Australia has announced additional support for Papua New Guinea’s primary healthcare services and the nationwide rollout of the HPV vaccine, while committing to closer cooperation in telecommunications, education and labour mobility under the two countries’ strengthened alliance.

Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong said the announcements were among the outcomes of the 32nd PNG-Australia Ministerial Forum in Port Moresby, which focused on expanding cooperation across defence, security, health, education, the economy, labour mobility and sport.

Ms. Wong announced a two-year primary healthcare program aimed at strengthening health services, particularly maternal and child health.

Australia will also provide an additional one million dollars to support the Papua New Guinean Government’s nationwide rollout of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, which helps protect women and girls against cervical cancer.

Ms. Wong said the latest commitments reflect the countries’ intention to turn their alliance into practical benefits for their citizens.

“They are about making our partnership real in the lives of our people,” she said.

She says the ministerial forum provides an opportunity for both governments to assess existing cooperation and identify areas where further progress can be made.

“Today was an opportunity to take stock of what we've done, we've done a lot, but importantly to look at and agree where we can do more,” Ms. Wong said.

PNG Foreign Affairs Minister Justin Tkatchenko said the forum has also advanced discussions on improving telecommunications and making internet access more affordable for Papua New Guineans.

He said Australia will assist PNG in progressing its telecommunications blueprint, with further work expected between the Department of Communication and state-owned enterprises over the coming weeks and months.

“Moving that forward under the telecommunication blueprint to get cheaper, less affordable internet connections for our people, for business, for Papua New Guinea,” Mr. Tkatchenko said.

The comments point to telecommunications as another area of cooperation, with more details expected as the two governments work towards implementation.

The two countries also discussed expanding opportunities for Papua New Guineans through the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) Scheme and providing additional Pacific Engagement Visa places for PNG citizens seeking opportunities to live and work in Australia.

Tkatchenko said cooperation across health, telecommunications, higher education and sport reflects the wider scope of the strengthened relationship.

He also highlighted the implementation of the Pukpuk Treaty and the bilateral security arrangement, saying the agreements would support closer cooperation on security and other shared priorities.

“We're not looking back. We're only looking forward,” he said.

Ms. Wong says the range of agreements reached at the forum demonstrates the breadth of the bilateral relationship and the areas in which both countries intend to work more closely.

“The strength of the forum is not just any single announcement, but it is the breadth of what we are doing together,” she said.

The 32nd Ministerial Forum was the first since Papua New Guinea and Australia formally became alliance partners, marking a new phase in their longstanding relationship.

Both ministers say the focus now is on translating the alliance’s commitments into practical outcomes for people in both countries.