PM Albanese spoke to a uniquely powerful parliament

On Thursday Anthony Albanese became the first foreign leader to address the PNG national parliament.

It was a significant honour for Australia. It signals real progress in the bi-lateral relationship which the new government has done well on.

What might have been known to him is that the PNG Parliament is a uniquely powerful legislature.

While it is based on the Westminster model it departs significantly from the Australian Parliament.

Only the parliament can elect, and remove, a Prime Minister. The Governor General, representing the King, has no reserve powers.

The parliament elects the Governor General - a power it will exercise again next week.

It is true that the influence of the parliament is diminished somewhat when a Prime Minister enjoys a large majority.

That is the case today with James Marape able to count on at least 95 members in a 121 member house.

But that can change rapidly. Five years ago Peter O'Neill had a similar majority. Within two years he was removed from office.

I began working for the parliament in 1978 as chief advisor to the new opposition leader, Iambakey Okuk.

I was surprised at how neglected the parliament, and its members, were during the colonial period which only ended in 1975.

It operated out of a rundown former hospital. Member's facilities were poor. They had no electoral offices, or staff.

Of all my complaints about how we prepared PNG for independence, the neglect of the parliament was at the very top. We just failed to lay the right democratic parliamentary foundations for a young nation.

In my time with the opposition leader, and then when he was deputy prime minister in the Chan government I sought to encourage the nation's leaders to properly resource the parliament.

We brought in a superannuation scheme for MPs and began the new parliament house project.

I was privileged when Prime Minister Somare invited me to be his guest when the magnificent parliament house was opened by the now King Charles in 1984.

As part of our closer engagement with PNG, we could do well to offer to assist with the further development of the parliament. Members need greater research and other support. They need to be educated on how to be an effective representative of their electorates.

The committee system has some strengths but many weaknesses. It needs greater research services and members of committees need to be educated on how to probe effectively.

The Australian Parliament could help deliver that.

The exchange of MP visits needs to be developed. It is welcome that a bi-partisan delegation from the Australian Parliament will tour PNG next week. We need to enable more visits to Australia by PNG delegations.

An effective parliament will be a significant bulwark against China's growing influence. It cannot offer a democratic model for PNG to follow!

The Albanese address focussed on defence co-operation and delivering basic services such as health care and supporting PNG's bid to have a team included in the NRL premiership down the track.

But building on his address could well include helping to strengthen the parliament as the focus of PNG's democracy.

We must never underestimate just how important it is for the parliament of PNG to remain at the centre of national life. And that is not diminished when a Prime Minister has an overwhelming majority.

It changes the dynamics, but not the principles on which democracy is based.

PNG also needs assistance to develop the party system. There have been advances, but it remains somewhat turbulent with members able to switch parties at will.

The integrity of political parties' law was well meaning but members have found ways to circumvent it!

Parliament has come a long way since 1975 but it needs further support. Australia is uniquely placed to provide it.

The speech on Thursday did not contain substantive new proposals.

That was not the objective.

It was a feather in Australia's cap.

It will contribute to a stronger bi-lateral relationship. As such, it has achieved its key objective.

Now we need innovative and visionary projects and programs to build on it!