Anthony Albanese has become the first foreign government leader to address Papua New Guinea’s parliament during a visit to strengthen ties between the two neighbours.
During a speech on Thursday that Mr Albanese described as one of the “great honours of my life“, the Australian prime minister reflected on PNG’s journey of independence from Australian colonial rule.
As the two countries forge a new relationship, it’s worth recalling a little of the shared history of that colonial past.
When did Australia gain control over PNG?
In 1906, but Britain set the wheels in motion in 1888 when it declared a protectorate over south-east New Guinea and created a colony, following pressure from the Queensland government.
British New Guinea was later transferred to the newly federated Australia on September 3, 1906, and renamed Papua.
The move was seen as a bid by Australia to protect its northern, sparsely populated borders.
During World War I, Australian forces expelled the Germans who occupied the northern half of PNG and ex-German New Guinea was also claimed as Australian territory.
How did PNG gain independence?
Possession of PNG wasn’t providing much strategic benefit to Australia by the 1970s, and Papua New Guineans yearned for independence.
A ministry was formed in PNG resulting from elections held in 1972.
Michael Somare was appointed chief minister and he pledged to lead the country to self-government and then to independence.
He quickly began working with Australian Prime Minister Gough Whitlam toward decolonisation.
Papua New Guinea became self-governing on December 1, 1973, and achieved independence on September 16, 1975.
The country joined the United Nations on October 10, 1975, by way of Security Council Resolution 375 and General Assembly Resolution 3368.
How do PNG’s leaders feel about Australia?
Papua New Guinea’s leaders have previously pushed to improve relations with Commonwealth countries and also their neighbours in the Pacific.
Prime Minister James Marape said the two nations were coming to a “junction” in relations, following Mr Albanese’s arrival on Thursday.
“This time 50 years ago, it was a Labor-Pangu combination that set the way for Papua New Guinea to march to its independence in 1975,” he said, labelling Australia PNG’s “number one” foreign relation.
“For our younger generations of Australians and Papua New Guineans, lest you forget our shared history as we march forward into the future.
“The more we move into the future, the more distant 1975 will be, and the more distant the events of the 1940s and the World War will be.”
Mr Marape also said on Wednesday the decision to allow Mr Albanese to speak to parliament was not “made lightly” but done out of respect for the shared history.
“We want to entrench, reform and refurbish our democracy and nationhood to live beyond 50 years,” he said.
In another statement last week, he said the visit “reinforces the strong bond” between both countries.
“Australia and Papua New Guinea have a long history and this visit will strengthen our shared vision for the future,” he said.
“Australia is a very important foundation bilateral partner of PNG, in as far as nation-to-nation relations are concerned.”
Does the history between PNG and Australia affect relations now?
Australia’s attitude towards PNG can verge on “patronising”, according to former high commissioner to Papua New Guinea and University of Queensland Adjunct Associate Professor Ian Kemish.
“Papua New Guineans themselves are sometimes surprised by this dialogue we have in Australia, about who’s responsible for them,” he said.
“They find it a bit patronising.
“They say, ‘Your aid programs and your engagement is helpful, thank you very much, but ultimately our success or failure depends on us’.”
But he said he wouldn’t “overstate” any tensions between both countries.
“Generally speaking there’s a lot of affection there,” he said.
How do regular Papua New Guineans feel about Australia?
The sentiment seems to be largely positive, according to Mr Kemish.
“There are different perspectives and different views that coexist,” he said.
“There are people, particularly rural Papua New Guineans, who look back with nostalgia.
“That’s not to say any of them want to go back, because they’re proud of their independence, they are genuinely a sovereign nation.
“There’s [also] inevitably some tension from time to time when there’s an economic imbalance.”
But, he said, while people in PNG know a lot about Australia, the reverse is not necessarily the case.
“They know a lot about our politics, our culture, our television and film industry,” he said.
“I think what’s happened since independence is that Australians have progressively lost their knowledge of PNG.
“It shouldn’t be the case. They’re Australia’s closest neighbour, [so] there’s this imbalance.”
What does PNG’s future look like?
There are big challenges ahead.
“The resource sector is where it will go in terms of short term economic fixes,” Mr Kemish said.
“Beyond that the country has enormous resources, think agriculture, fisheries, maritime resources.
“To really capitalise on [that] human capacity, organisational skills and capability of the public service needs to be improved dramatically.”
Maholopa Laveil, the Lowy Institute’s Pacific Fellow, told the ABC there has been “relative political stability” following the most recent election.
“We have emerged unscathed relatively from the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said.
“And with the high petroleum prices, the government has had a lot of revenue to increase spending, at least last year and looks to be this year as well.”
Asked what PNG might be asking for from Australia during this visit, he said: “[PNG] is pushing for more budget support from Australia.
“It was $775 million last year and a lot of that hasn’t been realised in last year’s budget.
“Budget support [compared to foreign aid] is more in loan form and from Australia it is concessional loans so it is lower interest rates.”