Papua New Guinea's Electoral Commissioner says election assistance from outside military forces is not to boost security against poll-related violence.
For the first time, foreign military forces are being deployed to PNG for an election.
The contingent of 250 army personnel from Australia and New Zealand will be sent after a request from the PNG's government.
The Commissioner, Andrew Trawen, says the request is purely for help in logistical support before and during the two weeks of polling.
He says reduction of the overall election process by three weeks down to five means PNG's own capabilities would be too stretched to cope.
"[The period is] Too short for us to secure enough support from local airlines to lift our material so we need a bigger, spacious aircraft from Australia or New Zealand to help us with that. Our Defence Force did not have the capacity because their CASA [aircraft] is down, most of the air element missions are out, so we definitely need support."
Andrew Trawen
