Anthony Albanese restricted but ready to help troubled PNG and pro-Australia ally James Marape

Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape. Picture: AAP

Escalating tribal fighting in Papua New Guinea’s Highlands is a rolling human rights tragedy that the country’s government has been unable to contain.

It is also a difficult issue for federal Labor, which has remained ­silent on the fighting, despite an estimated 150 deaths this year.

Anthony Albanese has forged a strong personal relationship with PNG counterpart James Marape, who is standing firmly with Australia on the need to keep China at arm’s length.

Marape is happy for his country to reap the economic benefits from China, but – unlike Manasseh Sogavare in Solomon Islands – has rebuffed Chinese efforts to forge closer security ties.

The federal government doesn’t want to do anything to jeopardise this critical relationship, but knows that it cannot sit on its hands.

Tribal fighting in PNG has ­traditionally been undertaken under strict honour codes.

But hired mercenaries with automatic weapons now ignore such rules, dramatically escalating the violence. Images and videos of the carnage are circulating widely online, piling pressure on Prime Minister Marape to take action.

The problem highlights the country’s fragility, and deep economic problems.

Tribal fighters in Papua New Guinea's Enga Province. Picture: Facebook

When the Solomon Islands capital Honiara was burning in 2021, Sogavare asked for Australia to send in peacekeepers, who ­arrived within days.

Australia stands ready to assist PNG too, but has not been asked for help. Coming in heavy-handed would risk humiliating PNG, ­undermining years of relationship-building.

Australia’s ability to send in armed police and defence personnel is also highly constrained, after a court ruled that it was uncon­stitutional to grant AFP officers legal immunities to undertake frontline roles.

The same concerns over legal immunities are now holding up negotiations between Australia and PNG on a bilateral defence treaty. The treaty is crucial to locking in the Pacific country’s support for a more robust Aus­tralian and US security role in the region.

Foreign Minsiter Penny Wong and other senior Australian ministers discussed the challenges posed by tribal violence with their PNG counterparts in February.

A concrete support plan is ­likely to follow in coming months that could involve an increased role for unarmed AFP advisers on the ground in PNG.

On a deeper level, PNG also needs serious help to develop its economy and lift its people from poverty.

As the government’s new aid policy rightly states, “development underpins stability”.

Australia needs to seize on the current good relations with PNG to advocate a transformative ­development agenda.

Major infrastructure projects and support for PNG to develop its mineral resources, agriculture and fisheries will be critical, rather than hodgepodge health and ­education initiatives, and old-fashioned training for public ­servants.