Australia gifts Papua New Guinea a Parliament House extension as nation marks 50 years of independence

Australia offered to gift Papua New Guinea an extension to its Parliament House as the South Pacific island nation marked the 50th anniversary of independence on Tuesday.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, attending a flag-raising ceremony at Independence Hill in Port Moresby, said Australia would support construction of a new ministerial wing for Papua New Guinea’s National Parliament, calling the project “an investment in Papua New Guinea’s democracy and sovereignty that will benefit future generations.”

The ceremony drew regional and international figures including Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau, representing the United States, and Prince Edward, representing his brother King Charles III, who is Papua New Guinea’s head of state. Prime Minister James Marape cited the words of the country’s first Governor‑General, John Guise, at the 1975 independence ceremonies: “We are lowering the Australian flag and not tearing it down,” noting that independence was pursued with “respect, humility and faith in the future prospects of Papua New Guinea.”

The Australian pledge comes amid heightened strategic competition in the Pacific as China’s presence in the region has grown in recent years. Officials in Canberra framed the parliamentary extension as a statement of shared democratic values and a tangible sign of support for Papua New Guinea’s institutions.

The independence anniversary also highlighted a delay in planned diplomatic moves. Albanese had intended to sign a bilateral defense treaty with Prime Minister Marape on Monday, ahead of the festivities, but the signing was postponed until Wednesday after a Papua New Guinean Cabinet meeting set to approve the agreement did not go ahead because not enough ministers attended to form a quorum, Albanese said. He told reporters in Port Moresby that some ministers had returned to their home districts to take part in independence celebrations and that Marape was contacting them remotely to advance the treaty.

Some Papua New Guinean lawmakers have expressed concern that a bilateral defense pact with Australia could compromise the country’s longstanding foreign policy stance of being “friend to all, enemy to none.” Those lawmakers say any agreement should not undermine Papua New Guinea’s sovereignty or its ability to take independent positions on regional issues.

Papua New Guinea’s half-century of independence is widely regarded as a notable achievement given the country’s cultural and linguistic diversity. With an estimated population approaching 12 million, the country is home to more than 800 Indigenous languages and hundreds of distinct cultural groups, a complexity that has shaped its political and social development since 1975.

King Charles III attended the first independence ceremony in 1975 on behalf of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II. This year, Prince Edward represented the sovereign at the anniversary events, underscoring the continuing constitutional link between Papua New Guinea and the British monarchy.

Australian officials emphasized the parliamentary expansion as part of a broader approach to deepen ties through development projects and institutional support. Papua New Guinea leaders framed the gift as recognition of the close but evolving relationship between the neighboring countries, while also signaling the importance of preserving national decision-making as the region faces shifting geopolitical dynamics.

The postponed treaty remains on the diplomatic agenda, with Australian and Papua New Guinean officials indicating they plan to resume discussions and seek formal approval in the coming days. For now, celebrations in Port Moresby combined ceremony and commemoration with ongoing debates about sovereignty, security and the shape of Pacific partnerships in the decades ahead.