PNG, Australian leaders discuss new police deployment

Updated May 15, 2009 15:48:10

Following a discussion between the Prime Ministers of Papua New Guinea and Australia on the issue, a member of the PNG parliament wants Australian police redeployed to key policing areas to help fight the country's increasing law and order problems. In May 2005, Australia withdrew more than 150 police personnel deployed under an Enhanced Cooperation Program after PNG's Supreme Court nullified their engagement.

Presenter: Firmin Nanol
Speaker: Peter Ipatas, Governor of PNG's Enga Province; Doctor Puka Temu, Acting Prime Minister

FIRMIN NANOL: The PNG Government granted immunity to the Australian police personnel deployed under an Enhanced Cooperation Program, ECP, from prosecution in PNG courts for any wrongful acts. A strong critic of Australia's engagement in PNG and the Morobe Governor, Luther Wenge, challenged the legality of the immunity in court. In May 2005, PNG's Supreme Court ruled that it was unconstitutional, forcing Australia to recall its officers back to Canberra. Now PNG's Enga Province Governor Peter Ipatas wants them back in Papua New Guinea. He says PNG needs Australian police help to curb its rising law and order problems.

PETER IPATAS: One of the things is to look at the possibility of re-engaging the Australian police to assist PNG police in order to build up capacity and at the same time look at ways of improving the performance of police in the country. The national government and leaders and the people of this country must look at the overall benefit of the engagement of Australian police. Now if it is in the interests of the public, then the national government should take the initiative to deal with the laws. If we have to amend the laws to engage the Australian police, for me the issue is to maintain law and order and if the engagement of the Australian police is the way to go forward then the national government must take the leadership.

FIRMIN NANOL: PNG's Deputy Prime Minister Dr Puka Temu says Australian police officers could be recalled under a revised Enhanced Cooperation Program treaty. He says both the prime minister of PNG, Michael Somare, and Australia, Kevin Rudd, have discussed and reached an understanding on the issue.

DR PUKA TEMU: Our own Prime Minister has, as you know, done an official visit to Australia and both prime ministers have discussed this issue and the Cabinet will make a decision on whether we will have a revised form of ECP given the constitutional requirements that we have to meet and whether - what type of structure - whether we should have Australian police on the streets or whether we should have key strategic advisers located in each district or each province. Those are the decisions that we are looking at and both prime ministers have made those decisions.

FIRMIN NANOL: The Acting Prime Minister, Doctor Puka Temu, told parliament this week, the government will make a decision on whether we have Australian police on the streets or as strategic advisers some time soon.