Julie Bishop

Minister Bishop was speaking about why Australia should invest more in PNG.

“I was particularly pleased to hear the Prime Minister talk about tourism because this is an area where we can partner much more closely with PNG.

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.

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.

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.

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.

She was officially welcomed by Prime Minister Peter O'Neill at the Sir Manasupe Haus.

Her three-day visit, from 20 to 22 March, will see her get briefed on Australia’s humanitarian response to the devastating earthquakes which have struck the Highlands region since 26 February.

She will now visit the Australian air force personnel, along with the Royal Australian Defence Force and the PNG Defence Force personnel, who now await her arrival at the Air Transport Wing, at ATS.

Around 140,000 people living in the remote areas of the Highlands region were most impacted by the earthquake.

In a joint statement, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Julie Bishop, Minister for Defence, Senator Marise Payne and Minister for International Development and the Pacific, Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells, said: “Continuing aftershocks have caused further damage in these areas, including a 5.8 magnitude earthquake on 5 March and a 6.7 magnitude earthquake this morning.

The quake struck in the early hours of 26 February and aftershocks continue to be recorded.

In a statement, the Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Julie Bishop, said: “We are saddened to hear reports of lives lost and many people being injured. 

“Given the challenging terrain and remoteness of the area, we expect that the extent of the damage will become clearer in coming days.

“At the request of the Papua New Guinean Government, Australia is today providing a RAAF C-130 to conduct aerial surveillance and provide logistical support to the PNG Defence Force.

Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Julie Bishop declared her government’s commitment when visiting the DWU Campus in Madang.

Bishop also met with DWU President Professor Cecilia Nembou and young women students enrolled in undergraduate degree programs.

Childfund Australia, Marie Stopes International Australia and World Vision Australia will deliver GAP projects in Papua New Guinea.

These projects will help support equal opportunities for Papua New Guineans and work towards achieving lives free from violence.

This project is in partnership with the National Agricultural Research Institute’s (NARI) and Trukai Rice.

Through this innovative project, NARI will partner with Trukai to pilot solar powered rice milling equipment in a select number of rice-growing communities in Morobe Province.

Trukai will assist the pilot project by supporting the development of links for rural farmers to commercial markets. The pilot is being facilitated through the Australian Government funded Incentive Fund.