Papua New Guinea and Australia have successfully signed the bilateral security agreement today in Australia.
The Agreement is a legally-binding framework to deepen security cooperation in traditional areas of defence, policing, border and maritime security, and also non-traditional areas of cyber security, climate change, gender-based violence and critical infrastructure.
The bilateral security agreement will elevate security relationship for both countries to advance shared security interests while contributing to the region’s security.
The Agreement fulfills a commitment under our Comprehensive Strategic and Economic Partnership; Consistent with our shared commitment to transparency as the Agreement will be made publicly available.
During the signing, Australia made a commitment of $200 million dollars in support of Papua New Guinea’s national security priorities.
Australia agreed to support Papua New Guinea’s internal security, from police to courts to correctional services. This includes initiatives that reflect the Bilateral Security Agreement’s focus on climate change, gender-based violence and cybercrime.
Papua New Guinea will establish a Port Moresby based Police Recruit and Investigation Training Centre with Australia’s support. The Centre will enable Papua New Guinea to recruit and train a larger and more capable force.
Papua New Guinea has offered to open the Training Centre to other Pacific police forces. Papua New Guinea and Australia will continue to support the development of regional policing in the Pacific through the Pacific Islands Chiefs of Police as our region’s policing institution.
Both countries pledged to continue to support economic security, including support for trade, border security and increased engagement in the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility scheme.
