​IT is time Papua New Guinea moves away from being an aid recipient to becoming an equal partner with Australia, says former Australia foreign affairs minister Julie Bishop.
Bishop said that Australia was always happy to support PNG and see it becoming economically independent.
“I support and agree with Prime Minister James Marape’s vision for Papua New Guinea to gain economic independence, but you cannot achieve that with foreign aid, you can only achieve that through investments and a strong government foundation,” she told the 16th PNG Mining and Petroleum Conference in Sydney yesterday.

​AUSTRALIAN Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says he will lead a delegation to Papua New Guinea next week (Dec 12-13).
“This will be my first visit to Papua New Guinea as Prime Minister and the first in-person leaders’ talks since 2019, when Prime Minister Marape visited Australia,” Albanese said in a statement yesterday.
“Australia and Papua New Guinea are close neighbours and even closer friends.

​A SHORTAGE of foreign currency in Papua New Guinea is affecting businesses.  The aviation sector is one business that is already affected in its services   delivery  with Air Niugini cancelling domestic flights  this week.
Air Niugini, in a statement, stated that due to ongoing deliberations between Puma Energy and the Bank of PNG, Puma had stopped the supply of Jet A1 fuel to the airline.
Consequently, the airline was forced to cancel all domestic flights in the afternoon.
“Puma has advised that they will continue to refuel international flights as normal,” Air Niugini said.
In another statement, the airline said said Air Niugini would resume operating a normal schedule  during week  after Puma had restored the supply of fuel.

The PNG government can only do little on the issue of increased airfares by airline operators in the country as stated by Prime Minister James Marape in Parliament on Thursday.
Prime Minister Marape made the remarks when responding to questions by Menyamya MP Solen Loifa on how the government can help the travelling public by way of reducing the increased fees involved in airfare prices of the country’s national airline, Air Niugini.
“With the festive period now in full swing, Air Niugini has put in place a number of fees on top of ticket prices which has caused so much financial constraints on the travelling public who are trying to go home for holidays” Mr Loifa said.

Papua New Guinea Treasurer Ian Ling-Stuckey has presented a whopping K24.5 billion budget for 2023 in Parliament this afternoon.
The 2023 money plan is the largest in the country's history.
Treasurer Ian Ling-Stuckey when presenting the 2023 Budget in Parliament today said the money plan is the largest investment in the history of the country.

PNG ​Prime Minister  James Marape says the K590 million in cost-of-living relief, provided for in the biggest-ever K24.567 billion 2023 Budget handed down today (November 29, 2022) by Treasurer Hon. Ian Ling-Stuckey, shows that it is a "People's Budget".
He said this today after Treasurer Ling-Stuckey handed down the Budget in Parliament.
"What Treasurer Ling-Stuckey announced today shows that the Pangu Pati Government I lead is caring, responsible and responsive," PM Marape said.
"The 2023 Budget is truly a 'People's Budget.

A Black Swan security guard contracted by the Australian High Commission got himself into trouble with the police and was arrested today. 
He was charged by NCD Police and detained at the Boroko Police Station cells, when he came out and away from the High Commission premises today.
The suspect Joel Kambo a male adult of Lengi village Wabag, Enga province allegedly argued with police outside the foreign mission on Tuesday November 28.
Police will allege in court that Kambo yelled at them using words to this effect "sarap na f..k off. 
(Shut up and f..k off).

A man was arrested and charged by NCD Police for demanding compensation in Port Moresby today. 
The accused John Tobias 38 of Imbongu Southern Highlands Province and his tribesmen allegedly demanded K500,000 from G4S Security company  when one of their male relatives employed by the firm, passed away while on duty recently. 
The aggrieved relatives blamed the company for his death and allegedy  threatened the company officials.

As an import driven economy, the prices of goods and services in the country will continue to increase in the coming year. 
Treasurer, Ian Ling-Stuckey said the Government will provide some relief to households that will be captured in the 2023 National Budget.
Mr. Ling-Stuckey will present next year’s Money Plan when the House sits today.
It will be another deficit Budget, when the country’s Treasurer presents the 2023 National Budget in Parliament. 
And with a forecasted inflation, the Treasurer hinted that financial relief assistance will be captured in the country’s Money Plan.
Mr. Ling-Stuckey fell short of giving everything to be captured in the 2023 Budget, however, did reveal an increase in the projected revenue into the national purse. 

​The 2023 National Budget to be tabled in Parliament tomorrow in Parliament will be focused on law and order, health and education, says Prime Minister James Marape.
“We have slightly increased funding for law and order to address ongoing challenges in the sector,” PM Marape said.
“We will also continue the free healthcare policy and the free education programme from elementary to universities and tertiary institutes.
“The budget will also focus on agriculture. We have put in a submission to invest in agriculture in a state equity partnership.”