Defence Minister Richard Marles confirmed last week that the federal government was exploring options to allow non-citizens from friendly nations,including the Pacific,to serve in the ADF.
Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape has no problem with his citizens serving in the Australian military.Dominic Lorrimer
“It would be a high honour for PNG soldiers to serve with the ADF,” Marape told this masthead while walking the Kokoda Track with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
“As soon as you change the laws,we will be ready. You will find our soldiers will be very loyal.”
Marape’s intervention is significant as his nation,unlike several other Pacific countries,has an established defence force,raising fears that allowing Papua New Guineans to join the Australian forces could deplete the PNG military.
But Marape said the 1942 Kokoda campaign – in which Australian and Papua New Guinean soldiers fought alongside each other to defeat the invading Japanese forces – set a precedent for close military co-operation.
PNG defence personnel escorting the prime ministers’ entourage on the Kokoda Track.Matthew Knott
Marape added that he had been inspired by the example of Ukrainians who had returned home to fight against Russia,saying he did not doubt Papua New Guineans would defend their country.
Launching the national defence strategy last week,Marles gave his clearest indication yet that the government plans to allow non-citizens to serve in the ADF as a way to boost personnel numbers.
He said the 600,000 New Zealanders living in Australia would be an “obvious place to start”,as would the AUKUS partners,the US and UK.
The government was also exploring options to allow Pacific Islanders to serve in the ADF,he said.
Australia has set an ambitious goal of,a 30 per cent increase on the current level of about 60,000. However,the military is struggling to maintain its current numbers.
Longstanding defence policy states that only Australian citizens can serve in the military,with exemptions granted only in “very rare and exceptional circumstances”.
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