Defence 
Ministers 
Navy 
Army 
Air Force 
The Hon Richard Marles MP | The Hon Pat Conroy MP
24 Mar 25
Release details
Release type
Related ministers and contacts
The Hon Richard Marles MP
Deputy Prime Minister
Minister for Defence
Media contact
Dr Billy Joseph
PNG Minister for Defence
Release content
20 February 2025
Errors and omissions excepted
SUBJECT/S: Australia-PNG Defence Ministers’ Meeting.
DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER, RICHARD MARLES: Look, it's fantastic to have my really good friend Billy Joseph here the Papua New Guinea, Minister for Defence. Billy and I have met on numerous occasions, but we are really excited about the meeting we're going to be having today. Today, we're looking at the prospect of negotiating a Defence Treaty between our two countries. So we're really excited about the conversation that we're going to have. We have a Status of Forces Agreement right now, which goes back to 1977. But so much has happened since then, and we work so closely together that it really is a moment where we can take a relationship to the next step. I am just deeply grateful Billy for your leadership and it is a joy to host you here in Brisbane today.
PAPUA NEW GUINEA MINISTER FOR DEFENCE, THE HON. DR. BILLY JOSEPH: Thank you very much DPM. We're very happy to be here, it's a historic moment for countries. The relationship between PNGDF and ADF was forged in the Second World War, and we have strong connections, values, history, and we believe that we have a very strong future. We located in this side of the Pacific. Like my Prime Minister used to say, we are joined at the hip. And so we are looking forward to this great occasion where we will elevate the relationship between PNGDF and ADF to a treaty status. It is going through our process of both sides of the country, where we have our own legal process, but we are here to announce that the intent of both Defence forces between the PNGDF and ADF has come to a point where we need to elevate to a treaty status. And it is something that we have put forth. I have to say that it's not something that's been put on us. We have decided, from our side, PNG, that the relationship between PNG and Australia has to be elevated to a treaty status. And we thank you and your government and for accepting that proposal that PNG has put. And we're here now and we're looking forward to having that treaty being finalized.
ENDS