Australia to help PNG host APEC summit

The Turnbull government is continuing to expand Australia's diplomatic footprint.

There's a new High Commission slated for the tiny Pacific island Tuvalu and a Consulate General for Kolkata, India at a cost of $19.2 million over four years in this year's federal budget.

Last year's foreign policy blueprint flagged a commitment to opening more overseas diplomatic posts in the next decade.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade will also get a $15 million boost over four years to help exporters chase new opportunities and tackle non-tariff trade barriers.

Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands are getting a high speed communications undersea cable, but costs aren't specified and some of the money will come out of their aid budgets.

Australia will also provide cyber security support worth $14.4 million to help Port Moresby host the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders summit this November.

There's also a $5.4 million police and firefighting contribution during the summit.

This comes in addition to the $108 million of assistance already allocated which includes extending the presence of the federal police in the country until year's end.

Meanwhile, the hunt for extra cruise ship berths in Sydney will cost $300,000.


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Source: AAP



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