Aust lauds floods aid from PNG

 THE Australian government has thanked the Papua New Guinea government and its people for committing K10 million to assist flood-ravaged Australian states.

High Commissioner Ian Kemish yesterday called on Deputy Prime Minister and minister for Works Sam Abal at Morauta Haus to show his appreciation.

He briefed Abal, saying: “Floods went over the roofs of houses in the Australian states of Queensland and New South Wales and a lot of people, including Papua New Guineans who work and live in Australia, have been affected.

“The Australian government appreciates PNG government’s assistance and this kind of gesture shows that we will continue to be together in such circumstances,” Kemish said.

Both leaders also discussed how the two countries could help each other further straighten the bilateral relationship and, particularly, the use of AusAID assistance to PNG.

Abal said the government was aligning Australian aid to PNG under its current medium- to long-term development plans based on  infrastructure and service delivery mechanisms.

“PNG has experienced a decade of economic decline, however, since 2002, the government has been able to turn the tide under the stewardship of  Sir Michael Somare. 

“With the launch of the MTDP and the PNGSDP, public servants can now have a working document to guide them to implement the government’s service delivery programmes.”