As Papua New Guinea (PNG) marks 50 years of independence, experts say the anniversary should be more than a celebration of history, serving instead as a call to reimagine how Australia engages with its nearest neighbour in an evolving Pacific region.
At the Australian Institute of International Affairs Queensland event, Dr Irene Semos led a lively discussion with senior political adviser Dulciana Somare-Brash, public policy specialist Sean Jacobs, and veteran journalist Sean Dorney AO, who served as the ABC’s PNG and Pacific correspondent. Together, they reflected on the evolving relationship between Australia and PNG since independence in 1975. The discussion was facilitated by Dr Tess Newton Cain.
“Australia had to learn to engage with PNG as a sovereign state, not as a colony,” Somare-Brash said. “That transition wasn’t easy, but it forced Australia to think differently about partnership, respect and shared interests,”
Leadership and self-determination
Somare-Brash, who serves as a senior adviser to the PNG government, said the anniversary was a moment of both pride and reflection. “Fifty years of independence is an incredible achievement,” she said. “But independence isn’t just a historical milestone, it’s an ongoing process. The work now is about strengthening leadership, governance and trust at every level.”
She emphasised the importance of local leadership and policy ownership, noting that effective governance must come from within. “True development happens when Papua New Guineans lead the conversation, not when others define it for us.”
However, Somare-Brash has highlighted that the PNG still has progress to go, with women and youth lacking in the nation’s political leadership. “We can’t talk about the next fifty years without talking about women and young people,” she said. “They’re not just beneficiaries of development – they’re drivers of it.” The Pacific is well known for having the lowest level of women representation in all levels of governance. Barriers include social and cultural factors where women are often discouraged from directly participating in politics due to the perception that politics is corrupt and highly masculine.
“We can’t talk about the next fifty years without talking about women and young people Somare-Brash said.
Reframing development and partnership
Public policy specialist Sean Jacobs who has worked extensively on Australia-PNG relations, said the bilateral partnership has evolved significantly, but must continue to adapt. “We are seeing a shift from aid dependency to mutual development,” he explained. “But the transition only succeeds if both sides listen and learn from each other.”
Jacobs argued that the PNG’s development story cannot be understood solely through economic metrics. “Yes, we need investment in infrastructure and services,” he said. “But development is also about social capital – about strengthening institutions, empowering communities and respecting cultural values.”
He has observed that the younger generation of Papua New Guineans is increasingly educated, connected and assertive about shaping national policy. “There’s a new sense of confidence,” Jacobs said. “It’s not about turning away from Australia, but abut defining the relationship on PNG’s terms.”
Looking back and forward through experience
Drawing on decades of reporting from the Pacific, Sean Dorney AO offered a historical lens on how far the relationship has come. “When I first arrived in Port Moresby before independence, there was enormous optimism,” he recalled. “The sense of ownership and national identity was strong, even when resources were limited.”
Dorney, who has chronicled the evolution of PNG since the 1970s, praised the resilience of its people and the depth of the bilateral connection. “Australians often underestimate how much PNG has achieved,” he said. “There have been challenges — corruption, inequality, political instability — but there’s also been tremendous progress in education, governance, and democracy.”
He warned, however, that maintaining the relationship requires respect and humility. “Australia must be a partner, not a patron,” Dorney said. “That means understanding PNG as a complex, confident nation — not through the old lens of dependency.”
Across the panel, a clear message emerged: PNG’s success is deeply intertwined with leadership at home and respect abroad. Somare-Brash, Jacobs, and Dorney all agreed that the next fifty years should prioritise shared responsibility and collaboration rather than assistance.
“Papua New Guinea doesn’t need saving — it needs partnership,” Somare-Brash said. “When we recognise that, both our nations will be stronger for it.”
Edited by Eliza Hodge
Written by Chloe Leung
Currently in her third year of a double degree in Communications/Journalism and International Relations at Griffith University, Chloe Leung is passionate about intersectionality in global development – particularly centring the voices of marginalised communities.
