9 May 2005

PNG police drop ultimatum to send Australian police home

3:24 pm on 9 May 2005

The Papua New Guinea Police Association says it has dropped an ultimatum that the Government send Australian Assisting Police back to Australia.

Last week, more than 300 members of the PNG police issued an ultimatum to PNG police bosses to arrange the Australians' withdrawal.

But the association's president, Robert Ali, says it realises the continued Australian presence as part of the so-called Enhanced Cooperation Programme is a political issue to be decided by the Government.

The Australian police deployment is also in court in a challenge about its legality brought by the Morobe Governor, Luther Wenge.

Mr Ali says the PNG policemen's concern about pay and condition will be looked into by police managers.

"We put his concerns to the management and the government of the day, and they've taken it on board. And we're pretty happy with the arrangement so far, and approached our national government as well."

The president of the PNG Police Association, Robert Ali.