So far so good. Now for implementation

By any measure the prime minister's visit to PNG last week was a success. He was very well received and the proposals he outlined to strengthen the big-lateral relationship manageable.

Effectively we have been given a second chance to get our relations right. We must learn from past mistakes and focus on implementation.

Readers may recall in my first column here two years ago I urged Australia to offer to rebuild the PNG defence force.

It has long been the poor relation of PNG's uniformed forces - underfunded, poorly managed and largely ineffective. It just hasn't been a priority.

The danger was that indiscipline might cause attempts at coups and a serious war between the army and the police. There have been difficulties for as long as I can remember.

The problem is that the breakdown in law and order has inevitably meant funding and priority has gone to the police force.

The assurance at independence that a balance would be maintained between the army and the police broke down years ago.

We have a very good history when it comes to our army in pre-independence PNG. Among those who served in PNG was Senator Jim Molan who died this week.

But we can't rely on history.

We need practical programs that help rebuild the PNGDF.

If we don't, China will!

The announcement by the PM of wide-ranging capacity support for the PNGDF is timely, and overdue.

I believe the PNGDF needs to return to a nation building role. It once had a strong engineering division. That needs to be restored.

The announcement on easier visa access to Australia for Papua New Guineans is welcome. But implementation will be a challenge.

The government needs to engage more with Australian business when it comes to implementation.

And it needs to facilitate greater dialogue between our business and that of PNG.

Business wants to play a greater role but it needs support in doing so.

This week an all-party delegation of MPs has been in PNG. Their priority has been the failed health system.

That is welcome. We need a more practical approach to how we help it and save lives.

As I have advocated, building parliamentary links is welcome. This delegations visit is a good start.

I would like to see an MP's delegation look at agriculture and fisheries as well.

The PNG agriculture sector is terribly run down yet 80% of the people depend on farming and fisheries.

Australia is well placed to assist in rebuilding it. It's not an adequate priority at present.

We should also allow more PNG-caught seafood into Australia, it is nonsense that we import seafood from Vietnam but not PNG.

As far as I know our prawns, lobster and barramundi don't obey country borders!

The barramundi caught off the Gulf Province could well have been caught in far North Queensland.

Our customs rules when it comes to PNG are archaic.

So let me summarise the Albanese visit this way. So far so good. It builds on the hard yards put in by Penny Wong.

But it's just a start.

It needs priority and common-sense policies and reasonable funding.

The bi-partisan approach is welcome.

A good start, but the hard work is just beginning!