Ex-PM conveys sadness

FORMER prime minister Peter O’Neill has expressed sadness over the horrendous bushfires around Australia.
He said the government and people of Australia should know that every MP stood ready to offer any help they could.
“Whenever Papua New Guinea faced a crisis, from earthquake, droughts, floods, tropical storms and many other disasters, Australia was always there for us,” he said.
The ongoing fire has killed many people, destroyed hundreds of homes and displaced thousands of people.
“We are realistic and know that Australia is able to manage this problem. We do not have much to offer in the form of resources, but if there is anything we can give, we are here for our Australian brothers and sisters.
“We have seen the bravery of the men and women in the fire service, most of them volunteers, go out day after day for months now to fight these fires.” O’Neill urged Papua New Guineans living in the disaster areas to listen to alerts from the Federal and State authorities and follow their directions.
“Please get in and help where you are able to, do anything and everything you can to support the Australian communities where you are living,” he said.
“Offer your homes as refuge to those who lost theirs, give up your blankets and household items, offer the use of your vehicles. Demonstrate our Melanesian gratitude through your support. In the aftermath of this disaster perhaps PNG and Australia can look at ways that we can train together so that we can offer our personnel to relieve the firefighters in Australia on the front lines,” he said.
“We pray for the women, men and children of Australia who are suffering through this terrible disaster, your friends from PNG will help you in any way we can.”