20 Jun 2005

PNG governor says ECP should be totally scrapped

7:04 am on 20 June 2005

The Morobe governor, who sucessfully challenged the Enhanced Cooperation Programme in a Papua New Guinea Supreme Court, says negotiations on the ECP should be stopped.

Luther Wenge originally supported dialogue between Canberra and Port Moresby after the departure of the Australian officers.

They left after the High Court ruled that their immunity provisions were unconstitutional.

However Mr Wenge says the talks should now stop and the programme be scrapped because Australia is not compromising.

"Now the Australians have decided to pursue and continue to pursue the immunity from prosecution and I think they are not genuine friends. We are treating them as genuine friends, they are not treating us as genuine friends."

Mr Wenge says he is seeking legal advice on removing the remaining ECP officials in Treasury, Finance and other government departments.