Australian High Commission
Papua New Guinea

For approval

 Papua New Guinea Air Service Limited/Airservices Australia
Joint Board Meeting and Dinner
7pm, 25 June 2015

Address by
Her Excellency, Ms Deborah Stokes, Australian High Commissioner to Papua New Guinea

Acknowledgements
Mr Colin Kuchel, Chair of the PNGASL Board, and Board Members
Mr Michael Jelliffe (Deputy Chairman),
Captain Ted Pakii (Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director),
Mr John Uware (Director),
Mr Kevin Luana (Director),
Ms Sharon Nalu (Company Secretary)
Mr Tony Matthews (Airservices Australia Deputy Chair) representing Sir Angus Houston AK, AFC (Ret’d) (Chair, Airservices Australia),
Mr David Marchant AM (Director, Airservices Australia Board)
Visiting Australian officials, Ms Mairi Barton (Executive General Manager Corporate and Industry Affairs), and Ms Jennifer Birdsall (International Programs Manager)
Ladies and Gentlemen

It is my great pleasure to be here today for the Board Dinner, and earlier to launch the signing of a commitment between the Australian Government and PNG Air Services Limited which will see the introduction of GNSS in PNG. I remember vividly the same event two years ago.

Importantly, I would like to thank both Boards for their wisdom and commitment to bilateral cooperation that clearly benefits both nations.

The bilateral cooperation across the air navigation services providers and aviation sectors in Australia and PNG is a key economic enabler.

Our already close bilateral cooperation hs strengthened over the last year through a concerted effort to target Australian assistance to better meet the needs of the sector. I’d like to thank those involved in this process.

I am very pleased that the WGS-84 project was delivered on time and within budget.

The Australian Government looks forward to continuing to work together with the Government of PNG to improve aviation safety, security and efficiency.

In conclusion, I would like to congratulate both Boards on today’s meeting and their bilateral engagement strategy. I would also like to acknowledge and congratulate the collegiate approach being taken by the transport sector agencies of our two nations.

May I also say that this is a model for the partnership that should exist between our 2 countries in all other sectors. I have a vision of the future where Australia and PNG, 2 close neighbours which share almost identical geo-strategic circumstances and so many deep economic links, have partnerships in nearly all areas where organisations/agencies/departments meet regularly, have a shared agenda, know each other and can get on the phone or email to sort out issues.

Thank you to both organisations.