Australia’s newly appointed Deputy High Commissioner to Papua New Guinea, H.E. Adrian Lochrin, has paid a courtesy visit to the Department of National Planning and Monitoring (DNPM) in Port Moresby, marking an important step in reaffirming Australia’s support for PNG’s national development goals. The visit, held on Tuesday 15 July, also served as the occasion for the formal signing of four new Subsidiary Arrangements under the PNG–Australia development partnership.
The Australian delegation, which included Minister Counsellor Elizabeth Le Bas, First Secretary for Program Strategy and Gender Ms. Claudia Cooney, and Program Manager Mrs. Inderlyn Matainaho, was welcomed by DNPM Secretary Koney Samuel on behalf of the Government of Papua New Guinea.
This early engagement by Deputy High Commissioner Lochrin comes at a significant moment in PNG’s development trajectory, as the country prepares to mark 50 years of independence and enters the final phase of its Vision 2050 development strategy. According to Secretary Samuel, the visit and new Subsidiary Arrangements “symbolize not only continuity but the evolution of Australia’s long-standing role as a partner in PNG’s development journey.”
A Framework for Progress
The signing ceremony formalised four new Subsidiary Arrangements that will underpin Australian-supported programs in the coming years:
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Strategic Health Infrastructure – supporting Stage 2 of ANGAU Hospital redevelopment and new projects including the Gware Administration Building and Daru General Hospital.
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Law and Justice Program – expanding Australia’s support for PNG’s justice institutions and access to legal services.
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Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Policy Support Program – addressing food security and rural livelihoods.
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PNG Women Lead – promoting women’s leadership, gender equality, and social inclusion.
These agreements reflect Australia’s support through the PNG–Australia Comprehensive Strategic and Economic Partnership (CSEP) and the Development Partnership Plan (DPP), which are closely aligned with Papua New Guinea’s Medium Term Development Plan IV (MTDP IV 2023–2027) and other long-term strategic frameworks such as Vision 2050 and the Development Strategic Plan 2030.
As the legal mechanism for program implementation, the Subsidiary Arrangements are essential tools for aligning foreign aid with PNG’s national priorities. In this context, the Department of National Planning and Monitoring plays a critical role, particularly through its Development Cooperation and Management Division, which coordinates external support and ensures alignment with government policy.
“Side by Side, Step by Step”
In remarks during the courtesy visit, Deputy High Commissioner Lochrin echoed the theme of PNG’s 50th Independence Anniversary—“Side by Side, Step by Step.” He reiterated Australia’s commitment to walking with PNG through its next phase of development.
“We are pleased to see the partnership flourishing, with new areas of cooperation emerging in sports, defence, and security,” Lochrin said. “We’re ready to engage constructively on PNG’s new Development Cooperation Framework.”
This theme of mutual respect and shared progress resonates deeply within the Australia–PNG bilateral relationship, which spans decades of collaboration in health, education, infrastructure, and governance. However, the emerging focus on new sectors—including sports diplomacy through Rugby League and strategic engagement in defence and security—signals a modernisation of the relationship, tailored to contemporary geopolitical realities in the Pacific.
The Path Ahead
Secretary Koney Samuel noted that PNG’s new Development Cooperation Framework, currently being finalised, will chart the course for future engagement with development partners, including Australia. “Prime Minister James Marape has called on us to reflect and reset our course,” Samuel said. “We welcome the continued support of partners like Australia as we pursue a more prosperous, inclusive, and resilient nation.”
Indeed, as Papua New Guinea prepares to mark five decades of independence, the Australia–PNG relationship remains one of the Pacific’s most enduring bilateral partnerships. With the implementation of the new Subsidiary Arrangements and the promise of deeper collaboration under the forthcoming development framework, both countries appear well-positioned to navigate the next 50 years—side by side, step by step.