Anthony Albanese has paid his respects to Papua New Guinea’s first prime minister at his gravesite in Wewak.
The Australian Prime Minister on Friday visited the cemetery in the capital of the East Sepik Province where former Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare is buried.
Sir Michael is credited with leading the successful independence movement in 1975. Before this, PNG had been under the administration of Australia since 1902.
Mr Albanese paid tribute to the work of Sir Michael and former Australian prime minister Gough Whitlam, who together oversaw the Pacific island nation’s transition to independence.
“I said to the (PNG) parliament yesterday that the importance of this historical event was that you didn’t see the tearing down of a flag, you didn’t see a revolution,” Mr Albanese said in Wewak.
“It took two leaders coming together in the interests of their people to see Papua New Guinea thrive into the future as an independent state.”
Sir Michael, who is popularly referred to as the father of the nation, died in February 2021, aged 84.
He led PNG four times, serving in the role for 16 of PNG’s 47 years of independence.
Mr Albanese was met by PNG’s Prime Minister, James Marape, senior ministers and the Governor for East Sepik Province upon his arrival in Wewak just after 9am on Friday.
He was presented with a traditional sepik billum, headdress and necklace, and honoured with a traditional PNG sing-sing welcome in the coastal town.
After taking place in a traditional cleansing ceremony, Mr Albanese laid a wreath and a framed photo of Sir Michael with Mr Whitlam at Sir Michael’s gravesite.
He then planted a coconut tree outside the Somare family home.
Mr Albanese later visited a defence barracks in Wewak, where he described Australia and PNG as not just neighbours, but family.
“I’m positive and optimistic with a reason because I’ve been here and I know the opportunity that there is here in PNG,” he said.
“I’m also optimistic because I understand that the future of our two nations is so linked that success for Papua New Guinea is success for Australia and vice versa.”
Mr Albanese’s visit to Wewak comes a day after he and Mr Marape signed a “joint statement of commitment” to a new bilateral security deal at their leaders’ dialogue in Port Moresby.
The two leaders have said negotiations on the on the wide-ranging agreement — which will cover security and policing issues, as well as climate change — will conclude in April, before the treaty is signed in June.
With Tom McIlroy – pool reporter
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