Australia hopes to ‘really elevate’ ties with Papua New Guinea amid China concerns, extends rugby diplomacy

In a soft-power move that is becoming a staple in the Australia-PNG relationship, Canberra will extend funding of PNG’s professional rugby team in the Queensland cup

PNG Prime Minister James Marape asked Australia not to ‘give up’ on his country, saying it would continue with structural reforms

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Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (right) and Papua New Guinea’s Prime Minister James Marape shake hands after Marape signs the visitors’ book at Parliament House in Canberra. Photo: EPA-EFE

Published: 10:00am, 9 Feb 2024Updated: 10:19am, 9 Feb 2024

Australia is pushing to deepen its all-round ties with Papua New Guinea by providing further support for the development of the island nation’s rugby league, an effort that comes alongside a historic speech by PNG Prime Minister James Marape in Canberra on Thursday.

Marape, in his speech as the first Pacific Island leader to address the Australian parliament, asked Australia not to “give up” on his country, saying it would continue with structural reforms including improving efficiency in its public sector and making changes to its courts, judiciary and police forces.

The issue of policing has been an undercurrent of concern for Australia and the region after the island nation and China engaged in early talks over potential security and policy deals last month.

Police work at the site of a damaged building in Port Moresby after riots on January 12, 2023. Photo: AFP

Following the deadly riots that rocked the PNG capital of Port Moresby last month, China offered to train the island nation’s police force, a move which mirrored the deal struck between China and Solomon Islands two years ago that whipped up panic in Canberra and Washington.

Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong on Thursday said Marape’s speech and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s speech in the PNG parliament last year – a first by a foreign leader – were critical as both countries sought to “really elevate” their relationship.

She said there had been a “decade of inaction” from the previous government in relation to Australia’s relationship with its Pacific neighbours and Australia must now work harder, given greater competition in the region stemming from China’s growing influence.

“We live in a different era, and we’re not going back to where we were … what we are doing is re-emphasising our part in the Pacific family and the importance of that engagement, and you’re seeing that today,” she said.