The Australia government says to not support the Papua New Guinean government in delevoping the liquified natural gas project would be negligent.
An Australian NGO, Jubilee Australia, says the government has put PNG at risk by investing in the multi-billion dollar project.
It says violence associated with the project could increase in coming years because of high expectations in local communities.
Australia's parliamentary secretary for foreign affairs, Richard Marles, says Australia has to be doing everything it can to see the project succeed.
"It's right that Australia should be there helping PNG in relation to what has the potential to be a transformational project for that country. So, it is easy to criticise these projects, at the end of the day, it's happening, it matters greatly that it works well, and we need to be there, being the best friend that we can be and supporting that project."
Richard Marles says Australia is supporting the project in economic terms and to make sure it pays a social dividend too.
