CANBERRA, Australia --- Australian foreign minister Julie Bishop will seek clarification on Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Peter O'Neill's plans to ban visas on arrival for Australian visitors.
PNG Government has banned Visas on arrival for Australian citizens. Prime Minister Peter denies the plan discriminates against Australians. “There is no discrimination whatsoever. All Australians travelling to PNG have to get a visa before arrival, except for those Australians who are travelling by boat to ports like Kokopo or Tabubil, who will get a visa on arrival because of the difficulties in obtaining them beforehand. “We have similar arrangements with other countries and we will make sure similar arrangements are in place for other world partners. It is the same arrangement. It's called reciprocal rights.” In recent years, there has been tension between Port Moresby and Canberra over what Mr O'Neill has called unfair visa restrictions on his countrymen. A spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) said Foreign Minister Julie Bishop would seek clarification on the issue when she next visited PNG. Australian High Commissioner Deborah Stokes is also seeking clarification from the PNG government. Australia also has an online visa application process for PNG citizens travelling south. “Australia has a universal visa requirement for all non-citizens intending to enter Australia,” the DFAT spokesperson said in a statement. “This is a fundamental element of our border controls. Australia does not operate a visa waiver program for any country.” In 2013, about 19,000 visas on arrival were issued to Australians visiting PNG for tourism and business, DFAT said. PNG Facts/ Islands Business Comments are closed.
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