FED: New PNG PM earns bipartisan Aussie praise

AAP General News (Australia)
08-01-1999
FED: New PNG PM earns bipartisan Aussie praise

By Debra Way

CANBERRA, Aug 1 AAP - Papua New Guinea's new Prime Minister, Sir Mekere Morauta, today
earned the praise of both sides of Australian politics for his efforts in pulling his country
back from the economic brink.

Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said he had been impressed with PNG's new leadership team
and its determination to establish better relations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF)
and the World Bank in an attempt to secure funds and help PNG's ailing economy.

Mr Downer yesterday stopped briefly in Port Moresby on his way home from East Timor to hold
talks with Sir Mekere and PNG's foreign minister, Sir Michael Somare.

"I think Sir Mekere Morauta is an outstanding individual and from my discussion with him
I've been most impressed with his commitment to the IMF-World Bank re-engagement with PNG," he
told the Nine Network.

"In the medium term, he has every chance of really getting the economy going again."

Mr Downer said he thought Port Moresby would now be able to cast off the days of cash
diplomacy with Taiwan and the Sandline mercenary crisis.

"I think the government of Mekere Morauta will be a very constructive government," he said.

"Here is a man with a lot of experience in the civil service of PNG and also in the central
bank there.

"I think we can look to his government with a good deal of optimism, and some of those
incidents of recent times I think we can fairly safely put behind us."

Labor's foreign spokesman Laurie Brereton also welcomed Sir Mekere's election as prime
minister but warned Australia had to provide long-term help to see PNG succeed.

"I'm delighted that the Howard government has already sent two of its ministers to PNG -
the treasurer earlier this week and the foreign minister yesterday on his way back from East
Timor," he told the Ten Network.

"But what we don't want is for this to be a flash in the pan, a couple of ministerial
visits and a fistful of dollars to help them.

"What is required in PNG is a very sustained effort from Australia."

Australia needed to carefully target where its $330 million annual aid to PNG was being
spent, he said.

"It's in our interests to make sure that aid is well spent, carefully targeted and that we
take the opportunity of the new government to rebuild the institutions," he said.

"Because let me warn you, if we don't there are real implications for Australians. This is
our nearest neighbour."

AAP daw/bm/de

KEYWORD: PNG AUST NIGHTLEAD

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