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