Marape travels to Australia to collect pre-independence documents

In preparation for the 50th anniversary celebration on September 16, Prime Minister James Marape will meet with Australia's National Library and Archives team to collect PNG's key historical documents dating back to the country's independence.

Prime Minister Marape said he would also meet with the Gough Withlam Foundation on Monday.

Mr Marpe addressed media before he left for Australia yesterday.

"I will be visiting Canberra. I will have an appointment at the National Libraries and Archives.

"The Australian Archives and Libraries will present to me all documents relating to our 50th anniversary, our 50th anniversary moment, documents preceding independence, especially key crucial documents that I need to compile for our 50th anniversary program.

"The National Archives has them, and I will be privileged to be given copies. I will spend Monday afternoon going through those records and for me physically getting them," Marape said.

Mr. Marape also highlighted his meeting with the Gough Withlam Foundation.

"More importantly, in the evening of Monday, the Gough Withlam Foundation is having a session with me. They are organizing a special program for younger generation Papua New Guineans.

"Gough Withlam was the Prime Minister in 1975, and his words, the final steps, in fact, the major steps took place towards our independence.

"And so the Gough Withlam Foundation will have a moment with me Monday evening, all again part of the conversation on our 50th anniversary," Marape said.