The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum is comprised of 21 Asia-Pacific economies, and designed to encourage a growing and prosperous regional economy. In 2018 Papua New Guinea hosted the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum which consisted of a range of meetings, culminating in the APEC Leaders’ Week from 12-18 November 2018 in Port Moresby.
Australia was a proud supporter of Papua New Guinea’s APEC 2018, providing security and capacity building assistance across a range of sectors. This support reflects our strong, long-standing partnership with Papua New Guinea, and Australia’s commitment to strengthen its engagement with the Pacific.
Australia’s support to Papua New Guinea’s APEC 2018 Leaders’ Week included:
- Long term establishment of a whole-of-government Taskforce, led by the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet to coordinate Australia’s policy approach and contribution to APEC 2018;
- Australian Defence Force assistance to provide targeted security capabilities across the maritime, aviation and counter-terrorism domains;
- Capacity-building for the Papua New Guinea Defence Force to develop skills and capabilities to enhance long-term development, leveraging the existing Defence Cooperation Program;
- Australian Federal Police capacity-building assistance comprising advisory, training, infrastructure improvement and equipment procurement support to the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary:
- A cyber security package, including cyber security controls in ICT infrastructure, a Cyber Security Operations Centre and assisting the newly established Computer Emergency Response Team.
- Collaborative and meaningful engagement between the Commonwealth Government and Australian based commercial entities to bridge logistic and accommodation gaps in Port Moresby to support approximately 9800 leaders, delegates and participants that attended the APEC leaders’ week.
ACMC worked hand in hand with PM&C’s APEC Taskforce, in supporting the delivery of joined-up-government through the provision of inter-agency training packages; facilitation and conduct of Commonwealth and State table top exercises; secondment of personnel to the taskforce in its operational phase, and; capturing lessons for future whole-of-government taskforce elements.
Immediately following the successful conclusion of APEC 2018 leaders’ Week, Secretary of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, Martin Parkinson publicly praised the Task Force and its Head, Rear Admiral Lee Goddard, at an address in Barton on 23 November 2018. The Secretary said he was immensely proud of the work of the Taskforce, the help Australia provided to PNG, and PNG's ability to stand tall through a challenging international commitment.
ACMC’s work in support of APEC 2018 is just one of the many ways in which ACMC is achieving its mandate to support Australian Government agencies develop more effective integrated civilian and military capabilities to prevent, prepare for and respond to conflict and disaster overseas.
