media@infrastructure.gov.au
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MEDIA RELEASE –
D9/2009
Friday, 13 November 2009
AUSTRALIA AND PAPUA NEW GUINEA TRANSPORT TIES BOOSTED
The transport relationship between Australia and Papua New Guinea received
a boost today with agreement reached on strengthening transport safety and
security in PNG.
The agreement came with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding
(MOU) on Transport Cooperation at the conclusion of the inaugural meeting of
Australia-PNG senior transport officials in Brisbane today.
The MOU was signed by the Secretary of the Department of Infrastructure,
Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, Mike Mrdak, and
the Secretary of the PNG Department of Transport, Henry Parakei MBE.
The MOU, first flagged at the Australia-PNG Ministerial Forum meeting in
June, will underpin a joint work program on key PNG transport priorities in the
areas of air traffic management, safety regulation, accident investigation and
transport policy.
The work program will be delivered through arrangements between Australian
Government transport agencies, including the Civil Aviation Safety Authority,
the Australian Transport Safety Bureau and Airservices Australia, and their
PNG counterparts.
The MOU will build on work already being done by Infrastructure portfolio
officials deployed to PNG and under existing AusAID-funded transport
projects such as the $280 million Transport Sector Support Program and the
upcoming $50 million Australia-PNG Transport Infrastructure Schedule of the
Partnership for Development.
Today’s agreement adds a new chapter to Australia’s proud history of close
cooperation with PNG on transport issues.
Departmental Media Contact: 1300 732 749 or media@infrastructure.gov.au
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