Foreign Affairs Minister Rimbink Pato

Government queried over UN vote

Nuku MP Joseph Sungi brought up the matter today in parliament, 2 months after the vote was cast during the emergency United Nations General Meeting was called up in New York.

“Can you tell the population of this country, why this country has voted against the very nation we believe in?”

Foreign Affairs Minister Rimbink Pato expressed that it was a decision that was based on professional advice.

Australian Prime Minister touches down in Port Moresby

The Royal Australian Airforce transporting Prime Minister Turnbull and his delegation touched down at 8:02 pm.

At 8:16 pm Turnbull descended from the aircraft escorted by Chief Protocol Officer Morea Veratau. Turnbull was met by Foreign Affairs Minister, Rimbink Pato, Minister for Sports, Special Events and APEC, Justin Tkatchenko, NCD Governor Powes Parkop and Chief Secretary, Isaac Lupari.

It was only a brief meet before Turnbull was taken away.

Tomorrow, the Australian Prime Minister will visit the Isurava Memorial Site in Northern Province.

Refugees verbally abuse female residents: Local

The female resident, who did not want to be named, said mothers and daughters of PNGDF Naval officers also get intimidated by refugees when they come out of the Regional Processing Centre.    

“These men had been behind the fence for almost four years and the way they act and talk when they pass women is close to sexual harassment,” she said.

Also, the behaviour of these refugees got the ire of Manus Governor Charlie Benjamin, who told Parliament last week that their safety is not guaranteed when they are outside because of their behaviour towards locals.

Refugees resettled in four major centres

They have been transferred to Port Moresby, Lae, Rabaul, and Goroka, following the Refugee Determination Process.

Foreign Affairs Minister, Rimbink Pato, revealed this in Parliament on Thursday in response to a series of questions from Opposition Leader, Don Polye, two days earlier.

Pato gave a detailed response to 12 questions raised by Polye over several legal issues surrounding the Regional Processing Centre and the status of refugees and non-refugees.

Government must conduct check on foreigners say MP Sungi

“It is a great concern for all leaders from both side of the house,” Pato told Parliament today.

He was responding to Questions without Notice from Nuku MP, Joe Sungi, about foreigners occupying localised jobs and if there is any plans to establish a taskforce team to investigate.

“I am not sure about the taskforce established to look into the matter, and seek advice from the government. It’s a work that must start soon,” Pato said.  

“There is need for collaboration between Labour Department, Foreign Affairs, Trade Ministry, Police and PNGDF to deliver.”

Refugees safety not guaranteed warns Manus Governor

Benjamin questioned in Parliament what measures will the National Government take to address the social and law and order problem affecting the island province by the people being housed to be processed for their status.              

He said with the Supreme Court decision many refuges roam the streets at night looking for local women and also homebrew have become a big problem.

 “Guarantee blo mi lo safety blo ol pinis, Mahn I hambak em paitim em tasol (I will not guarantee their safety, if any refugee is misbehaving will be fought at by locals,” Benjamin said.     

Behaviour of refugees on Manus raised in Parliament

Rabaul MP, Dr Alan Marat in a serious of questions directed to Foreign Affairs Minister Rimbink Pato questioned the measures taken by his department to deal with refugees’ behaviour which is causing disharmony with the locals.

He said refugees are roaming freely in Lorangau town and the surrounding villages causing a lot of social problems, giving an example of the rape of a local high school girl.

Marat asked about the status of the Supreme Court ruling on the facility established by the Australia Government to process people seeking refuge in Australia by boat.   

Immigration reviewing Malaysian’s deportation

This is after he was deported on July 2 by PNG Immigration without his passport.

Lawyer representing the Chief Migration officer, Mataio Rabura, and Foreign Affairs Minister Rimbink Pato, told the National Court on Monday that a committee is reviewing an application by Woo to come back to the country following his deportation.

Barrion Kua told Justice Hitelai Polume-Kiele on Monday that a letter from Woo’s lawyers (Young and Williams) was sent to Minister Pato to have PNG Immigration review his deportation.

Manus processing centre a gesture of goodwill, states Minister

Speaking at the United Nations General Assembly meeting in New York on 19 September, he said: "It also demonstrates the bilateral and regional cooperation with Australia and other partners since 2012, to address not only refugees and migrants but combat the despicable acts of people smuggling and human trafficking for profit by criminal syndicates and others”.

Pato was amongst world leaders who participated at UN meet to seek solutions to the escalating global humanitarian crisis concerning the large movement of refugees and migrants.

Aust - NZ to assist APEC preparations

Foreign Affairs Minister, Rimbink Pato, announced this yesterday.

The United States have also shown interest informing PNG they are on stand by to assist where necessary.

“They’ve agreed to form a partnership with PNG on the future arrangement with PNG for the delivery of the best ever Pacific APEC in 2018,” Pato said.

Minister Pato will be meeting Australian Foreign Affairs Minister, Julie Bishop, early next month as well as the New Zealand Foreign Affairs Minister, Murray McCully either before that meeting or after.