Meeting to discuss bilateral security

FOREIGN Affairs Minister Justin Tkatchenko says a ministerial forum in Canberra this week will see the two countries discuss and finalise the bilateral security treaty.
He said the treaty would be focused on protecting the region through the two defence forces.
“This treaty would enable the ADF and PNGDF to work together and protect the waters in the region from illegal smuggling, fishing, drugs and border crossing,” he said. “The partnership would also build the capacity of the defence force and Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary.”
He said they would also discuss the visa systems in both countries with positive outcomes to ease issues in travelling to and from.
“Discussions were done and we have decided to have the visa processing centre in the country or in Australia for easy access,” he said,
“Our discussion would look into the period of processing visa in two weeks instead of six weeks online processing.
“At the moment Australia has a 30-day visa to PNG but if we go there we would get a three-year visa which was a give and take.”
Speaking at Jackson International Airport on Friday, Tkatchenko said the forum would also see a memorandum of understanding between both countries’ Forestry Departments.