Australian Foreign Affairs Minister

Aust Minister clarifies Lombrum plan

Speaking to media after the APEC Ministerial Meeting, Payne said they will be working closely with the PNG Government and defence forces to build the facility.

“Australia has indicated that we will be working with the Papua New Guinea Defence Force and Papua New Guinea Government to develop some shared facilities there, not an Australian Naval Base,” said Minister Payne.

Aust increases financial support

A joint media statement by the Australian Foreign Affairs Minister, Julie Bishop, and Trade, Tourism and Investment Minister, Steven Ciobo, revealed that the funding covers an undersea telecommunications cables project to PNG to deliver a faster, cheaper and more reliable communications infrastructure for the receiving country.

The total Australian official development assistance to PNG will rise from A$546.3 million in 2017/2018, to A$572.2 million in the 2018/2019 financial year.

Australian Minister opens new facilities

Her final stay saw the opening of three new facilities by Minister Julie Bishop. They include the Sir Sere Pitoi House in IPA and a new student administration building at UPNG.

The opening was officiated through the Pacific Leadership and Governance Precinct – a partnership between the PNG and Australia government to support the development of ethical and capable public sector leaders in PNG.

The event was attended by different stakeholders including the beneficiaries, students, and respective ministers of states and former politician Sir Michael Somare.

Chan welcomes Julie Bishop

The Australian minister visited the governor's residence in Kavieng town to discuss bilateral matters.

She was treated to a traditional welcome by locals and school children at the Kavieng Airport and will proceed to visit the marine hatchery and training facility at Nago Island.

The visit will enable strategies of development into improving technical and institutional capacity to support development of mariculture-based livelihood and industry in New Ireland Province.

The facility has a start duration from January 2016 to 2020 and a budget of $1,741,605.

Australian Minister arrives in Kavieng

This is the second day of a three-day official bilateral visit to PNG.

The official visit to Kavieng will include discussions on bilateral trade and investment opportunities for the province.

The Australia Minister, who arrived in Port Moresby yesterday, had a meeting with Prime Minister Peter O’Neill and Pato and discussed the status of the First Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM1), stating it was successful.

Bishop says the status of PNG hosting the APEC summit in November this year is very important for the region.

New Consulate-General will bolster partnership: Bishop

This was the remark from Australian Foreign Affairs Minister, Julie Bishop, during the Consulate-General’s official opening yesterday.

“Lae is Papua New Guinea’s second largest commercial centre and a gateway to the dynamic economies of Asia and the Pacific,” stated Minister Bishop.

“It will assist the Australian Government in building even stronger links with the many Australian businesses operating in this growing part of Papua New Guinea, including in mining, agriculture, manufacturing and retail.