PNG youth set for new opportunities under closer Australia defence partnership

 Thousands of young Papua New Guineans could gain access to military careers, training and employment in Australia as Papua New Guinea and Australia move to expand their defence partnership under the Pukpuk Treaty.

Prime Minister James Marape made the announcement as he welcomed Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles to Port Moresby, saying the two countries were now entering a deeper stage of cooperation following the defence treaty coming into force last month.

 PNG youth set for new opportunities under closer Australia defence partnership

At the centre of the discussions is a proposed pathway for up to 10,000 Papua New Guineans to join the Australian Defence Force, alongside broader arrangements covering labour mobility, education, investment and economic cooperation.

Mr Marape said Mr Marles' latest visit demonstrated the close contact now being maintained between the two governments.

“I want to welcome Deputy Prime Minister of Australia, the Honourable Richard Marles, to Port Moresby and Papua New Guinea once again,” he said.

He said the relationship had developed rapidly, with senior officials and political leaders from both countries making regular visits.

“The Australia–Papua New Guinea relationship could not be better. We have Ministers from both sides visiting each other, Deputy Prime Ministers visiting each other, and Prime Ministers visiting each other regularly. We are moving deeper into our relationship.”

The Prime Minister said the partnership was no longer restricted to traditional diplomatic and government channels.

It now included defence and policing, education, infrastructure, employment, trade, investment, health, emergency response, sport and wider community links.

“The relationship between Papua New Guinea and Australia is not simply a relationship between two Governments,” Mr Marape said.

“It is a relationship between neighbours, families, businesses, churches, communities, Defence Forces and generations of people whose histories have been intertwined.”

The Pukpuk Treaty became operational on July 8, following its signing by Mr Marape and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Canberra on October 6, 2025.

The agreement established PNG's first formal military alliance with another nation and set out arrangements for closer cooperation between the two defence forces.

It provides that an armed attack on either country would be regarded as a threat to the peace and security of both nations.

The treaty also covers capability development and closer integration and interoperability between the PNGDF and ADF while maintaining the sovereignty of both countries.

Mr Marape praised Mr Marles for his contribution to the strengthening of military ties.

“His leadership in the Defence portfolio and the work he has undertaken with our Defence leadership have helped bring the Papua New Guinea Defence Force and Australian Defence Force closer together,” he said.

The proposed 10,000-person ADF pathway is expected to become one of the most direct benefits of the expanding relationship for Papua New Guineans.

Mr Marape said young people who qualify could receive wages, professional training, qualifications and experience through service in Australia.

“One of the major tangible outcomes we are working towards is opening the door for up to 10,000 young Papua New Guineans to serve in the Australian Defence Force,” he said.

“This is a significant opportunity for our people.”

Under Australian law, eligible non-Australian recruits could also have a pathway towards citizenship.

The first part of the recruitment process is already in place. From January 1, 2026, eligible PNG citizens who are permanent residents of Australia have been permitted to apply to join the ADF.

The two governments are now considering how a direct recruitment model from Papua New Guinea could work.

Mr Marape said PNG wanted the process to move forward while ensuring that suitable candidates were given a fair opportunity.

“The process has started, and Deputy Prime Minister Marles comes again to Papua New Guinea as we work to make sure that we are moving faster rather than slower in this space,” he said.

He also drew a clear distinction between sending recruits to Australia and developing PNG's own military.

“We will not abandon our own Defence Force,” Mr Marape said.

“Our Government is committed to strengthening the PNG Defence Force across its land, maritime and aviation capabilities, including building its personnel strength, infrastructure, technology and professional capability so that it can effectively defend our sovereignty and serve our people.”

He said PNG needed a stronger domestic defence force while continuing to build closer ties with Australia.

The proposed ADF programme is being developed at the same time as PNG expands its labour mobility arrangements.

More than 5,000 Papua New Guineans are already working under labour mobility programmes in Australia. The Government wants that figure to reach 10,000, then 15,000 and eventually 20,000.

Mr Marape said the Australian employment market could provide an important outlet for trained young Papua New Guineans.

“Australia can become an important alternate employment market for many of our young Papua New Guineans coming out of our School and Training systems,” he said.

He said the broader partnership should be measured by the opportunities it creates for people.

“This is what I mean when I say our relationship with Australia must produce tangible results,” Mr Marape said.

“Defence cooperation must produce opportunities. Labour mobility must produce opportunities. Education partnerships must produce opportunities. Trade and investment must produce opportunities.”

The Prime Minister said the future relationship should increasingly be based on economic cooperation rather than dependence on aid.

“Our relationship must increasingly be about growing together,” he said.

“It must translate into more jobs for our young people, greater investment into Papua New Guinea, better infrastructure, stronger institutions, greater trade and a stronger Papua New Guinea economy.”

Mr Marape also acknowledged Mr Marles for maintaining a strong connection with PNG through repeated visits and engagement with its leaders and people.

He said the relationship between himself and Mr Albanese had also allowed both governments to make important decisions based on mutual confidence.

“Our two nations have shared history, shared geography and increasingly a shared responsibility for the peace, security and prosperity of our part of the world,” Mr Marape said.

“We entered our second 50 years as an independent nation with our relationship with Australia stronger than it has ever been.”

Mr Marape said the priority now was to turn the strengthened relationship into benefits that could be felt by ordinary citizens.

“The prospect of up to 10,000 Papua New Guineans serving in the Australian Defence Force-with employment, training, skills and a potential pathway to Australian citizenship-is a major opportunity for our young people,” he said.

“As we enter the next 50 years, we want this relationship to produce greater security, more jobs, stronger Defence capability, more trade and investment, better opportunities for our young people and greater prosperity for both Papua New Guinea and Australia.”