Coat of arms

THE HON CHRISTOPHER PYNE MP

Minister for Defence

Member for Sturt

SENATOR THE HON DAVID FAWCETT

Assistant Minister for Defence

Senator for South Australia

Joint Media Release
2 November 2018

Australian Navy Arrives in Port Moresby for APEC 2018

The Royal Australian Navy Landing Helicopter Dock, HMAS Adelaide, and Armidale Class Patrol Boats, HMA Ships Larrakia and Glenelg, will start arriving in Port Moresby from this weekend to support Papua New Guinea’s (PNG) security agencies to deliver a safe and secure APEC.

Minister for Defence, the Hon Christopher Pyne MP, said Australia was providing maritime security support as part of a broader package of security support for APEC.

“The safety and security of the maritime environment surrounding Port Moresby will be critical during Leaders’ Week. Australia is pleased to enhance PNG’s maritime security arrangements for APEC by providing these capabilities,” Minister Pyne said.

“This support is a clear demonstration of Australia’s close and longstanding defence relationship with PNG and the interoperability our defence forces have developed over a number of decades.”

Assistant Minister for Defence, Senator the Hon David Fawcett, said the ADF stood ready to respond to security tasks if requested by PNG’s Joint Security Task Force.

“The Joint Security Task Force continues to demonstrate it is well prepared to handle all security arrangements for Leaders’ Week”, Senator Fawcett said.

“This is another example of genuine teamwork from a wide range of PNG agencies and Defence.”

APEC 2018 images will be available at: https://images.defence.gov.au/S20183200

Ends.