Television Interview, Sky News - News Day

SUBJECT/S: 50th Anniversary of Papua New Guinea Independence; Australia-Papua New Guinea Relations

HOST, KIERAN GILBERT: Joining me at the state dinner to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Independence for PNG is the Deputy Prime Minister, Richard Marles. Great to see you. Why is this such an important event, not just for PNG, but for Australia as well?

RICHARD MARLES, DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER: Well, it is a huge event for, obviously for PNG, its 50th anniversary of independence, but it's a huge event for Australia. You rightly say that, because there's only two countries that have gained their independence from Australia, and that's Papua New Guinea and Nauru. And so, you know, this day 50 years ago and the policies which led up to it were a really significant moment in Australian history as well as PNG history. And how independence happened and how PNG has fared since independence actually says a lot about Australia and our place in the world. So, it's a very significant day for our country as well.

GILBERT: It's an interesting time in the world in terms of democracy, not always as strong as we might imagine it to be. So, in a way, this vibrant democracy is worth celebrating for many more reasons than one.

MARLES: Absolutely. And, you know, I think one of the things that we can celebrate about PNG over the course of the 50 years is that it has been maintained as a democracy throughout that period. It is a vibrant democracy. Freedom of speech feels to me to be very culturally Melanesian- you find people here have lots of opinions and they're pretty keen to express them. And so I've been here, I've observed in elections here over the years and obviously followed politics here. And it's, you know, it is a very democratic, vibrant place where people have their say, and that's wonderful.

GILBERT: And I know that you've been here dozens of times, many, many times over the years in various capacities. This is an important one in the sense that we're about to ink a defence treaty. I know you're going to announce the full details on Wednesday, but the Prime Minister told me earlier in the visit that he sees this as elevating this relationship to the level of the one that we have with the US or New Zealand, obviously different levels of military capacity, but it's that sort of level now of our cooperation.

MARLES: Well, we began a process in January of really doing a refresh to our Status of Forces Agreement, which actually dates back to 1977. And what was really clear very early on in the discussions between myself and Billy Joseph was that both of us were bringing a level of ambition to this, which means that what we now have and what we'll be moving forward with is really a very, very significant agreement indeed. It does elevate and transform the relationship that we have with PNG in a defence sense. It will see us operate even more together, exercise more together, think about how we plan our defences together. And that is a very significant step indeed. And I think when you look at the various agreements that we have in respect of defence around the world, this is one which is very, very significant in that context as well.

GILBERT: In terms of the strategic, the geography of PNG to our nation. It's not just geography, of course, you know, you've spoken about the history, we know the World War II history, the wonderful contribution that the PNG nation made to Australia's efforts in World War II. But it's hard to overlook the strategic geography of this place as well when it comes to Australia's basically front doorstep.

MARLES: Well, this is right. And I was here just a few weeks ago as we were announcing the biggest piece of infrastructure that Australia has supported anywhere in the Pacific. The Lombrum Naval Base in Manus during the Second World War. Outside of the United States, this was the biggest US naval base in the world. It said something about the strategic significance of Manus, the northernmost part of Papua New Guinea then. And, and I think that strategic significance stands today, and we saw that play out of course during the Second World War. And as a result of that, there is so much of our history here in this country. I mean, the Kokoda Track is, is an iconic part of our history, it’s the-

GILBERT: The largest war grave internationally, isn't it?

MARLES: Well, the Bomana War Cemetery is the largest Australian war cemetery anywhere in the world. And right there is a sacred place for Australia. You know, as I got out of my car today, there was a group of students from Geelong who had literally just completed the Kokoda Track. They'd done it to coincide with the 50th anniversary and they are engaging in a pilgrimage in a way which you see so many young Australians do now, and that's that to do the Kokoda Track. And it particularly resonated for me because my first visit here was as a 16 year old on a school trip and I was talking to these same 16 year olds literally this afternoon who are feeling the same kind of wonder and amazement about this country that I felt back in 1984.

GILBERT: Yeah, it is an amazing nation, but as we said, it's got that freedom of speech and a vibrant democracy. Members of the Opposition, a respected former General as well, has raised concerns about the defence treaty as a risk to their sovereignty. Are you confident this is going to be on a firm foundation, this new agreement?

MARLES: Look, I am. And because underpinning this is a profound respect for PNG sovereignty. I mean, we enter into a whole lot of relationships with countries around the world, we do so as a sovereign nation and they are mutual and that's what this agreement is as well. And when you look at who we are as two nations, we are neighbours, we are destined- we have a shared destiny by virtue of our geography. And it makes perfect sense that that would be given expression through a very close relationship. And that's what this agreement will be.

GILBERT: Will you seek to reassure those members across their political aisle here. Because obviously Prime Minister Marape has been very strongly in favour of, he's been driving it in many respects. But will you seek to placate other members of the political establishment here?

MARLES: Well, obviously we'll work with the PNG government. That's what we do as a government, is to work with the government of the day. But, you know, we are very keen to assure that this has the broadest support possible. And however we can play a part in assisting the government to achieve that support, we’re willing to play that part.

GILBERT: And you believe it will be on a firm foundation?

MARLES: No, I do, I do. Because I think this fundamentally does have broad support. I mean, look, I've been coming to this country for a long time and there is a deep affinity that people here have for Australia. It makes complete sense to me that PNG would look to Australia in terms of being a partner of choice, be that economically or in terms of security. And certainly from Australia's point of view, we seek to be the partner of choice here in Papua New Guinea, but indeed across the Pacific.

GILBERT: And will this deal solidify that as well? As in will it rule out PNG seeking support from third nations, be it China or anyone else, when it comes to a defence support sense.

MARLES: Well, look, let's wait till the agreement is announced and we'll go through the particular terms of it. But what I would say is that we seek to be the partner of choice for the countries of the Pacific and, and I've long held the view that if Australia presents, if we show up, if we play our part in the human development of the Pacific, here in Papua New Guinea, specifically, if we do what we can to support these countries, again, PNG specifically in terms of their security and their national defence, then that is, then ultimately we are the natural partner of choice and that's the decision that countries in the Pacific will make.

GILBERT: Yes, and it's, well it's a big night. We've got Prince Edward, the Duke of Edinburgh arriving. A lot of dignitaries and regional leaders, world leaders, here tonight to mark a special milestone, 50 years of their Golden Jubilee in PNG.

MARLES: That's right. And I mean that when you think about the journey of this country over those 50 years, I mean, back in 1975, actually, the then Prince of Wales, the now King Charles, was here on that day-

GILBERT: There were doubts, actually, among some that it would survive as well, given how- what, 1,000 tribes- 800 languages.

MARLES: Yeah. And this, you know, is a very diverse, colourful country, but 50 years down the track, they've made themselves a nation and there is a sense of national spirit here which is palpable, which you can see here. And the diversity of this country is very much embraced as its strength. But, you know, back then, aid was probably what characterised the relationship. We still do development assistance today, but this relationship is so much bigger as economic partners, as security partners. I mean, this is a country now which is north of 11 million people- it's probably twice the size of New Zealand. So, it is a big, important country from an Australian point of view. And it says so much about what's been achieved here by PNG.

GILBERT: Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles, thanks for joining us on this evening of the State Dinner.

MARLES: Rare for me to be doing an interview in a tuxedo, but I'm glad to be doing it with you, Kieran.

ENDS