GRADE 12 STUDENTS TO SOON JOIN ADF RANKS UNDER DEFENCE PACT

BY NIGEL MADO

THOUSANDS of Papua New Guinean Grade 12 graduates are expected to benefit from a new recruitment initiative under the PNG-Australia Defence Treaty, Foreign Minister Justin Tkatchenko has announced.

Speaking at the PNG-Australia Defence Treaty Dinner, Tkatchenko said recruitment activities have already commenced as part of the treaty’s implementation.

He said thousands of Grade 12 school leavers will soon undergo a “fit and proper” selection process to prepare them for service in various capacities within the Australian Defence Force over the coming years.

The is part of the implementation of the defence treaty, which officially entered into force on July 8 after being ratified by Papua New Guinea and Australia.

Tkatchenko stated that the recruitment exercise as one of the first practical outcomes of the bilateral agreement.

He said the program demonstrates the commitment of both governments to turning the treaty into tangible opportunities for Papua New Guineans while strengthening defence cooperation.