Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd arrived in Port Moresby yesterday afternoon for a short visit to further boost relations between the two countries.
“It’s wonderful to be back here in Papua New Guinea. I have been here so many times as private individual, as Foreign Minister and as Prime Minister.
This is my third visit to this wonderful country as Prime Minister” Mr Rudd said. “I look forward to my discussion with Prime Minister (Peter) O’Neill and I come here as a friend, a long standing friend.
As someone who believes in Papua New Guinea’s future and someone who wants to be a partner with Papua New Guinea for the future,” the Australian PM said.
He was met on arrival by Deputy Prime Minister Leo Dion and Foreign Affairs Minister Rimbink Pato, NCD Governor Powes Parkop, Sports Minister Justin Tkatchenko and Dean of the Diplomatic Corp France Ambassador to PNG Allan Waquet on his arrival on an Australian Airforce jet.
Mr Rudd walked through the Mekeo and Hela Wigmen traditional singsing at the Ceremonial Park before paying a courtesy call on Governor-General Sir Michael Ogio at Government House.
Today the Australian Prime Minister first visits the Medical Faculty at Three-Mile then the Boroko Police Station.
He will than leave for Parliament House for a meeting with Prime Minister Peter O’Neill and his cabinet Ministers.
His two day visit to PNG will focus on investment and trade issues, particularly a multi-billion dollar gas project.
Mr Rudd announced plans to visit PNG saying issues like regional security, heath and aid will be discussed with PNG’s Prime Minister.
Australia’s parliamentary secretary for the Pacific, Senator Matt Thistlethwaite, told ABC News Pacific Beat that multi-billion dollar LNG is on the top of that list.
“We’re working with the Papua New Guinean government to ensure that they develop a sovereign wealth fund to ensure the proceeds or the benefits of that project are shared amongst the Papua New Guinean population,” Mr Thistlethwaite said.
Apart from key trade partnerships, Australia and PNG also have a deal regarding asylum seekers.
Australia has re-opened detention centres in Nauru and PNG’s Manus Island to try and deal with the number of asylum seekers coming to Australia by boat.
The PNG site has been criticised by the United Nations High Commission for refugees with its most recent report stating that while there has been some improvement, it fails to meet the terms of a memorandum of understanding between the two nations when it was established. The report highlights poor living conditions and slow processing arrangements as key problems.
Mr Thistlethwaite said he doesn’t believe the issue will be discussed between Kevin Rudd and Peter O’Neill as PNG is already keen on developing a regional solution with Australia.
Part of the discussions between the two prime ministers will also cover health service concerns in PNG.
Mr Rudd visited Papua New Guinea last year as Foreign Minister and before that in 2007 when he was Prime Minister.
The Pacific Island Report Picture: theaga.com.au