12 million ballot papers arrive from Australia

**Ground staff waiting to unload the ballot papers from the chartered flight at the Port Moresby Jackson international airport on Sunday. – Picture supplied**

By Rebecca Kuku
BALLOT papers for the general election have arrived in the country from Australia on four chartered flights.
Electoral Commissioner Simon Sinai could not be reached for comment yesterday but the Australian High Commission confirmed that the ballot papers were transported from Australia on chartered flights.
Australia printed the 12 million ballot papers for the general election at a cost of K10 million.
Sinai said in a previous statement that 12 million ballot papers were to be printed: six million for the open electorates and six million for the provincial seats.
Sources said four chartered Nauru Airlines flights arrived at Jackson international airport on Sunday and Monday.
Each carried 13 tonnes of ballot papers.
“(Two) flights came in on Sunday and two on Monday.”
Sinai had said in February that Australia would print the ballot papers and that the Australian Defence Force would arrange their transportation to Papua New Guinea next month.