Australia and Papua New Guinea start negotiations on defence treaty

ABC NEWS (Australia)

Formal negotiations for a bilateral defence treaty between Australia and Papua New Guinea are underway. It's a move that could have major implications for the pacific region.

Transcript

00:00It's a move designed to draw the two nations even closer together, with Australia keen

00:06to box out Chinese influence in the region.

00:10Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles and his PNG counterpart Billy Joseph kicked

00:14off negotiations today in Brisbane.

00:17A timeline to formalise the treaty hasn't been announced, but the ABC has been told

00:21both countries are keen to move quickly.

00:24PNG's Prime Minister James Murape says discussions could include plans for Papua New Guineans

00:29to serve in the ADF.

00:31I can't pre-empt the entire process, but I can indicate that Australia has certainly

00:36indicated they are struggling to find manpower to work, not just the frontline defence force

00:43sector, but they're struggling to also find those who can work in defence industry, support

00:49branches.

00:50PNG has also agreed to host an element of Talisman Sabre, a multinational defence exercise

00:56led by Australia and the United States.

00:59Mr Marles says it will be the first time any of these exercises have been held outside

01:03of Australia.

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