Australia says negotiations with Papua New Guinea for a new security treaty are continuing in good faith despite delays.
The latest draft treaty text was exchanged on Friday and PNG is reviewing the most recent iteration of the proposed agreement.
Foreign affairs department Pacific head Ewen McDonald said he hoped the treaty would be finalised this month.
"I hope we will only need one or two more sessions to conclude the agreement," he told a Senate hearing on Thursday.
"Both parties are taking the negotiations very seriously and approaching those in good faith."
Mr McDonald said a number of other factors also impacted the timing of the treaty, which was initially slated to have wrapped up negotiations in April and signed in June.
This included high level visits to PNG, including the planned visit of US President Joe Biden, and the signing of a major defence and security treaty with the US.
Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles met with PNG Prime Minister James Marape on the sidelines of a Pacific summit in South Korea and discussed the pact.
Mr Marape also conveyed his apologies for the treaty's delay.
Mr McDonald said he wasn't aware of any concerns being raised by China over the treaty.
Beijing's envoy in Canberra previously told AAP China had a good relationship with PNG and it was not linked to what Port Moresby did with other countries.
