[Acknowledgments omitted]
Prime Minister, that you are here this evening speaks to the depth of our relationship.
Neighbours, friends, equal partners. One of the nicest things in my job is that the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea calls me 'sister'.
It is such an important relationship to both our countries.
I want to start by acknowledging also those who we're here to celebrate - our 2025 Australia Awards Somare-Whitlam scholars. Congratulations.
There's nothing that spells 'great expectations' than being the recipient of a scholarship named after two of our greatest prime ministers.
You have all worked incredibly hard to get here.
You've done your family and your wantok proud.
This is an opportunity to further your education and take new skills, knowledge and experience back to PNG, for the betterment of your country and this relationship.
I hope it is also an opportunity for the Australians you will meet - I hope they will also have the privilege of learning from you, as I have learnt from the Prime Minister and his colleagues, and his people - learn about the traditions and history that binds our two countries.
Those connections are perhaps the most enduring benefits of the Somare-Whitlam scholarships.
You see, history can turn on the hinge of personal relationships.
In 1969, when then opposition leader Gough Whitlam was visiting Wewak, he was challenged by a young man who asked:
"So when is Australia going to give us our independence?"
Whitlam shot back:
"How about tomorrow?"
The young man was local trade union secretary, Michael Somare.
And this exchange was the start of a friendship between the two men that changed the course of history for both our nations.
Obviously, independence wasn't quite as quick as 'tomorrow'.
Gough Whitlam visited PNG six times before becoming prime minister.
And it was I think in great part, those visits and the personal ties which led him to believe in the imperative for PNG's independence.
And when he did become Prime Minister in 1972, those personal ties made all the difference.
By 1975, Michael Somare and Gough Whitlam sat side-by-side at PNG's independence ceremony.
Two friends - now leaders - were making good on a promise six years prior.
Two friends planting the tree.
So it is with great honour and friendship that we mark fifty years since PNG's independence today.
An opportunity to reflect on Australia's partnership with PNG, over the last 50 years and the next 50 - in which all of you are playing a part.
Yumi Stap Wantaim - we stand together.
Australia and PNG have always stood side by side. Sir Michael and Gough stood side by side and we now walk with you, step by step, into a shared future.
As Gough said in 1975, "Australia wants the closest possible relationship with her nearest neighbour, the new nation of Papua New Guinea. A relationship of equals, based on mutual respect, understanding and trust".
That is the basis of which the Albanese Government seeks to work with the Government of Prime Minister Marape, the Government of Papua New Guinea.
Amongst the areas we're working together is obviously education, and improving access to education for all to build an even stronger PNG over the coming fifty years.
I end tonight by making two points.
First, to reiterate my congratulations to the recipients of the Somare-Whitlam Awards, and the Australia Awards scholars also here today.
I hope your studies here I hope are the beginning of a lifelong association with Australia, and a contribution to the future partnership between our countries.
Finally, Prime Minister - you spoke when I was in PNG with you last year, so passionately about the importance of this 50th anniversary, and we see that tonight in how you speak.
You spoke about how important it was that the people of Papua New Guinea, and the people of Australia understand what this has been and who we are to one another.
It's so important that we understand what our future together can look like.
So, I want to thank you for bringing that passion and that insight to our country and to our leaders.
I want to thank you for honoring us with your presence today and that of your delegation. And I want to thank you for your friendship to Australia.
