Sir Peter Barter, Chair of the Madang Visitors and Cultural Bureau, took up the issue of  PNG Visas for Australians with the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Rimbik Pato, at the opening of the Cairns Consulate. The Minister said the issue was being discussed and he hoped it would be resolved by December.

Although the fee has been dropped, Sir Peter suggested that the two week delay in obtaining a tourist visa from PNG offices in Australia is still a deterrent to tourists. It would be  discriminatory to issue visas on arrival to passengers on direct Cairns – Rabaul flights and cruise ship passengers but not to other Australian tourists.

Sir Peter intends to make further representation to the Government to have Australians  issued with visas on arrival in Port Moresby as they are for people from most other countries.