Aid must align with concerns

 PRIME Minister Peter O’Neill maintains that Australian aid must always be aligned with the country’s development priorities.

“This was agreed to with the Rudd government and I’m pleased that the Abbott government has agreed to maintain and strengthen this arrangement,” O’Neill said in a statement.

He was commenting on a communiqué signed after the Papua New Guinea-Australia Ministerial Forum in Canberra last week.

“I want to assure our people that when economic and development cooperation is pursued in this manner, the outcome is beneficial to everyone,” he said.

He said the Government would continue to work with Australia to ensure visa processing was streamlined to make it easier for Papua New Guineans travelling to Australia. 

“As our economy grows, Papua New Guineans will increasingly look to and travel to Australia for business, education and sporting purposes so we are committed to making travel to Australia easier.”

The Australian delegation, led by Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, was pleased with the government’s commitment in the fight against corruption and noted the tabling of the Independent Commission Against Corruption legislation.