship with Papua New Guinea, which is going to be framed significantly in five weeks’ time as we approach the 50th anniversary of the independence of PNG. It really is my pleasure to be here today to participate in this handover ceremony. I look forward, in a moment, to giving the ceremonial keys to my good friend, the Minister for National Defence.

HOST: Thank you, Deputy Prime Minister. I now welcome the Minister for National Defence and Emergency Services, the Honourable Dr Billy Joseph.

DR BILLY JOSEPH, PNG MINISTER FOR NATIONAL DEFENCE: Good afternoon, everybody. I would like to welcome my friend and the Deputy Prime Minister of Australia, who’s also the Minister for Defence. On behalf of my Prime Minister, James Marape, and our Government and our people of Papua New Guinea, I welcome you once again to the shores of your second country of Papua New Guinea. We have come a long way in the 50 years of our nation’s history. The relationship between the PNGDF and ADF was built during the days of the Second World War, and to come here at a time when our country is just about to celebrate 50 years of our nation’s sovereignty is an important moment for us. So, I acknowledge the Deputy Chief of the Australian Navy, our CDF, Deputy CDF, Secretary for Defence, and everyone who is here. Welcome to Murray Barracks. We are honoured to be the recipient of 12 armoured personnel carriers. When I first became Defence Minister, the first thing when I met the then High Commissioner, His Excellency John Feakes, I put in a request for armoured personnel vehicles for the protection of our Defence forces who are operating in volatile areas, especially up in the islands. And in a short while – in less than two years – we are here about to receive 12 armoured personnel carriers. I would like to thank the people of Australia, the Government of Australia, and our friend, the Deputy Prime Minister, who is here today to give us this important capability for our Defence Force. It will go a long way to rebuilding our Defence capability and the capacity of our Defence Force. In 50 years, we have come a long way, and we look forward to the next 50 years. I do agree that in our very close relationship over the last 50 years and beyond – our nations, people-to-people, defence-to-defence, and government-to-government relationship has gone from leaps to bounds. We are really going to celebrate that on the 50th anniversary we will be signing our PNGDF and ADF Defence Treaty. So, thank you very much, and may God bless you and your team who are here. Tomorrow, we will be heading up to Lombrum Naval Base, where the biggest investment that Australia has ever made outside of Australia – the redevelopment of the Lombrum Naval Base – will also be handed over to the Government and the people of Papua New Guinea, and we look forward to that. Thank you.