**PNG Cabinet Approves Defence Treaty with Australia** Papua New Guinea's cabinet has approved a significant defence treaty with Australia, setting the stage for the agreement to be signed as early as next week. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of Australia and Prime Minister James Marape of Papua New Guinea had initially planned to sign the treaty during the celebrations for PNG's 50th independence anniversary last month. However, those plans were postponed when the cabinet could not gather a quorum to approve the agreement. On Wednesday, sources indicated that the cabinet met and successfully approved the treaty. This agreement commits both nations to assist each other in the event of a "common danger" and allows citizens of both countries to serve in each other's military forces. Marape is expected to attend the National Rugby League grand final in Sydney on Sunday, alongside Albanese. This event may provide an opportunity for the two leaders to finalize the treaty in the days following the match. The treaty, informally referred to as the PukPuk treaty, named after the local term for crocodile, includes a mutual defence clause. This clause obligates either nation to support the other in the event of an armed attack. The agreement was initially set to be signed during the independence celebrations in mid-September. However, it was delayed when cabinet ministers were unavailable due to their commitments in their electorates. Marape has emphasized the importance of the treaty, stating it is the "fastest, quickest, earliest" way to ensure the security of Papua New Guinea, which he believes lacks the necessary military capacity for self-defense. Concerns had been raised about potential interference from China regarding the treaty, but Marape has denied any such issues, attributing the delay solely to PNG's democratic processes. Further developments regarding the treaty are anticipated in the coming days as both nations prepare for the signing.