PNG group in Perth meets O’Neill

PRIME Minister Peter O’Neill said he appreciated the call on him and was happy that many Papua New Guineans were living and working overseas, especially in Perth.
During the meeting, O’Neill briefly outlined important issues that his government was addressing.
He said education was the most important priority, therefore, it was free starting next year as his government had already allocated K300 million this year.
“I strongly believe in education and, therefore, it is my government’s first priority.
“Education has brought many of us this far,” O’Neill said.
Other issues he highlighted were the engagement of the Australia Federal Police under the Enhanced Cooperation Programme to help in the 2012 general election, establishment of a task force to weed out corruption from the government system, improvement on the health system and PNG-Australia governments’ recent adoption and agreement to review the infrastructure and standards of PNG universities.
PNG Wantok Association president Alexander Ihanimo congratulated O’Neill on his recent appointment as prime minister.
Ihanimo said the PNG community had more than 800 people working and living in Perth.
Leaders of the association took the time to raise their issues which included the question of dual citizenship, establishment of a consular office in Perth, reintroduction of the tradesmen apprenticeship programme and possible funding assistance for their office maintenance.
O’Neill undertook to look into the issues and will reply in due course.
At the end of the meeting, the association members presented O’Neill with gifts and wished
him well on his journey back to PNG.