EDITORIAL: Australia’s Pacific mission is no beach holiday

Anthony Albanese went armed with a gift from Australia to Papua New Guinea to celebrate that nation’s 50th anniversary of independence.

A historic defence treaty, which would bind the two nations together again — but this time as equal partners rather than administrator and administrated.

Mr Albanese said that pact would elevate PNG to the same level of partnership with Australia as the US.

It has been reported that it would allow PNG citizens to serve in the Australian Defence Force and vice versa and would treat an attack on one as an attack on both, compelling the partners to come to one another’s aid in the event of a security threat.

China is making no secret of its aggressive ambitions

It was to be the centrepiece of Australia’s reinvigorated Pacific push; a signal to the region beyond mere symbolism and platitudes about friendship and co-operation.

And crucially, it would have prevented PNG from ever entering into a security agreement with China as long as it were in effect.

Unfortunately, that “Pukpuk” treaty — named for the Tok Pisin word for crocodile — hit a snag when it became apparent that PNG Prime Minister James Marape’s Cabinet would not be able to endorse the document in time for the signing to go ahead as scheduled.

“The PNG Cabinet, of course, yesterday was due to meet,” Mr Albanese told reporters on Tuesday.

“They didn’t have quorum, because everyone’s gone back to their places where they’re from, to celebrate this as a celebration throughout the entire nation.”

A very Pacific problem.

But one that Mr Albanese says he’s confident won’t prevent the treaty being signed and ratified — eventually.

That was due to happen on Wednesday. Now Mr Albanese says the treaty will be “advanced” but what that means in practical terms remains to be seen.

The delay is made more frustrating by the fact that it’s not the first time this has happened. It’s not even the first time this month.

Mr Albanese last week expected to sign off on a $500 million deal with Vanuatu which would help address the nation’s economic, security and climate needs, while locking in Australia as its main security and development partner.

But that was scuppered at the last minute when the Ni-Vanuatu contingent got cold feet over the fact that it would limit their ability to seek infrastructure funding from other nations — namely, China.

A week on, that deal is still up in the air.

The Government is adamant that this hiccup with the PNG deal won’t go the same way.

It’s crucial that it doesn’t. Only 150 kilometres separates the mainlands of Australia and PNG.

China is making no secret of its aggressive ambitions to increase its influence in the Pacific, through both belligerence and economic coercion.

Allowing a hostile — or potentially hostile — power to gain a foothold on our doorstep would be a disastrous failure by Australia.

Cementing our place as the Pacific’s partner of choice is more important now than any time since World War II. That will take a concerted effort, given other nations also come bearing gifts.

Responsibility for the editorial comment is taken by Editor-in-Chief Christopher Dore.