TRANSCRIPT
A historic day in Canberra.
As Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister James Marape became the first Pacific Island leader to address Australia's parliament.
It's been almost 50 years since Papua New Guinea gained independence from Australia, with Mr Marape taking a moment to celebrate the nation's shared history.
"It was from this Parliament, the 98 act of 1975, called the PNG Independence Act of 1975, cut the umbilical cord from the wombs of Australia to birth Papua New Guinea."
Papua New Guinea has struggled with a range of social and economic issues since gaining independence.
Despite these obstacles, Mr Marape says the nation is committed to democracy.
"It is true that our challenges are many and our systems remain fragile. It is true our people need greater empowerment in many aspects of their life. Since 1975, we have run ten elections. Many of them had their fair share of challenges. But we unfailingly have produced governments. Yes, there might have been many contests along the way, including votes of no confidence. But we have remained one democratic nation maintaining the core of democracy in our country."
One of those challenges is currently brewing.
Earlier this year, 15 people lost their lives during riots in Port Moresby - as protests over police and public service pay became violent.
And as soon as next week, James Marape could face a vote of no confidence.
Distinguished Policy Expert at the Australian National University, James Batley, says it's impossible to predict the outcome.
"It's very difficult for any outsider to predict the outcome of political developments in Papua New Guinea, any he says himself that he's confident that he would say that. So it should not surprise us if there are people positioning themselves to launch a motion of no confidence as to what the outcome of that might be. I think it's impossible to say."
The leaders discussed closer co-operation on security, defence, climate and the economy.
Mr Marape says he wants Papua New Guinea to become a stronger nation.
"Papua New Guinea must not continue to be an aid grant receiving nation, a nation that depends on borrowing every year to survive. We must become a strong country standing on our own two feet, economically independent and strong so we too can help Australia maintain democracy, preserve peace and ensure stability in our part of planet Earth, in our Pacific."
Policy expert James Batley says the country's complex development needs could make that a slow process.
"Papua New Guinea has got really formidable development challenges and to be honest, it's hard to see Papua New Guinea graduating from the need for external assistance for some time to come. I think that may well be some decades down the track. Nevertheless, it's an aspiration that's good to have, and it's been one of Prime Minister Marape's aspirations for some years. But there's a lot of work to be done."
Underpinning James Marape's address was the recognition of the truly unique relationship between Australian and Papua New Guinea.
"Many of us in Papua New Guinea see Australia as a Big Brother or sister who took, care of us went we were still a teenager. United us into young adulthood and continue to support us to this day. We were cut out from the same democratic cloth. One is good friend but one is stuck with family forever. Our two countries are stuck with each other. We have no choice but to get along."
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese echoing that sentiment.
"We embrace each other as equals, we learn from each other as neighbours, we are there for each other as mates, especially when times are hard."
As James Marape urged Australia to stick with PNG.
"I ask you, do not give up on Papua New Guinea. We have always bounced back from our low moments and we will continue to grow, learning from every low moments and every high moments."
