Report on the Parliamentary Trade Mission to Papua New Guinea led by the Honourable MP Speaker of the Legislative Assembly 16 -18 June 2019

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ...... 3 OBJECTIVES OF THE PARLIAMENTARY TRADE MISSION ...... 4

QUEENSLAND – PAPUA NEW GUINEA RELATIONSHIP ...... 5 MISSION DELEGATION MEMBERS ...... 7 PROGRAM ...... 8

QRL INTRUST SUPER CUP MATCH - PNG HUNTERS V TWEED SEAGULLS ...... 12 35TH AUSTRALIA PAPUA NEW GUINEA BUSINESS FORUM & TRADE EXPO - OPENING DINNER ...... 14 35TH AUSTRALIA PAPUA NEW GUINEA BUSINESS FORUM & TRADE EXPO – MORNING FORUM AND PANEL DISCUSSION ...... 17 MEETING WITH AUSTRALIA PAPUA NEW GUINEA BUSINESS COUNCIL EXECUTIVE ...... 20 VISIT TO NATIONAL PARLIAMENT OF PAPUA NEW GUINEA ...... 22 AUSTRALIAN HIGH COMMISSIONER’S FUNCTION ...... 25

VISIT TO BOMANA WAR CEMETERY ...... 27

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Queensland and Papua New Guinea have long enjoyed a close relationship. Our two jurisdictions are united by our shared border and our shared interests. Queensland will always have a close relationship with Papua New Guinea due to these factors. It is the strength of the relationship which requires both jurisdiction to taken a keen interest in the relationship. The choice of Papua New Guinea as the destination for the first Queensland Parliamentary Trade Mission (as opposed to Minister-led Trade Missions) in over 10 years is a testament to Queensland’s commitment to this bilateral relationship. The Parliamentary Trade Mission attended events which exhibited the key parts of the Queensland-PNG relationship: • • Business • Parliamentary links • Our shared World War II history Support for the Parliamentary Trade Mission was provided by: • Trade and Investment Queensland • Department of Foreign Affairs • The Australian High Commission in Papua New Guinea • Queensland Police Service

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OBJECTIVES OF THE QUEENSLAND PARLIAMENTARY TRADE MISSION The objectives of the Queensland Parliamentary Trade Mission were as follows: • Reinforce at parliamentary and commercial levels, the high priority that the Queensland places on its relationship with Papua New Guinea. • To inform the mission delegation of the opportunities and challenges for growing the trade and investment relation between PNG and Queensland. • Develop a greater understanding of the economic, political and social factors currently shaping Papua New Guinea • To promote Queensland as a partner of choice for the economic and social development of Papua New Guinea.

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QUEENSLAND – PAPUA NEW GUINEA RELATIONSHIP

Trade and Investment Relationship PNG is Queensland’s largest trading partner in the Pacific region. As closest neighbour, Queensland is positioning itself as supplier of choice across a number of sectors, including mining, infrastructure, and education and training. Queensland promotes the state as the gateway to PNG that has strong economic, social and cultural links. In 2017-18, Queensland's merchandise exports to PNG totalled $826M, representing the State’s 15th largest export destination and 44.3% of Australia's total merchandise exports to PNG. In 2017-18 the annual growth of exports was 17.6% Major export items included general industrial machinery ($139M), specialised industrial machinery ($118M) and electrical machinery ($42M). There are a large number of Queensland companies doing business in PNG with head offices in Queensland include Highlands Pacific Mining and Cardno Engineering. Bechtel and Worley Parsons also have regional headquarters in Brisbane. In 2017–18, Queensland's merchandise imports from PNG totalled $373 M, representing our 23rd largest import source market and 11.6% of Australia's total merchandise imports from PNG. Major import items included gold ($300M), coffee ($16M), petroleum ($13M), non-ferrous metals ($12M) and cork ($7.5M). In 2017-18, there were almost 38,000 international visitors to Queensland from PNG. In 2018, there were 1,105 international student enrolments to Queensland from PNG. Government to Government Relationship Queensland is the only Australian jurisdiction to have a formal agreement with PNG across all three arms of Government. A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was first signed in 1992 by then- Premier Goss. In May 2013, the MoU was renewed by then-Premier Newman who led a trade mission to PNG.

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In August 2018, Premier Palaszczuk co-signed a renewed MoU for a four years term with the then-Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, the Honourable Peter O’Neill. The four-year MoU outlines priority areas of cooperation developed by Queensland and PNG. At a government-to-government level, last year the Queensland and PNG Governments signed a four-year MoU outlining priority areas of cooperation developed by both our governments. The MoU builds upon successive agreements in place since 1992 and is designed to enhance our people-to-people, government-to-government and business-to-businesses links with PNG. Since 1992 the Queensland and PNG Governments have been parties to a MoU outlining priority areas of cooperation developed by both our governments. Last year, the MoU was resigned for another four years. Since 2007 the Queensland and PNG Parliaments have participated as twinning partners under the Pacific Parliamentary Partnership Program. A formal twinning agreement was signed by then-Speaker Simpson in 2013. Since the Parliamentary Trade Mission, Speaker Pitt has signed a new six-year agreement extending the twinning relationship until 2025. The twinning relationship provides support for strengthening Parliamentary institutions and the capacity of parliaments as legislative bodies. A new MoU between the Supreme and National Courts of PNG and the Supreme Court of Queensland was negotiated and signed on 12 September 2017. The MoU is in place for five years and includes objectives of improving the administration of the criminal justice system in PNG. Official Queensland-Papua New Guinea links at a local level include Sister City Agreements between Townsville and Port Moresby, and Cairns and Lae.

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MISSION DELEGATION MEMBERS Honourable Curtis Pitt MP Speaker of the Legislative Assembly Member for Mulgrave

Mr Mark Boothman MP Member for Theodore

Mr Joe Kelly MP Chair, Ethics Committee Member for Greenslopes

Mr MP Member for Hill

Ms MP Member for Cook

Mr MP Deputy Chair, State Development, Natural Resources and Agricultural Industry Development Committee Member for Condamine

Mr MP Chair, State Development, Natural Resources and Agricultural Industry Development Committee Member for Bancroft

Mr David Russo Project Manager, Trade and Investment Queensland Mr George Hasanakos Executive Officer, Office of the Speaker

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PROGRAM Parliamentary Trade Mission to Papua New Guinea by the Honourable Curtis Pitt MP, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, and Parliamentary Delegation

16 to 18 June 2019

Sunday 16 June 2019 – Brisbane/Cairns/Port Moresby

7.30am Check in at Brisbane International Airport (Brisbane party) Mr Chris Whiting MP Mr Joseph Kelly MP Mr Pat Weir MP 9.25am Depart Brisbane

10.15am Check in at Cairns International Airport (Cairns Party) The Hon Curtis Pitt MP Ms Cynthia Lui MP Mr Shane Knuth MP Mr George Hasanakos Mr David Russo 11.45am Depart Cairns

12.35pm Brisbane Party Arrive Port Moresby, Jackson International Airport

1.10pm Cairns Party arrives Port Moresby, Jackson International Airport 1.45pm Transfer to hotel

2.00pm Check in Hotel

2.30pm Depart for QRL Intrust Super Cup Match

2.50pm Arrive National Football Stadium – QRL Intrust Super Cup Papua New Guinea Hunters versus Tweed Seagulls

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Venue: Oil Search National Football Stadium, Lahara Avenue 5.00pm Depart for hotel 5.20pm Arrive hotel 6.15pm Depart for the 35th Australia Papua New Guinea Business Forum & Trade Expo Opening Dinner

6.30pm 35th Australia Papua New Guinea Business Forum & Trade Expo Opening of IPA – Austrade Trade Expo

Venue: Stanley Hotel, Sir John Guise Drive, Waigani

7.00pm Business Forum Opening Dinner The Honourable Curtis Pitt MP delivers speech

9.00pm Dinner concludes – depart for hotel

9.15pm Arrive hotel

Monday 17 June 2019 – Port Moresby

8.00am Depart hotel for 35th Australia Papua New Guinea Business Forum & Trade Expo

8.15am Arrive 35th Australia Papua New Guinea Business Forum & Trade Expo

Venue: The Stanley Sir John Guise Drive, Waigani, Port Moresby 8.30am to • Welcome to Delegates 9.35am • Keynote addresses

10.00am Forum morning tea

10.20am to 12 Moderated Panel Sessions Noon The Honourable Curtis Pitt MP participates in panel session:

Turning the Corner, Building the Relationship

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Moderator: Mr Meriba Tulo, News Presenter, EMTV

Other Panel Members: • Mr Robin Fleming, Chief Executive Officer, Bank South Pacific Limited • Professor Steven Howes, Australian National University • Hon. Craig Knowles, Senior Trade Commissioner, Austrade • Ambassador Ivan Pomaleu, SOM Chair, APEC 2018

12.00pm Lunch break 12.30pm Meeting APNGBC Executive Senior Executive

12.35pm Mr Mark Boothman MP Arrive Port Moresby, Jackson International Airport Transfer to Papua New Guinea National Parliament

1.20pm Depart for Papua New Guinea National Parliament

1.30pm Arrive Papua New Guinea National Parliament

3:30pm Depart for hotel

3:45pm Arrive hotel – short break

5.45pm Depart for High Commissioner’s Residence

6.00pm Arrive High Commissioner’s function

8.00pm Depart for hotel

8.15pm Arrive hotel – no further official engagements

Tuesday 18 June 2019 – Port Moresby/Cairns/Brisbane

8.00am Check out – gather in hotel lobby 8.15am Depart for Bomana War Cemetery

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8.45am Arrive Bomana War Cemetery

9.30am Depart for Jackson International Airport

10.00am Arrive Jackson International Airport

Check in for Cairns The Hon Curtis Pitt MP Ms Cynthia Lui MP Mr George Hasanakos Mr Shane Knuth MP

Check in for Brisbane Mr Chris Whiting MP Mr Joseph Kelly MP Mr Pat Weir MP Mr Mark Boothman MP Mr David Russo

11.20am Depart Port Moresby for Cairns

1.10pm Arrive Cairns International Airport

1.25pm Depart Port Moresby for Brisbane

4.25pm Arrive Brisbane International Airport

Parliamentary Trade & Investment Mission concludes

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QRL INTRUST SUPER CUP MATCH - PNG HUNTERS V TWEED SEAGULLS Date: Sunday 16 June 2019 Time: 2:50pm – 5:00pm

Venue: Oil Search National Football Stadium, Lahara Avenue, Port Moresby ATTENDEES • Queensland Parliamentary Trade Mission Delegation • Mr Reatau Rau CEO PNG Hunters/CEO PNG Rugby Football League • (PNGRFL) • Mr Robert Moore, Managing Director, QRL • Mr Arthur Eustace-Earle, Manager, Government Relations (QLD)

MEETING OBJECTIVES • Rugby League is the national sport of PNG and the PNG Hunters have been part of the QRL since 2014. • The participation of a team from Papua New Guinea in Queensland’s peak state competition for rugby league is the highest level of competition in PNG short of international test matches. • Attendance allows the delegation to observe the most popular exhibit of Queensland culture in Papua New Guinea. • The match is part of the cultural program for the 35th Australia Papua New Guinea Business Forum and Trade Expo. • Reinforce at commercial levels, the high priority that the Queensland places on its relationship with Papua New Guinea.

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DISCUSSION POINTS • Delegates discussed with their hosts about the development of Rugby League in Papua New Guinea and the popularity of Intrust Super Cup in Papua New Guinea. • The delegates and hosts discussed the venue for the game, the Oil Search National Football Stadium, which is the national stadium of PNG. Matters discussed included: o Populous, a Queensland global architectural firm, redeveloped and designed the stadium (formerly Lloyd Robson Oval) in Port Moresby. o The stadium is a good example of a Queensland consortium helping PNG with a low-cost solution to providing a new national sporting facility. o The stadium was designed, built and financed entirely by Queensland companies with a very cost effective design and building methodology (AU$80M). BACKGROUND • The Intrust Super Cup is the top level of rugby league football in Queensland, Australia. Run by the QRL, the competition is known as the Intrust Super Cup due to sponsorship from Intrust Super and is contested by 14 teams, 12 of which are based in Queensland, with one based in New South Wales and one based in Papua New Guinea. • In 2014, the PNG Hunters entered the competition, becoming the first Papua New Guinea based side in the competition since the Port Moresby Vipers in 1997. In their inaugural season, the side was based out of the East New Britain town of Kokopo. • In 2017, the Hunters won their first premiership, defeating the in the Grand Final and becoming the first team outside of Australia, and the second from outside of Queensland to win the competition. • The Hunters are coached by Michael Marum and the CEO is Reatau Rau. The team is based at the Oil Search NFS in Port Moresby.

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35TH AUSTRALIA PAPUA NEW GUINEA BUSINESS FORUM & TRADE EXPO - OPENING DINNER Date: Sunday 16 June 2019 Time: 6:30pm – 9:00pm Venue: Stanley Hotel, Sir John Guise Drive, Waigani, Port Moresby ATTENDEES • Queensland Parliamentary Trade Mission Delegation • Hon. Powes Parkop, Governor of National Capital District • Derek Brown, State Director, Queensland State Office, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. • Lyn Carlyle-Jacob, International Advisor, Cairns Language Centre and Exchange Innovation and Information Centre (EIIC) • Hon. Rimbink Pato OBE MP, former PNG foreign minister • Mr Peter Taylor, President of Australia Papua New Guinea Business Council • An estimated 200 conference delegates MEETING OBJECTIVES • To meet with Australia Papua New Guinea Business Forum delegates in an informal setting • Speaker to deliver speech during conference opening dinner • To obtain a deeper understanding of Trade and Investment in Papua New Guinea and the Australian business community in-country.

• Reinforce at commercial levels, the high priority that the Queensland places on its relationship with Papua New Guinea.

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• To inform the delegation of the opportunities and challenges for growing the trade and investment relationship between PNG and Queensland. • Develop a greater understanding of the economic, political and social factors currently shaping Papua New Guinea • To promote Queensland as a partner of choice for the economic and social development of Papua New Guinea. DISCUSSION POINTS • Discussion occurred between mission delegates and the conference delegates about opportunities for trade and investment in PNG. • Mr Speaker gave an address at the dinner and made the following points: o The Parliamentary Trade Delegation was the first to travel outside of Queensland for more than a decade o The close relationship between the Governments and and PNG as exhibited through the Memorandum of Understating and the Parliamentary Twinning Agreements o Queensland and PNG already have a strong business and trade relationship and opportunities abound to make it stronger. o The shared love of rugby league between Queensland and PNG BACKGROUND • The annual Australia Papua New Guinea Business Forum and Trade Expo focuses on the broader Australia–Papua New Guinea partnership. • The Forum attracted 150 exhibitors at 60 booths. • The 35th Australia PNG Business Forum and Trade Expo is part of the PNG Investment Week with 2,000 people attending business conferences over six days. • The participants included national members of parliament, business leaders, community leaders and members of the diplomatic corps in PNG. • The Forum is held annually and alternates between Port Moresby and Australia.

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• The 34th Australia Papua New Guinea Business Forum and Trade Expo was themed: APEC 2018: Achievements and Opportunities and held at the Royal International Convention Centre, Brisbane in May 2018. • The annual dinner commences the Forum and Expo.

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35TH AUSTRALIA PAPUA NEW GUINEA BUSINESS FORUM & TRADE EXPO – MORNING FORUM AND PANEL DISCUSSION Date: Monday 17 June 2019 Time: 8:30am – 12:00pm Venue: Stanley Hotel, Sir John Guise Drive, Waigani, Port Moresby ATTENDEES • Queensland Parliamentary Trade Mission Delegation • Hon. Powes Parkop, Governor of National Capital District • Ms Nuni Kulu, vice-president, Business Council of Papua New Guinea • Mr Derek Brown, State Director, Queensland State Office, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade • Ms Robin Fleming, Chief Executive Officer, Bank South Pacific Limited • Professor Steven Howes, Australian National University • Hon. Craig Knowles, Senior Trade Commissioner, Austrade • Ambassador Ivan Pomaleu, SOM Chair, APEC 2018 • An estimated 200 conference delegates MEETING OBJECTIVES • Attend keynote addresses • To participate in the Business Forum sessions: o Turing The Corner, Building the Relationship o Medium Term Development o PNG Electrification • Visit Queensland businesses hosting booths at the expo. (Booths visited included Savcor Art and Pronto)

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• Reinforce at commercial levels, the high priority that the Queensland places on its relationship with Papua New Guinea. • To inform the delegation of the opportunities and challenges for growing the trade and investment relation between PNG and Queensland. • Develop a greater understanding of the economic, political and social factors currently shaping Papua New Guinea • To promote Queensland as a partner of choice for the economic and social development of Papua New Guinea.

DISCUSSION POINTS • Discussion occurred between mission delegates and the conference delegates about opportunities for trade and investment in PNG. • Mission delegates visited the various business which hosted stalls at the Expo including Queensland businesses and discussed the challenges and opportunities for doing business in PNG. • Mr Speaker participated in the panel discussion ‘Turning The Corner, Building the Relationship’ The following topics were discussed:

o Queensland and PNG have long enjoyed a close relationship and are united by our shared border and our shared interests. o Queensland and PNG have strong business ties, a mutual and a collective pride in our sporting prowess.

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o Queensland’s assistance to provide capacity building to the PNG Government. o The Parliamentary Trade Delegation was the first to travel outside of Queensland for more than a decade. o PNG electrification project. BACKGROUND • The annual Australia Papua New Guinea Business Forum and Trade Expo focuses on the broader Australia–Papua New Guinea partnership. • The Forum attracted approximately 150 exhibitors at 60 booths. • The 35th Australia PNG Business Forum and Trade Expo is part of the PNG Investment Week with 2,000 people attending business conferences over six days. • The participants included national members of parliament, business leaders, community leaders and members of the diplomatic corps in PNG. • The Forum is held annually and alternates between Port Moresby and Australia. • The 34th Australia Papua New Guinea Business Forum and Trade Expo was themed: APEC 2018: Achievements and Opportunities and held at the Royal International Convention Centre, Brisbane in May 2018.

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MEETING WITH AUSTRALIA PAPUA NEW GUINEA BUSINESS COUNCIL EXECUTIVE Date: Monday 17 June 2019 Time: 12:30pm – 1:20pm Venue: Stanley Hotel, Sir John Guise Drive, Waigani, Port Moresby ATTENDEES • Queensland Parliamentary Trade Mission Delegation • Mr Peter Taylor, President, Consultant to Bougainville Copper Limited • Mr Mark Bake, Vice President, Managing Director, ANZ Banking Group Papua New Guinea • Mr Scott Roberts, Vice-President, Client Services Director, Rubicor Group Ltd • Mr Peter Maletz, Treasurer, Partner, Mazars Limited Queensland • Mr Greg Pawson, Immediate Past President. Chief Executive Officer, Kina Group PNG • Mr Vaughan Mills, Executive Committee, Partner, Corrs Chambers Westgarth • Mr Frank Yourn, Executive Director • Mr Derek Brown, State Director, Queensland State Office, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade MEETING OBJECTIVES • To obtain a deeper understanding of Trade and Investment in Papua New Guinea and the Australian business community in-country. • To receive a briefing on the activities of the Australian Papua New Guinea Business Council and the business environment in PNG. • Reinforce at commercial levels, the high priority that the Queensland places on its relationship with Papua New Guinea. • To inform the delegation of the opportunities and challenges for growing the trade and investment relationship between PNG and Queensland.

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DISCUSSION POINTS • Business conditions and opportunities within Papua New Guinea • Current economic, political and social developments in Papua New Guinea from an Australian business perspective. • General discussion about the work of the Council and relations with the Queensland Government BACKGROUND • The Australia Papua New Guinea Business Council (APNGBC) was established in 1980 with the aim of providing a framework within which the private sector can communicate with the Australian and Papua New Guinea governments at the highest political and policy advising levels, with a view to finding solutions to trade and investment issues involving the two countries. • APNGBC also provides members with a network to help further their business goals in Papua New Guinea. • TIQ has been a member of the APNGBC since 2004. • The Council advances Australian business interests in Papua New Guinea through: o The holding of trade, investment and information seminars on Papua New Guinea including the annual Australia Papua New Guinea Business Forum; o Participation in regular bilateral Ministerial talks to discuss major policy issues of concern to Australian business; o Submissions to government on policy matters affecting Australian business interests in Papua New Guinea;

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VISIT TO NATIONAL PARLIAMENT OF PAPUA NEW GUINEA Date: Monday 17 June 2019 Time: 1:30pm – 3:30pm Venue: National Parliament of Papua New Guinea, Independence Drive, Waigani, Port Moresby ATTENDEES • Queensland Parliamentary Trade Mission Delegation • Mr Kala Aufa, Clerk, PNG National Parliament • Mr Basil Kambuliagen, Deputy Clerk, PNG National Parliament • Mr Morgan Gwangillo, Twinning Officer, PNG National Parliament • PNG Parliament Staff MEETING OBJECTIVES • Reinforce at parliamentary level, the high priority that the Queensland places on its relationship with Papua New Guinea. • To promote Queensland as a partner of choice for the economic and social development of Papua New Guinea. • To strengthen the parliament-to-parliament relationship between Queensland and Papua New Guinea DISCUSSION POINTS • Led by the Clerk of the PNG National Parliament, Mr Kala Aufa, Mission delegates were taken on a tour of the National Parliament.

• Discussion surrounded the building’s design and history.

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• During the tour of the Parliamentary Chamber, discussion covered parliamentary practice and procedure of the Queensland and PNG Parliaments. • Discussion also covered the twinning relationship between the Queensland and PNG Parliaments. A short presentation took place between the mission delegation and the PNG Parliamentary Officers in the Speaker’s Lounge • Discussion also took place about the upcoming 50th Presiding Officers and Clerks Conference to be held at the Queensland Parliament between 8 and 13 July 2019. • Contribution of PNG Parliament of artifacts for the Queensland Parliament Committee Room 2, dedicated to the Twinning Relationships of the Queensland Parliament BACKGROUND • The National Parliament of Papua New Guinea was established in 1964 as the House of Assembly of Papua and New Guinea and took its current name upon the independence of Papua New Guinea from Australia on 16 September 1975. The National Parliament of Papua New Guinea consists of 111 members elected from single member districts by Limited Preferential voting. • Since 2007 the Queensland and PNG Parliaments have participated in a twinning partnership under the Pacific Parliamentary Partnership Program. A formal twinning agreement was signed by Speaker Simpson in 2013. • Since the Parliamentary Trade Mission, Speaker Pitt has signed a new six-year agreement extending the twinning relationship until 2025. The twinning agreement was due to be signed at mission delegation’s visit to

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PNG Parliament House, however this was postponed due to the unexpected absence of the Speaker of the PNG Parliament. • The twinning relationship provides support for strengthening Parliamentary institutions and the capacity of parliaments as legislative bodies.

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AUSTRALIAN HIGH COMMISSION FUNCTION Date: Monday 17 June 2019 Time: 6:00pm – 8:00pm Venue: Australian High Commissioner’s Residence, Port Moresby ATTENDEES • Queensland Parliamentary Trade Mission Delegation • Mr Bruce Davis, Australian High Commissioner to Papua New Guinea • The Honourable Rimbink Pato OBE MP, former PNG foreign minister • Mr Gary Aylward, Exchange Innovation and Information Centre (EIIC) and Tradelinked Cairns – PNG – Pacific • Derek Brown, State Director, Queensland State Office, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade • Australian High Commission staff MEETING OBJECTIVES • Develop a greater understanding of the economic, political and social factors currently shaping Papua New Guinea • To discuss in-country analysis of the Australia-PNG relationship • To promote Queensland as a partner of choice for the economic and social development of Papua New Guinea DISCUSSION POINTS • Develop a greater understanding of the economic, political and social factors currently shaping Papua New Guinea BACKGROUND • Mr Bruce Davis was appointed Australian High Commissioner to Papua New Guinea on 2 December 2015.

• Until recently, Mr Davis was Vice-President of the Asian Development Bank. He has also served overseas as Australian Ambassador to Ireland and as Deputy Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum.

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• Mr Davis was Director-General of the then Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) from 1999 until 2009. He became a Member of the Order of Australia in 2009 for service to international relations through leadership of AusAID and the development and reform of Australia’s overseas aid programs.

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VISIT TO BOMANA WAR CEMETERY Date: Tuesday 18 June 2019 Time: 8:45am – 9:30am

Venue: Bomana War Cemetery, Pilgrims Way, Bomana ATTENDEES • Queensland Parliamentary Trade Mission Delegation • Mr Calum Howarth, Manager - Papua New Guinea, Office of Australian War Graves, Department of Veterans' Affairs MEETING OBJECTIVES • To pay respects to the Australian and allied fallen servicemen who paid the ultimate sacrifice for the defence of Australia during World War II battles in Papua New Guinea.

DISCUSSION POINTS • On behalf of Queensland, Mr Speaker accompanied by the mission delegates laid a wreath at the Cross of Sacrifice. • Mission delegates visited the graves, the Stone of Remembrance and the Port Moresby Memorial on site. • Mark Boothman MP was able to locate the grave of his Great Uncle, Joseph Boothman.

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BACKGROUND • Bomana War Cemetery was established in 1942 to allow fallen Commonwealth servicemen to be buried in a cemetery where proper maintenance could occur and now contains 3,826 graves, 704 of which are unidentified. With a total of 3,355 Australian burials, no other war cemetery in the world contains more Australian war dead. • Commonwealth Servicemen who died in the Australian territory of Papua and on Bougainville during the Second World War are buried or commemorated in Bomana War Cemetery. • The main campaigns in which the Australians buried at Bomana lost their lives are the battles along the Kokoda Track, the Battle of Milne Bay, the Battle of the Beachheads (Buna, Gona and Sanananda) and campaigns on Bougainville. • There are 438 British Servicemen from the Royal Artillery buried at Bomana, none of whom have been identified; they are however, commemorated individually on the Singapore Memorial. These men were Prisoners of War who died on Ballale Island (off Bougainville). • The graves of 40 Papuans who served with the Papuan Infantry Battalion and Australian New Guinea Administration Unit are located at Plot C8. • Also buried in the war cemetery are 40 Papuans, six New Zealand servicemen, one from the Netherlands, three Australian civilians and one non-war grave.

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