Plea for enhanced cooperation program to be ressurected
Updated
Papua New Guinea and Australian ministers will be meeting in PNG this week for the annual talks. High on the agenda is Australia's Development Assistance and the Pacific Partnership. Talks are expected to raise the possibility of a revised version of Australia's Enhanced Cooperation Program, the ECP, which was annulled by PNG's Supreme Court in May 2005.
Presenter: Firmin Nanol
Speakers:Bart Philemon, PNG Deputy Opposition Leader
NANOL: PNG is this week hosting the 18th annual PNG-Australia ministerial forum in the Madang province.
One of the ministerial forum agendas is Australia's Enhanced Cooperation ECP-program to PNG.
Australia was to have deployed more than 200 police to help PNG's police force and other officials in key institutions.
PNG's Supreme Court ruled immunity granted to Australian ECP personnel from prosecution for any misconduct whilst on duty was not consistent with the PNG Constitution.
Over 150 Australian police were withdrawn following the Court ruling in May 2005.
There are hopes of resurrecting it with Australia reportedly keen to assist the PNG police force.
PNG government officials remain quiet on the issue.
But PNG's Deputy Opposition Leader, Bart Philemon says law and order is PNG's major problem and that the forum should agree on Australia's support.
PHILEMON: I think that this Minister of Forums should really look at our capacity and it doesn't have to follow the ECP program, but there's always a need for us on a temporary measures. Biggest thing is our internal security and if I'm concerned about any aspects of development, I would be concerned about internal security.
The fiscal and economic issue can be addressed if we have save environment for investment and so forth. The Kokoda Trail and so forth, they are minor issues. This issue between friends can be sorted out, but we have to look at the major issues that is affecting our country. Internal security is one, public service capacity and size is another one.
All our resources are being eaten up by non-productive spending and public service at the moment is a huge non-productive area in which we need some help from the Australians, whether in terms of money to retrench people or the expertise to work out how we can beef up this huge monster that does nothing but consume huge amount of money every year.
NANOL: Mr Philemon, what would you like to do, the ECP to be ressurected considering that the immunity aspect should be settled cordially between the two countries?
PHILEMON: Absolutely, that's an issue. I was a little bit concerned on that condition initially when the Australian side were pushing for it, knowing quite well that it will be a difficult issue to overcome. And I mean I can understand in so far as people in the front line in policing area, but I can't understand people in finance department or so forth. So hopefully we've learnt from our mistake and come up with an arrangement that is acceptable both sides.
NANOL: The ministers will also discuss Australia's development assistance and the Pacific Partnership.
It was an agreement signed between Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and his PNG counterpart Sir Michael Somare in Port Moresby during Mr Rudd's visit last month.
It entails relationships should be based on a mutual respect and outcome for both countries.
The forum will also discuss the issue of mining along the Kokoda Track, which Australia wants a World Heritage Listing.
A new memorandum of understanding on the World War track is expected to be signed later this week.
