Some Asylum Seekers to be settled in Papua New Guinea

Some of the asylum seekers currently accommodated at the Manus regional processing centre will be settled in Papua New Guinea, says Prime Minister Peter O’Neill. Speaking during a joint press conference with his Australian colleague Tony Abbott at the PNG National Parliament in Port Moresby, the PM said some of the asylum seekers who were successfully processed will be settled in PNG. He said legislation to put in place the legal mechanisms for the asylum seekers to be integrated into the local community is currently being worked on by the PNG Government.

Mr Abbott, who flew into Port Moresby last night for a three-day visit, said he was grateful that the PNG Government will continue to host the regional processing centre and highlighted that three months of no boats getting caught in Australian waters was a testimony of the success of the policy. The two leaders earlier signed the Economic Cooperation Agreement to enhance trade relations between the two neighbors. Enhancing trade relations was a key focus of the visit to PNG, according to Mr Abbott after a meeting between some of his ministers and their PNG colleagues.

The Australian PM will later today open Australian aid-funded facilities at a Port Moresby school, visit an Australian aid-funded vocational training program at Port Moresby City Mission, meet with AFP (Australian Federal Police) officers working alongside the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary and lay a wreath at the Bomana War Cemetery tomorrow morning.  He together with Mr O’Neill will also meet members of the Australia-PNG Emerging Leaders Dialogue at the Australian high commissioner’s residence this afternoon.

PNG Today / Post Courier