PNG Prime Minister Peter O'Neill Meets with Australian Opposition Leader

Papua New Guinea Prime Minister, Peter O'Neill  received a courtesy call from the Australian Opposition Leader, Hon. Bill Shorten MP in Port Moresby today.

The Prime Minister expressed appreciation for the ongoing strong relationship between Papua New Guinea and Australia, and between members of Parliament from both countries.

During their meeting, both leaders discussed issues of significance to the bilateral relationship, as well as regional issues of concern including climate change.

“Papua New Guinea is committed to the commitments made by Leaders at the recent Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting in Port Moresby

“We will take a strong position to the UN climate change meeting in Paris and seek firm action for other countries.

“It is important that Australia further seeks strong action when nations meet.

“We are calling for the adoption of a legally-binding agreement on climate change during to come from the COP21 conference.”

The Prime Minister raised shared policy engagement issues including the processing of asylum seekers at facilities on Manus, and development support.

“There have been difficulties experienced in receiving and processing asylum seekers on Manus and we have made considerable progress.

“This arrangement began when Mr Shorten was in Government and has continued during the current Australian Parliament.

“Papua New Guinea has announced the completion of the Regional Resettlement Arrangement and further details will be released soon.

“We also discussed the new partnership arrangement on Australian development support to Papua New Guinea.

“Both countries would like to better align this to Papua New Guinea’s development priorities, including re-direction of 50 percent of support to infrastructure by 2017.

PM O’Neill further thanked Mr Shorten on the bipartisan support that is being shown among members of the Australian Parliament for Papua New Guinea’s hosting of APEC in 2018.

“On APEC we are grateful that both governments are building joint activities in facilitating APEC 2018 especially in the area of security.”

He reassured Mr Shorten that his Government will continue to work closely with all Australian leaders to address issues of mutual interest to both countries.

"Our government is always open for discussions with the Australian Government and will always maintain strong collective relations with both sides of the Parliament chamber in Canberra," PM O'Neill said.