Australia to send police to PNG

Australia to send police to PNG

AUSTRALIA: Flying squads of Australian police and civil servants will tackle lawlessness and corruption in Papua New Guinea under an A$800 million (US$592 million) package agreed by both countries on Thursday.

Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said up to 230 Australian police would work with their PNG counterparts in law and order hotspots such as Port Moresby, Bougainville, Lae and the economically-vital Highlands Highway.

At least four Australian judges will work in PNG and a Canberra appointee will become the country's top lawyer, the solicitor-general, in a bid to improve justice administration.

Australian civil servants will also take on senior roles in economic management, immigration, prisons, transport safety and aviation under the plans, announced after the PNG Ministerial Forum in Adelaide.

Downer said the package, designed "to help PNG address its key challenges", would cost $800 million over five years.

"It's expensive but that will make a decisive difference to the law and justice, law and order situation in Papua New Guinea,," he told reporters. -- AFP