Papua New Guinea has been offered a high-level assurance that Australia would not use its intelligence resources in any way to harm its northern neighbour.
Foreign Minister Julie Bishop on Wednesday made the promise to her PNG counterpart Rimbink Pato during bilateral ministerial talks in Canberra.
Ms Bishop confirmed PNG had raised the issue of spying during the Australia-PNG Ministerial Forum, and she had reassured her counterparts.
"That is, this Australian government would not use our resources, including intelligence resources, that would in any way harm PNG," she told reporters at Parliament House.
"That was the assurance we gave. It was accepted and we move on."
Mr Pato played down allegations PNG had demanded an explanation from Australia about its intelligence operations, describing it as a "non issue".
"I will not be responding to some allegation in the media that certain things have happened," he said.
"Australia would not do anything which will harm PNG's interest, because PNG's security interest is intertwined with the security interest of Australia."
