Work on 3RD Battalion underway with assistance from Defence Australia

Work to raise the recently announced 3^rd Battalion, Royal Pacific Island Regiment, to be based in Hela Province has already begun with critical assistance from the Australian Defence Force’s 12^thChief Engineer Works. 

On Thursday 02^nd April 2026, the Chief of Defence Force Rear Admiral Philip Polewara and Secretary for Defence Hari John Akipe received a brief from planners who are working on the scoping and design of the unit, following a two-day planning workshop. 

The planning team includes officers from the PNGDF Directorate of Engineers, Department of Defence and the 12^thEngineer Works Battalion. 

On Thursday, the CDF and Secretary were briefed on two key points:

1. The options available for the unit’s structure, and 

2. The critical infrastructure that must be there to support the unit. 

According to Secretary Akipe: “This initial planning workshop now gives visibility on what the Government needs to do and where it can seek assistance to make the intention of a 3^rdbattalion a reality. 

“I thank the Australian Defence Cooperation staff and the engineers from the 12^th CEW for assisting us with this very important project,” he said.

“This project is critical to the security of PNG as it will strategically position defence assets in the mid-section of our international land border and at a central spot in the upper highlands.”

Alice said that the 3^rd Battalion will allow the project force up north and down south, assisting the 1^st and 2^nd battalions, in border operations.

The Battalion project will also allow the Defence to effectively maintain a permanent presence in the upper highlands.