PM pursuing changes to ease travelling to Aust

PRIME Minister James Marape, pictured, is pursuing changes which will make it easier for Papua New Guineans to travel to Australia.
He told SBS News in Sydney last week he was determined to resolve the issues which are making it difficult for PNG citizens to enter Australia.
“It’s a work in progress, but it’s something that I want to achieve in my time in office – better access by Papua New Guinea into Australia in a modernised system where immigration is easily managed,” he said.
The issue had been pursued by previous governments including efforts by former PM Peter O’Neill to allow PNG citizens into Australia without a visa.
PNG grants Australian citizens especially tourists a visa-on-arrival arrangement. It wants Australia to reciprocate, as it does to New Zealanders.
Concerns about the country’s border security management had created headaches for residents trying to get visas.
Marape said he understood Australia’s “insecurities” and vowed to strengthen their border security management system.
He told SBS News on Friday that his week-long trip to Australia was a success.
“Both prime ministers have agreed it’s no longer an aid-donor recipient relationship,” he said.
“It’s now about economic relationships where Australia sees PNG as an important trade and economic partner and for PNG, we can see Australia as a great market place for our local produce.”
Having built his country into “the richest black Christian nation on the face of planet earth”, Marape declared that PNG would not need Australian aid for long.
After spending Thursday night at a rugby league game with his Australian counterpart Scott Morrison, Marape praised his “human touch”.
“We entered politics at the same time in 2007,” he said.
“By the grace of God, he has become prime minister in the Australian side and I have become prime minister on the PNG side.”