The AFP has expanded its presence in Papua New Guinea with the opening of the PNG-Australia Policing Partnership (PNG-APP) office in Kokopo last week (24 July, 2024).
The expansion represents the first time the AFP has worked with the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary (RPNGC) outside of the country's two largest cities, Port Moresby and Lae, since the inception of the PNG-APP in 2008.
In addition to the opening of the Kokopo office, the PNG-APP will receive an additional AU$157 million over four years to support the expansion of policing in PNG, including funding for RPNGC infrastructure in East New Britain Province.
Kokopo is the capital city of East New Britain Province in Papua New Guinea and is located about 820km from Port Moresby.
At the newly opened Kokopo office, the AFP will work with the RPNGC in an advisory role to support the local community and address policing challenges we well as support ongoing police training initiatives in the region and combat emerging transnational criminal threats.
The AFP will continue to expand its presence throughout the country as part of the PNG-APP, with the opening of an additional office at Mount Hagen next month.
The AFP has also reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining and enhancing its collaborative relationship with PNG following the recent renewal of the PNG-APP until 2026.
There are now more than 40 AFP members working to build capability within the RPNGC, having increased from the 17 members initially deployed in 2008.
AFP Commander Jamie Strauss said the opening of PNG-APP office in Kokopo represented an exciting opportunity for enhanced ties between the AFP and RPNGC.
"The AFP and RPNGC have a long history of working together to ensure safety and prosperity across the region, and the opening of the Kokopo office is an extension of this mission," Commander Strauss said.
"The opening of the Kokopo office and soon the Mount Hagen office further solidifies the strong relationship between the AFP and the RPNGC.
"We look forward to the continued success of the PNG-APP well into the future."
RPNGC Deputy Commissioner Operations Samson Kua said the opening was testament to the relationship between the RPNGC and the AFP.
"The opening of the Kokopo PNG-APP office is a true reflection of the strength and maturity of the relationship between the RPNGC and AFP," Deputy Commissioner Kua said.
"We as an organisation are excited about the regional expansion into the Kokopo and in the near future, Mount Hagen region."
Projects included as part of the additional PNG-APP funding will be completed using local contractors and labour to support local communities and will include:
- Renovated training rooms and an administration building at Toguata Barracks to be completed by December, 2024;
- Renovated and extended New Guinea Islands provincial headquarters in Kokopo by mid-2025; and
- Construction of female and male single quarter barracks at Toguata Barracks due for completion in mid-2025.
