Defence
Minister Senator David Johnston welcomed the gifting of MMAS Labuan,
which fulfilled a commitment the Abbott Government made to Papua New
Guinea last year.
Senator Johnston said following its decommissioning HMPNGS Lakekamu
was sailed to Port Moresby by a combined Royal Australian Navy and Papua
New Guinea Defence Force crew.
HMPNGS Lakekamu has been gifted to Papua New Guinea as a training vessel,
and will be used by the PNGDF to develop mariner skills and a seaworthiness
culture in the Maritime Element’s growing workforce.
HMPNGS Lakekamu has been named after the Lakekamu River, in Gulf Province,
south-western Papua New Guinea, and is the first PNGDF vessel to bear
that name.
As HMAS Labuan, the vessel had visited the Papua New Guinea on several
occasions, including during her first operational voyage in 1973.
Senator Johnston will visit Papua New Guinea on December 15 for the
Australia-Papua New Guinea Ministerial Forum on 15 December, to hold
his second Defence Ministers’ Meeting with Dr Fabian Pok. |
