Prime Ministers James Marape and Anthony Albanese have signed a defence deal. Photo: Mick Tsikas/AAP PHOTOS

Australia and Papua New Guinea have officially inked a mutual defence pact that commits each nation to supporting the other in the event of an armed attack.

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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his counterpart James Marape signed the Pukpuk treaty, named after the local word for crocodile, at Parliament House in Canberra on Monday.

It followed a false start in Port Moresby in September, when the treaty was slated to be signed at celebrations for PNG's 50th anniversary of indep

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