Papua New Guinea had a role to play in tackling human trafficking in the region before Australia asked to set up the Manus Island regional processing centre.
Prime Minister Hon. Peter O’Neill said this on Monday when giving the keynote address at the 30th Papua New Guinea-Australia Business Forum in Cairns, Australia. Responding to criticism in PNG and abroad over the establishment of the centre, the PM said his Government signed an agreement to set up the centre with Australia based on two reasons. Australia was PNG’s "closest neighbour and best friend" and needed help and the Manus Island option gave his Government the chance to play a part in keeping the region safe from people smuggling. "Australia needed to find a strong deterrent to illegal boat arrivals and clearly offshore detention and processing was a priority. We had the capacity on Manus to provide that option with the opening and upgrading of the facility entirely funded by the Australian government," he said. "Secondly, and I do want to stress this, our Government formed the view even before we were approached to provide offshore detention that we had to do some of the ‘heavy lifting’ when it came to addressing people trafficking in our region." Prime Minister Hon. Peter O’Neill said the assistance offered by PNG through the Manus Island regional processing centre has ensured no illegal boats made the journey to Australia. "I understand that there has not been one illegal boat arrival of Australia this year. Now it is true we have gained some additional benefits from the agreement with Australia. I make no apology for that none whatsoever," he added. As of April this year over 900 Papua New Guineans are employed at the regional processing centre at Lombrum in Manus with 836 of these works from the province. New facilities to expand the centre are currently under construction in Lorengau and Lombrum which will lead to more employment opportunities for the locals Comments are closed.
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