Media Release
FA170 - 14 November 2002
14th Australia-Papua New Guinea Ministerial Forum
The Australian delegation to the 14th Australia-Papua
New Guinea Ministerial Forum in Port Moresby on 15 November 2002,
will include six Howard Government Ministers.
I will lead the delegation's meetings with Sir Michael Somare's new
Government as we hold wide-ranging discussions with his Ministers.
The Forum, the first since Papua New Guinea's elections in August,
will enable us to reaffirm Australia's support for Papua New Guinea's
social and economic development and to encourage the political and
economic reform process.
The Forum will focus on:
- Papua New Guinea's financial and economic outlook including the
2003 budget framework, the reform program, economic and development
assistance and Papua New Guinea's relations with major donors including
the World Bank and the IMF;
- The maintenance of an attractive investment climate and progress
in advancing arrangements for the Papua New Guinea-Queensland gas
pipeline;
- Continued support for restructuring the Papua New Guinea Defence
Force;
- Developments in Bougainville including the peace agreement signed
last year and progress on the weapons disposal process;
- Regional issues including cooperation on counter-terrorism and
people smuggling;
- Cooperation on a range of other issues including the Torres Strait,
border management and security and environmental issues.
I also welcome the participation in the Forum of business representatives
from both countries. This is the fifth time the business community
has been able to take part in the Forum, giving the private sector
significant input into the official dialogue.
The Australian delegation will include Senator Robert Hill (Minister
for Defence), Mr Philip Ruddock (Minister for Immigration and Multicultural
and Indigenous Affairs), Dr David Kemp (Minister for the Environment
and Heritage), Senator Nick Minchin (Minister for Finance Administration)
and Senator Christopher Ellison (Minister for Justice and Customs).
The Papua New Guinea delegation will include a number of Senior Ministers.
Media inquiries: Chris Kenny (Ministerial) +61 02 6277 7500 / Lyndall
Sachs (Departmental) +61 02 6261 1555
Local Date:
Saturday, 05-Jul-2008 12:07:49 EST
