Marape to be first prime minister to address Australia Parliament

Prime Minister James Marape will become the first island leader in the Pacific to address the Australian Federal Parliament next month.

February eight is the invitation date given by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to his PNG counterpart following his state visit to Canberra in December last year, where a K490 million ($200 million) security agreement was signed.

PNG gained independence from Australia in 1975, and PM Marape said “first time a Pacific leader will be given the opportunity to address the Australia Parliament, and “that event has never happened before for the country [PNG].

 Mr Marape’s address to the Australian Parliament signals the strong tie between close neighbors in the last 12 months, where Mr Albanese in his state visit to Port Moresby in January last year addressed the National Parliament.

 James Marape and Anthony Albanese addressing media in Canberra, 2023. (PM Media)