THE HON ANDREW HASTIE MP
SHADOW MINISTER FOR DEFENCE
SHADOW MINISTER FOR DEFENCE INDUSTRY
SHADOW MINISTER FOR DEFENCE PERSONNEL

THE HON MICHAEL McCORMACK MP
SHADOW MINISTER FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND THE PACIFIC

JOINT STATEMENT
LABOR BUNGLES PNG ADF PARTNERSHIP

Monday 18 November 2024

Labor has once again shown its preference for big announcements, and its lack of detail with their latest bungle around their plan to recruit Papua New Guineans into the Australian Defence Force (ADF).

It follows the release of Labor’s Defence Workforce Plan, which flags expanding recruitment into the ADF to the Pacific.

PNG Foreign Minister Justin Tkatchenko has expressed concerns over the rushed announcement, and the lack of detail around whether Papua New Guineans would have to take Australian citizenship to join up.

Shadow Minister for Defence, Defence Industry and Defence Personnel, the Hon Andrew Hastie MP, said that Labor had once again shown that they have no serious plans to solve the ADF recruitment crisis.

“Almost six months since the Albanese Government bungled their announcement to open ADF recruitment to non-Australian citizens, Labor still has no details and no plan on how they will achieve this without compromising the relationship with our neighbours and allies,” Mr Hastie said.

“The ADF is experiencing a recruitment crisis under Labor. But if we’re going to recruit from the Pacific, there must be an agreement that satisfies both the Australian and PNG governments.

“What we don’t want is to take talent from our Pacific neighbours at the expense of the ongoing development of PNG. Nor do we want to risk the sovereignty of either of our counties.”

Shadow Minister for International Development and the Pacific, the Hon Michael McCormack MP echoed these sentiments.

“We are deeply concerned by Labor’s on the run policy involving our Defence Force and our closest neighbour in the Pacific,” Mr McCormack said.

“Once again Labor has shown that they cannot bring important Foreign Policy to fruition to the benefit of all parties.

“The Pacific is simply too important a strategic partner. Labor never does the planning, only ever the announcements, and it is putting our most important relationships at risk.”

The Coalition calls on Labor to show some honesty and release full details around their plan to recruit Papua New Guineans to provide clarity to both the PNG and Australian people.

[ENDS]