​Joint media release with the Hon Pat Conroy MP and Senator the Hon Nita Green

The Albanese Government is delivering on its commitment to support Papua New Guinea to be better prepared, more resilient, and faster to respond when disasters strike.

A delegation from Australia’s National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has met with key partners and stakeholders in Papua New Guinea and conducted high-level consultations in Port Moresby and Rabaul.

The visit marks a critical step in delivering the Albanese Government’s $25 million Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) package, designed to make our region safer and more secure by modernising PNG’s disaster management infrastructure, announced by Australia at the 2025 Australia-PNG Ministerial Forum.

The $25 million HADR package focuses on three pillars of national safety:

• Infrastructure: Construction of new regional humanitarian warehouses to ensure relief supplies reach disaster zones faster.
• Coordination: Scoping an Emergency Command and Control Centre in Port Moresby to centralise risk monitoring and response.
• ​ Partnership: Launching a new program between Australia’s NEMA and PNG’s National Disaster Centre (NDC) to foster long-term professional exchange.

During the week-long deployment, which started on 15 March, the delegation met with the NEMA Review Committee and key partners and agencies, including the National Disaster Centre, the PNG Fire Service, the National Maritime Safety Authority, and the PNG Defence Force.

The delegation also travelled to Rabaul and met with Provincial officials responsible for response operations. Provincial officials provided a summary of their planning and preparations for a major volcanic eruption on the Island and lessons from the previous severe eruption in 1994.

Minister for Emergency Management Kristy McBain said Australia has some of the most experienced and highly regarded emergency personnel in the world, and a long history of dealing with disasters.

“This was an important step in our partnership with Papua New Guinea and highlights the role Australia can play as a leader in disaster preparedness and response internationally,” Minister McBain said.

“Australia remains committed to supporting PNG’s priorities in disaster management, ensuring that national and provincial systems are robust, responsive, and ready for the future.”

Minister for Pacific Island Affairs Pat Conroy said the Albanese Government was helping to build a safer, more resilient region by supporting PNG’s humanitarian and disaster responses.

“As the closest of neighbours and newest of Allies, Australia is proud to support PNG build its disaster response capabilities,” Minister Conroy said.

Assistant Minister for Pacific Island Affairs Nita Green said that by building closer disaster management agencies we develop both our individual strength, and our ability to support each other when we face the worst.

“We have always stood shoulder-to-shoulder with PNG – developing the capabilities to respond to emergencies is part of delivering our Alliance” Assistant Minister Green said.

NEMA Assistant Coordinator-General David Long said it is an honour to be working with our PNG partners.

“A little over 50 years ago the Australian Government first established a national emergency management organisation, to be able to bring what we have learnt over half a century and then work with our counterparts here to adapt it for life in PNG means a great deal to the team,” Assistant Coordinator-General Long said.