Emerging leaders set vision for the next 50 years of Australia–Papua New Guinea relationship
A new generation of Australian and Papua New Guinean leaders has set out its vision for a more equal partnership, recommending expanded trade ties and building on genuine security cooperation between the two countries rather than the historical relationship of aid dependency.
Twenty emerging leaders from both countries gathered in Port Moresby from 26–30 May for the 2025 Australia–Papua New Guinea Network Emerging Leaders Dialogue, producing a blueprint for the next 50 years of the relationship between Australia and PNG.
Their recommendations, published today in the report Shared history, shared future: The next 50 years of Australia–Papua New Guinea relations, arrive at a pivotal moment for the partnership.
With the Pukpuk Treaty deepening defence cooperation and people-to-people connections expanding, both nations face critical choices about the relationship's future direction.
The dialogue participants identified several priorities that would transform the relationship.
- Ratify and implement the PNG–Australia Mutual Defence Treaty with equal emphasis on internal security and community security.
- Shift the focus of the relationship from aid to trade by further supporting small-to-medium enterprise growth, diaspora investment, and agricultural exports.
- Embed Papua New Guinean content into the Australian school curriculum and deepen tertiary education partnerships.
- Strengthen PNG’s primary healthcare system by further investing in local workforce training and rural service delivery.
- Create a formal PNG–Australia Diaspora Engagement Strategy to harness the skills, networks, and capital of PNG communities in Australia.
You can read the full report on the Lowy Institute website: https://www.lowyinstitute.org/publications/shared-history-shared-future-next-50-years-australia-papua-new-guinea-relations
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