QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE
Mr CONROY (Shortland—Minister for Pacific Island Affairs and Minister for Defence Industry) (14:28): I thank the member for her question and strong interest in foreign policy. Last month, the Prime Minister, the Deputy Prime Minister and I travelled to Papua New Guinea to commemorate the 50th anniversary of PNG's independence. We celebrated our shared history and values and our enduring bonds.
Our relationship with PNG is special. We've achieved so much together in recent years, from our bilateral security agreement to the PNG national rugby league team. Yesterday, the two prime ministers signed the Pukpuk treaty, establishing Australia's third ever alliance, the first in 74 years, and PNG's first ever.
As the Prime Minister said, four kilometres separates our two nations. As Prime Minister Marape said in this very chamber, we are joined at the hip. We shed blood together on the Kokoda Track and are buried together at the Bomana War Cemetery, including Pata Topipin from the Papuan Infantry Battalion, who was only 16 years of age when he made the ultimate sacrifice to preserve our freedom.
So, when PNG proposed this alliance, Australia was honoured to agree. As allies, in the event of an armed attack on either of our countries, we will both act to meet the danger. It is an agreement founded on friendship between our two peoples.
As the PM said, it shapes the future of our relationship as neighbours, equals, family and now allies. The government is working hard to respond to Pacific priorities and ensure that we are the partner of choice. We turn up, listen and act on the priorities of the Pacific family.
The Prime Minister walked the Kokoda Track with PM Marape, the first two leaders of their nations to do so. PM Albanese was also the first foreign leader to address the PNG parliament, and PM Marape was the first Pacific leader to address ours. Senior ministers from our government are regular visitors to the Pacific, and we're using every tool of statecraft, from defence and policing cooperation to trade, development assistance, temporary labour schemes, permanent migration and sport, to deepen our relationships.
Turning up, listening and acting—that's what we do, because our prosperity and stability are dependent upon the prosperity and stability of the Pacific. We have signed landmark treaties with Tuvalu and Nauru. The Nauru-Australia Treaty responds to their top concerns of economic resilience and banking services.
Importantly, we're acting on climate change, the Pacific's top priority, and our landmark Falepili union does that. We are negotiating with Fiji and Vanuatu as well. Our approach of listening, respect and action has delivered genuine and enduring partnerships.
Today, Australians and Papua New Guineans are safer due to this new alliance.