Everyone felt that Chiefs was more appropriate on the basis that we are a sovereign nation of many tribes; over 850 languages and 1,000 tribes and before there was a prime minister, and a king or queen in England, the sovereign head within the tribe was the Chief. Our forefathers and mothers were chiefs who kept order, peace, and balance among our tribes.
Australia has failed to secure a defence treaty with Papua New Guinea (PNG) that would have seen their militaries commit to defending each other in the case of an armed attack. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and PNG Prime Minister James Marape signed a defence communique in the capital Port Moresby on Wednesday instead of the anticipated mutual defence treaty. The wording has been agreed to.
At one minute past midnight on 16 September 1975, our first governor general, Sir John Guise, declared to the world, Papua New Guinea is now independent, Marape said. Earlier that evening, as the Australian flag was lowered, Sir John reminded the crowd that we are lowering the Australian flag, not burying it', Marape said. Out of many, we became one, united under a single flag that was hoisted for the first time, Marape said.