Foreign Minister Penny Wong has met with the newly reelected Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea in Port Moresby.
Australia and Papua New Guinea are pushing ahead on a security pact that "would cover all security aspects in the region".
Discussions included progressing the security treaty, which could possibly involve New Zealand, but talks remain at a very early stage. The comments come amid a tumultuous time in the region after the Solomon Islands inked a security deal with China earlier in the year.The pact has drawn the ire of Australia, the US and other Pacific Island nations who want to keep security ties within the region.
"A treaty between our traditional partners in the region will just help give security to all countries and put us all on one page. During a joint press conference alongside Senator Wong on Monday, Mr Tkatchenko flagged expanding the bilateral relationship through a series of further treaties and deals.
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