Pangu Pati has extended heartfelt congratulations to Anthony Albanese on his re-election as Prime Minister of Australia, praising the deepening relationship between Papua New Guinea and Australia under his leadership.
In a statement last night, National Pangu Pati General Secretary, Dogimai Morris Tovebae expressed pride in joining Prime Minister James Marape in acknowledging the Australian Labor Party’s (ALP) resounding electoral victory, which secured a commanding 86-seat majority—the largest for modern-day Australia since Gough Whitlam’s landslide in 1975, the year Australia granted independence to PNG.
Tovebae highlighted the symbolic resonance of the ALP’s continued influence as PNG prepares to celebrate its 50th anniversary of independence in September. “It is fitting that the party that delivered our independence will be in government as we mark this historic milestone,” Tovebae stated.
Reflecting on the rich political and historical ties between Pangu Pati and the ALP, Tovebae recounted the pivotal 1969 meeting between then-ALP Leader Gough Whitlam and Pangu founder Michael Somare at the Winjamar Hotel.
Whitlam’s promise to support PNG’s independence became reality in 1975, setting the foundation for a lasting bilateral partnership.
“The Pangu–ALP relationship has never been stronger,” Tovebae declared, noting the strong camaraderie shared by Prime Ministers Marape and Albanese. He cited their historic reciprocal invitations to address each other’s parliaments in 2023 as powerful symbols of mutual respect and diplomatic trust.
Tovebae also drew parallels between Albanese’s 2022 campaign theme— “No one held back, and no one left behind”—and Marape’s own mantra— “Leave no one behind”—emphasizing the shared aspirations of the two Pacific neighbors for inclusive development.
Beyond high-level diplomacy, the relationship has fostered educational and political exchange programs that have benefited generations of Pangu leaders.
Among them were Chris Haiveta, who served in former ALP Prime Minister Bob Hawke’s office, and Moses Taian, a former Pangu General Secretary who studied in Canberra and Brisbane. Tovebae himself benefited from a scholarship awarded by the ALP in 2014 to attend a political advisory course at the University of Sydney.
Australia’s continued support for the ALP, Tovebae said, underscores its people’s belief in party-based governance. He called on Papua New Guinea to embrace similar institutional strength in its political system.
“PNG must move from personality-driven to policy and institution-based politics for better governance,” he urged.
As both nations look ahead to PNG’s golden jubilee, Tovebae reaffirmed Pangu’s deep appreciation for its historic and enduring partnership with the Australian Labor Party.