PM off to Australia

PRIME Minister Peter O’Neill comes off an hectic budget week to an event-filled  visit to Australia.
O’Neill and his entourage departed PNG this mor­ning at four for Canberra where he was scheduled to hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Minister for Immigration Chris Bowen.
He will also address the National Press Club where he intended to sell the PNG budget and explain the rationale behind the shift of emphasis from national departments to the provinces, districts and council wards.
Buoyed by yesterday’s support in parliament towards extending the grace period for a motion of no-confidence from 18 months to 30 months, O’Neill would also expound on the necessity for such a move.
He is expected to call on the Australian government and business leaders to lend support to PNG through AusAID on the new government focus and for businesses to invest in PNG.
The entourage will depart for Sydney later today.
O’Neill will launch Oil Search’s Community Development Foundation and to visit Newcrest mine in country New South Wales.
He will also address the influential Lowy Institute while in Sydney before he addresses the Mining and Petroleum Conference.
He will explain the budget focus to the forum and stable political climate which should be conducive for investment decisions.
O’Neill and company return on Dec 5 when he travels to Madang and Enga.