Thousands of Papua New Guineans will be eligible to join the Australian Defence Force within months.

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A specialist taskforce to recruit PNG citizens will be set up, with as many as 10,000 Papua New Guineans tipped to join the Australian Defence Force, including infantrymen and medics.

PNG permanent residents in Australia will be eligible to join the defence force from January.

The taskforce was set up as part of the landmark Pukpuk treaty signed by the neighbouring nations two weeks ago, with Australia making multi-million dollar pledges to strengthen Papua New Guinea's defence capabilities.

Acting Prime Minister Richard Marles, Foreign Min

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