Ipatas wants Aust deal revised

By LUKE KAMA
ENGA Governor Sir Peter Ipatas wants the government to revisit the Enhanced Cooperation Programme (ECP) signed between the Australian and PNG governments in 2004.
The programme was signed to bring in 300 Australian police and up to 60 bureaucrats to focus on corruption and instituting good governance.
Sir Peter said the government and the country should concede its failures and bring in the Australian Federal Police (AFP) to intervene and address the issues of escalating law and order problems in the country.
“In my 20-plus years of being a politician, one thing I always talked about and fight for in parliament is the law and order issues,” he said.
“Just on Monday we saw our country’s chief justice attacked at Tsak Valley in Wapenamenda, Enga.
“This is a serious issue that reflects the level of lawlessness and the law and order problems in our country. We cannot deny that fact.”
Sir Ipatas said the agreement was cancelled in 2005 through a ruling from the Supreme Court which found it unconstitutional.
“The issue raised in the Supreme Court was in regard to granting immunity to the Australian Federal Police and I call upon parliament to look at changing the laws to give authority and immunity to them.
“These measures will significantly improve our law and order issues because Australians do not compromise their job.”
Sir Peter said the Australian government was ready to fund the programme.
“This will be done at the expense of the Australian government and it will also bring in revenue into the country.”