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Australia to help PNG with security and justice with new deal

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Australia announced a raft of new initiatives to help its closest neighbor improve its homeland security and justice system.
The agreement with Papua New Guineareported less than 24 hours after Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang left Australia, arriving just over a month after reports that PNG was considering signing a police deal with Beijing.

The agreement signed in Port Moresby yesterday will boost support to fight financial crime, improve access to justice for young and remote people and make the country’s correctional facilities safer and more secure.

Penny Wong shakes hands with Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape on Wednesday, June 19, 2024. (9News)

Lee had barely left Perth when a huge Australian delegation, including Foreign Minister Penny Wong, Defense Minister Richard Marles and Attorney-General Mark Dreyfuss, traveled north in a diplomatic show of force.

“A stronger and safer Papua New Guinea is good for PNG. It’s also good for Australia and it’s good for the region,” Wong said yesterday.

“This is the logic and imperative of the work we do together for your homeland security.”

PNG Foreign Minister Justin Tkachenko praised the countries’ efforts to work together to strengthen “Pacific unity” and help each other in times of crisis.

Tkachenko said no one stopped PNG from going ahead with a police deal with China, which The Sydney Morning Herald last month it was reported that Australian officials had “made every effort” to stop it.

“As far as China is concerned, they are a strong economic trading partner of Papua New Guinea, just like Australia,” the foreign minister said.

“And on security, we have signed a bilateral security agreement with Australia.

“They are our traditional security partner, partner of choice and we, as a government, have seen crystal clear that we will continue to support, work and partner with Australia now and into the future for our security.”

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