KIERAN GILBERT, HOST: Great to be here in Port Moresby. The Prime Minister is with me, as you say, and it's the golden jubilee. It's a big moment in the history of this nation. Why is it important? And why is it an important part of our history as well?
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Well, of course, it's 50 years since independence for Papua New Guinea. Before then, there were polite terms used, but essentially it was a territory of Australia, had control, and Papua New Guinea quite rightly fought for its independence 50 years ago tomorrow. And it is a proud moment. This was a new democracy forming just to the north of our own nation, one in which Papua New Guineans and Australians died side by side during World War II of course. Last year, in the lead up to Anzac Day, had the great privilege of walking for three days on the Kokoda Track and spending Anzac Day at the Isurava Memorial there with so many Australians and Kiwis paying tribute to the sacrifice that our diggers made, but also the support they received from the people of PNG during our darkest hour.
KIERAN GILBERT: Well, that's a lot of Australians might not know, but the Kokoda Track has our largest war grave anywhere in the world.
PRIME MINISTER: That's exactly right. And when you walk that sacred site, you really are in awe of how these young Australians are fighting in very dense jungle, suffering from malaria and a range of tropical diseases in a very unfamiliar territory survived at all. And they, of course – we should give thanks to them each and every day. But we also give thanks to the people of PNG who gave them support at that time. Of course, as they were called, the Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels at that time, provided a great deal of support. There's no doubt that Australian casualties would have been much, much higher were it not for that support.
KIERAN GILBERT: And as we reflect on the history, quite a big moment in our relationship this week with this defence treaty. Is this PNG making a choice? You know, we know the strategic contest in our region is quite fierce. Is this PNG's choice? They've chosen Australia.
PRIME MINISTER: This is them looking forward. Today and tomorrow will be about commemorating the 50-year anniversary. And then later on PNG will express their support for moving forward. And how they move forward with Australia, that will be an important moment as well. The relationship is a relationship of our economies, it’s a security relationship. At the end of the day, though, it's about our people-to-people links. And that includes, of course, the NRL team that will come in in 2028.
KIERAN GILBERT: And that's a religion up here. The NRL, they love the Rugby League.
PRIME MINISTER: It sure is. They sure do.
KIERAN GILBERT: In terms of their defence treaty, this, this is pretty high level in terms of the commitment. I know the defence force isn't as big but in moral and treaty terms, do you see this elevating PNG to our relationship with New Zealand and the United States?
PRIME MINISTER: Yes, this is very significant indeed. And Prime Minister Marape has shown great leadership. He is a good friend of Australia. And PNG approached Australia and the PNG government – these issues have been worked through and if we have more interoperability, if we have more participation in each other's defence forces, if we engage on a more day to day basis, then – it just strengthens security of PNG but also of Australia.
KIERAN GILBERT: All of the Pacific leaders are here up from Honiara. And just the related, not separate issue, but, your Government's released its climate risk assessment today. You've often spoken at of that in terms of national security questions as well, the response to disasters. Angus Taylor was just on the programme with Andrew, he says the key question is, what are Australians going to pay for a higher 2035 target? You know that a lot of your critics say that it's fine for us to do our bit, the heaviest emitters aren’t.
PRIME MINISTER: Of course, Angus Taylor is all over the shop and they're all over the shop over whether climate change is real. This report is a wake-up call yet again speaking about the cost of inaction. Climate change is going to have an impact with more extreme weather events, more intensity, more economic cost. Every time there is a flood or a cyclone or a bushfire, there's a massive cost to Australia. And yeah, they dithered around with –
KIERAN GILBERT: But does that factor in, in terms of your thinking for 2035, that issue of sort of household costs as well?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, of course. But we know the cheapest form of new energy is renewables. Angus Taylor, you know, was all over the shop at various times. He was the energy minister who hid the rise in energy costs in wholesale costs in 2022 and introduced a special legal measure in order to do so.
KIERAN GILBERT: I know you've got to get moving. I've got one last question because you flagged this morning that you've got the reception with Donald Trump next week in New York on Tuesday night. I wonder, I mean it looks like you will get that face-to-face at least at that point. But will you raise within issues like the defence treaty with PNG, that Australia is doing its bit in our neighbourhood?
PRIME MINISTER: Look, we always discuss defence relationships. And Australia plays an important role in this region. Throughout the Pacific, we are the security partner of choice. And that's a good thing for democracies in the region. Tomorrow, we'll celebrate 50 years of a great democracy here in PNG. And it will be a moment, I think, which should be celebrated by democracies throughout the world. Because we shouldn't take it for granted, those gains that were made 50 years ago and that have been maintained here.
KIERAN GILBERT: Prime Minister, I know you've got a busy evening, and we'll catch you tomorrow morning as well as we celebrate that. That Independence Day, the golden jubilee. Thank you.
PRIME MINISTER: It'll be a great day.
KIERAN GILBERT: Prime Minister Albanese there, here in Port Moresby.