PNG wary of citizenship requirement in ADF’s Pacific recruitment plan

Anthony Albanese’s hopes to recruit Papua New Guineans to serve in the ADF have hit a stumbling block, with PNG expressing concern its people would have to take out Australian citizenship.

A Papua New Guinea Defence Force soldier from 2nd Royal Pacific Island Regiment waits for a CH-47 Chinook from 5th Aviation Regiment to land during Exercise Wantok Warrior 24. Picture: Defence

Anthony Albanese’s hopes to recruit Papua New Guineans to serve in the Australian Defence Force have hit a stumbling block, with PNG expressing concern its people would have to take Australian citizenship to join up.

PNG Foreign Minister Justin Tkatchenko said the country was keen for its people to participate in the Pacific recruitment plan to address the ADF’s workforce crisis, but wanted to ensure that they ­returned home after their service to contribute to their nation’s ­development.

Several models have been discussed including recruiting ­Pacific Islanders directly into the ADF, or the formation of a Pacific battalion to operate in the region along the lines of British Gurkha units.

“We would definitely look at all options,” Mr Tkatchenko told The Australian.

But he said “sovereignty comes into play”, and the citizenship issue would have to be worked through.

Under current rules, foreign recruits must apply for Australian citizenship within 90 days of joining the ADF but can retain their original citizenship.

Mr Tkatchenko said: “We would prefer (PNG participants) just to be Papua New Guineans, to hold our citizenship.

“This is for all the constitutional lawyers and others to put their heads together and work out what is the best way forward so it doesn’t affect the sovereignties of both countries.”

Mr Albanese and PNG counterpart James Marape discussed the recruiting proposal as they walked the Kokoda Track in April, after a series of bilateral discussions on the plan initiated by Defence Minister Richard Marles in October 2022.

Mr Marape expressed support for the initiative, declaring “we have many young men if they need to recruit more soldiers, and also to work in the military”.

PNG Prime Minister James Marape, Northern Province Governor Gary Juffa, and Anthony Albanese during their Kokoda Track walk in April. Picture: Supplied

It’s understood the government is eager to find a work­around to secure PNG’s agreement to allow its citizens to serve in the Australian uniform.

“Discussions with the PNG government continue are ongoing and positive on moving this forward,” a government spokeswoman said.

Under one proposal pitched to Defence at September’s Land Forces Expo in Melbourne, the ADF would lever off the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility Program that has more than 30,000 temporary workers employed in agriculture, meat processing and other key sectors.

Former Queen’s Gurkha Engineers captain Ross Thompson, whose PeopleIN labour hire company employs more than 6000 PALM workers, said using the scheme’s existing recruiting framework could deliver 1000 Papua New Guineans into the ADF a year.

“The model is flexible and it could certainly allow for PNG recruits to retain their PNG citizenship, perform four years service in Australia, and then return home with new found skills and experience,” Mr Thompson said.

Former British Army officer and PeopleIN chief executive Ross Thompson (left) with one of his Nepalese Gurkha soldiers during his time as a captain with the Queen's Gurkha Engineers. Picture: Supplied

Like Britain, which accepts only about 1 per cent of Nepalese applicants to join its Gurkha units, he said only the best PNG candidates would be accepted, with testing for strength and intelligence, and an ability to accept ADF rules and regulations.

Testing would filter applicants for combat and non-combat roles, including engineering, signals, logistics and mechanical trades in all three services, Mr Thompson said.

He said Papua New Guineans were ideally suited to military service and the wartime bonds between the countries’ people would ensure they were welcomed with open arms.

“The legacy of Kokoda and the broader New Guinea campaign in the Second World War showed the hardiness, resourcefulness and bravery of PNG soldiers,” Mr Thompson said. “The sheer physical toughness of PNG recruits combined with the training, discipline and equipment of the Australian Army would create world-class soldiers.”

The government opened the way for New Zealand citizens living in Australia to join the ADF from July, with the eligibility to be extended from January 1 to Americans, British and Canadian applicants, and later to Pacific Islanders.

An Australian Army soldier trains with a Papua New Guinea Defence Force counterpart during Exercise Wantok Warrior 24 in PNG. Picture: Defence

The push to sign-up foreign recruits follows dire budget forecasts earlier this year that Defence’s personnel shortfall would hit 5000 by July next year.

The shortfall has prompted the government to offer $40,000 retention bonuses to ADF personnel to stay on, under a $600m three-year plan.

Nepalese Gurkhas and Fijians have served in the British Army for generations, and are highly regarded soldiers. About 4000 Gurkhas and 2000 Fijians are enlisted across a range of regiments.