Australia is ready to sign a landmark defence pact with Papua New Guinea if its cabinet can raise a quorum, with ministers dispersed to their electorates to celebrate 50 years of independence.

The two nations promise to have each other's backs under the Pukpuk Treaty, named after the pidgin word for crocodile.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is in Port Moresby this week for the golden jubilee celebrations and hopes to finalise and sign the new pact on Wednesday.

He told reporters on Tuesday the PNG cabinet met on Monday night to give final approval but didn't have a quorum because some ministers were back in their constituencies for independence celebrations.

But he expected his counterpart James Marape to sort it out quickly by ushering the process through his cabinet virtually.

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