CYBER SECURITY PILOT, COMMITTING TO THE CLOUD: AUSTRALIA AND PNG TO DEEPEN DIGITAL DIALOGUE
The Australian Government has reaffirmed its commitment to Papua New Guinea’s digital future and praised its regional leadership at this year’s Digital Transformation Summit.
Australian High Commissioner to Papua New Guinea and Special Envoy for the Pacific and Regional Affairs, Ewen McDonald, attended Day One of the four-day conference (24-27 November), he emphasised the importance of close partnership.
He announced a new (approx.) PGK 4 million (AUD1.5 million) commitment to help Papua New Guinea adopt secure, cloud- based government services, advancing innovation and access for all.
Alongside cloud support, Australia and Papua New Guinea are piloting a national Protective Domain Name System (PDNS) to automatically block websites that could launch cyber-attacks.
Similar systems in Australia, the United States, and the United Kingdom have collectively blocked billions of threats in recent years, highlighting PDNS’s proven ability to defend against phishing, malware, and other cyber risks. The results of the pilot will help inform future decisions regarding regional security.
High Commissioner and Special Envoy for Pacific and Regional Affairs McDonald highlighted the close cyber relationship that Australia and Papua New Guinea already share.
“We are already working together to adopt cloud-based data solutions, improve cyber resilience, and develop digital government services through secure and accessible cloud services,” he said.
“Our partnership is about building capacity, sharing knowledge, and creating opportunities for all.”
Across the Pacific, Australia is supporting digital transformation with key telecommunications infrastructure, including the recently announced Adamasia Cable System 1 for the Solomon Islands, backed by grant and financing package of over AUD 100 million including an off-grid electricity generation and storage capability.
“We continue to work and partner with many other Pacific nations, including Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Nauru, Tonga and Palau, to deliver digital infrastructure that supports better outcomes for all,” he said.
