Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has failed to secure a landmark defence treaty with Papua New Guinea.

Mr Albanese will be forced to leave Port Moresby with only a communique instead of the high-level agreement he had hoped to sign.

The treaty was designed to commit Australia and PNG to consult and act together in the event of a security threat.

However, the pact stalled after PNG’s cabinet did not approve the deal, and the two leaders instead agreed on the "text" of a deal.

The deal's misfire comes after the Albanese government agreed to fund PNG's $600 million NRL team and a pay for a new ministerial wing in PNG's Parliament .

PNG Foreign Minister Justin Tkatchenko confirmed on Wednesday that the cabinet approval was still a “work in progress”.

The delay represents a blow for Mr

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