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Papua New Guinea Prime Minister, James Marape, has welcomed the successful outcomes of the 29th Australia – P-N-G Ministerial Forum, held in Canberra, last week.   That was the first in-person forum since 2019.  Mr Marape in a statement said one of the most significant outcomes is the breakthrough in the discussions of visa arrangements, which will see at least 75 percent of completed visitor visa applications will be processed within 14 days, with in-country visa processing in P-N-G.  He says this expands opportunities for Papua New Guineans to enter the Australian Labour market, including increasing training and skilled labour under the new Australian Pacific Engagement Visa.  Mr Marape also thanked the P-N-G team led by Foreign Minister, Justin Tkatckenko, for a fruitful meeting, which will be mutually beneficial for both countries.  NBC News / PNG Today Also read  Helicopter crash lands in PNG’s Enga Province PNG – Australia VISA issue a breakthrough PNG Police Chief Manning highli

Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape says Foreign Affairs Minister Hon. Justin Tkatchenko has apologised to the people of Papua New Guinea for remarks he made on Australian Broadcasting Corporation. PM Marape said he was also offended by Tkatchenko’s remarks, labelling social media critics of his daughter as “primitive animals”, but had accepted the minister’s apology and asked all Papua New Guineans to do likewise and forgive him. PM Marape  “We should not be labelling our citizens as ‘primitive animals’ even if they have wronged us” he said. “Deputy Prime Minister Hon. John Rosso and I summoned Minister Tkatchenko today to explain the circumstances behind the public outburst, especially against his use of the words ‘primitive animals’ on ABC. “DPM Rosso and I expressed concern about the use of these words, to which he responded that it was not directed at all Papua New Guineans, but a spur-of-moment response to social media attacks on his daughter. “Minister Tkatchenko apolog