JANUARY 11, 2023
AUSTRALIAN Prime Minister Hon. Anthony Albanese will address the National Parliament under a provision of the Parliamentary Standing Orders, Prime Minister Hon. James Marape has explained today (11.01.23) in Parliament.
Prime Minister Marape said the decision to invite his Australian counterpart to speak in Parliament was “not made lightly’, but done in respect of the shared history and solid bi-lateral relationship that the two countries now share as Papua New Guinea heads into its Golden Jubilee in 2025 and seeks ways to live beyond it.
The Prime Minister was responding to Southern Highlands Governor Hon. William Powi, who during Questions Without Notice, asked for some clarification on the announcement this week that Prime Minister Albanese would be addressing the PNG Parliament – an unprecedented move to an outside leader under any government since Independence in 1975.
PM Marape responded: “There is a provision in our Standing Orders…and we will invoke this provision and allow him as a special guest to our country.”
He said the country’s 50 Years Anniversary (Golden Jubilee) falls within this 11th Parliament in 2025 and work has begun toward it.
“Our hosting the Australian Prime Minister in our Parliament is part of our plan towards our 50th anniversary program that is coming up in 2025.
“Our Speaker has titled this 11th Parliament as ‘Ushering in 50 Years of Nationhood’.
“In the 11th Parliament, we are crossing over the 50th years of our nationhood. There are programs running in this term of Parliament – in 2023, 2024, and 2025. We want to entrench, reform and refurbish our democracy and nationhood to live beyond 50 years.
“It was this time 50 years ago when a Labour prime minister in Gough Whitlam broke down barriers in Australia to prepare our nation for self-government in 1973 and our eventual nationhood in 1975.
“As the current leader of the Australian Labour Party – a party that partnered our Pangu Party in 1973 in preparing our country for Independence, and on the eve of our 50th anniversary – we feel the Australian Prime Minister should address our Parliament, as his arrival coincides with the date and time when our Parliament is in session.
“We have more business-to-business, person-to-person, and government-to-government relationships with Australia than we have with all other bi-lateral relations we have.
“This is not to erode the specifics of the other bi-lateral relations we have as we have good relations with all other nations. When leaders of these nations come to us, special protocols and privileges will be accorded to them, just as we are given protocols and accorded the respects that those nations give to us,” said PM Marape.
Prime Minister Marape said it was not uncommon for heads of countries or world leaders to be invited to address the visiting country’s parliament, such as the Pope addressing the United States Congress or the Chinese President addressing the Australian parliament some years ago.
The Australian Prime Minister arrives tomorrow Thursday (12.01.22) where he will be accorded protocols at the APEC Terminal at Jacksons International Airport, after which he will pay a courtesy call on the Governor-General at Government House. At 11am, he will address the National Parliament. PM Marape will then respond to his statement after which Parliament will adjourn and the two leaders will move to discussing bi-lateral issues outside.
Parliament sessions are now fully broadcast and televised on NBC, Loop PNG and EMTV. Papua New Guineans are encouraged to tune in.
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