PM backs call on visa requirements

PRIME Minister Peter O’Neill has supported a call for Australia to ease its visa requirements for Papua New Guineans.
He has asked Foreign Affairs Minister Ano Pala to initiate dialogue with Australia on the subject.
Opposition leader Dame Carol Kidu said last week that Australia should review its policy on the processing of visa applications for PNG citizens.
O’Neill said PNG issued holders of Australian passports visas on arrival in the country, and had been doing so since Independence.
He said Australia should return the courtesy.
“There are, and always will be, very strong bonds between Papua New Guinea and Australia. And the visa situation is at odds with those bonds,” O’Neill said.
He said many Papua New Guineans – including those who had travelled to Australia many times – continued to experience the frustrations of the visa process.
“This is particularly important to our up-and-coming sports stars, who benefit greatly from
international competition,’’ he said.
“There are many young men and women who would like the opportunity of achieving the stature in their sports that Queensland Reds and Australian Wallabies halfback Will Genia has achieved in rugby union, and Adrian Lam and Marcus Bai have achieved in rugby league.”
He acknowledged that some Papua New Guineans had abused the privilege of being issued visas by overstaying in Australia. But people from other countries do that too.
O’Neill called on all Papua New Guineans to respect the privileges associated with visas to enter Australia, and not to overstay. 
“We expect Aussies to obey our laws when they are in Papua New Guinea, and our people must do the same when in Australia.”