Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Wednesday announced Australia will refund visa fees for vaccinated backpackers who arrive within the next three months. The country — whose tight, pandemic border policies locked out its citizens, and more recently, one of tennis’s biggest stars — is encouraging backpackers to visit. And it’s doing so because it wants to reduce labor shortages that have been made worse by Covid-19. “My message to [backpackers] is come on down,” Morrison said this week. “You’ve got your visa, we want you to come to Australia and enjoy a holiday here in Australia, move all the way … around the country and the same time, join our workforce.” The invitation applies to some 23,500 backpackers who already have visas to enter Australia as well as “anyone who applies for one and turns up within the next 12 weeks,” said Morrison, via the televised announcement. Visas commonly obtained by backpackers — namely, the subclass 417 and 462 visas, known as “Working Holiday Makers” visas — let young adults who aren’t traveling with dependent children work and travel through Australia for up to one year. Holders of these visas who arrive by April 19 can apply to have their fees of $495 Australian dollars ($358) refunded, according to Australia’s Department of Home Affairs. International students with visas to study in Australia can also have their visa fees of $630 Australian dollars ($453) returned to them if they arrive in the next eight weeks, Morrison said. [caption id="attachment_18541" align="alignnone" width="855"] Australian universities are currently on summer holidays, with many scheduled to restart classes between late February to early March. Jacobs Stock Photography Ltd[/caption] The move is both “a thank you to them for coming back … but we also want them to come here and be able to be filling some of these critical workforce shortages, particularly those who are working and being trained in health care, aged care, those types of sectors,” said Morrison. He said “the crest of this omicron wave is either upon us now or will come upon us in states over the next few weeks” and that opening the borders to backpackers and students would support Australia with “the challenges we’ll face in the weeks and months ahead.” To attract backpackers and students to quickly travel to Australia, the country is launching a $3 million marketing program through its tourism agency, Tourism Australia, Morrison said. Wanted: travelers who will work Australia lost some 500,000 temporary migrants since closing its borders in March of 2020, according to a parliamentary report in August.  That resulted in a shortage of workers in sectors such as healthcare, entertainment, hospitality and aviation, a situation which was further exacerbated by a recent surge in omicron-linked infections that left many workers sick or isolating at home. [caption id="attachment_18542" align="aligncenter" width="852"] Worker and supply shortages caused major supermarkets in Australia to reinstate purchase limits on toilet paper, meat products and medicines. Steven Saphore | AFP | Getty Images[/caption] Morrison on Wednesday singled out agriculture and hospitality as two areas where incoming visa holders could help. During the pandemic, foreigners with “critical skills” could enter Australia via a travel exemption if they worked in industries that supply essential goods and services, such as “aged care” and agriculture, according to Australia’s Department of Home Affairs’ website. More than 45,000 “critical skills” travel exemptions have been granted during the pandemic, yet almost 50,000 such requests have been rejected, according to Home Affair’s Monthly Travel Exemptions Processing Report for December 2021. The need for more help Vaccinated eligible visa holders, including holders of Working Holiday Makers visas, have been able to enter Australia without applying for a travel exemption since Dec. 15, 2021. [caption id="attachment_18544" align="aligncenter" width="848"] Passengers from Singapore arrive in Sydney, Australia, on Nov. 21, 2021. For the purposes of general tourism, Australia is open to New Zealanders and vaccinated citizens — but not other residents — of Singapore, Japan and South Korea. Bai Xuefei | Xinhua News Agency | Getty Images[/caption] Working Holiday Makers aren’t required to have specific skills but they are restricted to the types of jobs they can do as well as where they come from. Passport holders from 19 countries and territories, including Canada, France, Germany, Taiwan and the U.K., are eligible for subclass 417 visas, while subclass 462 visa holders can hail from 26 countries, including the United States and Singapore. A sharp rise in cases The move to give financial incentives to backpackers is seemingly at odds with the closed-door tourism policy Australia has had in place for much of the pandemic. Morrison’s announcement comes as he faces criticism over a surge of Covid-19 cases that has driven up infection and hospitalization rates, and which resulted in a record number of deaths on Tuesday. The country, which had few daily cases for much of 2020 and the first half of 2021, now has more than 550,000 active cases, according to Australian’s Department of Health. [caption id="attachment_18545" align="alignnone" width="907"] More than 80% percent of Australia’s total Covid infections have been detected in the past month.Carla Gottgens| Bloomberg | Getty Images[/caption] Hospitals in the state of Victoria, home to Melbourne, moved to “Code Brown” emergency status this week, a level typically reserved for natural disasters or large-scale accidents, according to local media. It’s the first time such declaration has been made across the entire state, according to local reports. The prime minister’s ratings slid this week, according to Reuters, months ahead of a vote where he will seek re-election. The poll was conducted before he ousted Djokovic from the country, a move that was popular among Australians. SOURCE: CNBC NEWS

The Hiritano and Trans Highway that link NCD, Central and Gulf Provinces has not received any major funding from the past and current government in order for a major road upgrade work to be undertaken. Works Minister Michael Nali revealed this in parliament recently when responding to questions by Kairuku Hiri MP Peter Isoaimo on what the Department of Works has done to address the deteriorating sections of the highway. Isoaimo said officers at the Works Department have been entertaining incompetent road contractors over the years while depleting the funds allocated by the national government last year with K10million and K8 million this year. “Officers within the department, especially the high impact project division are doing all these dubious claims with contractors and are paying millions of kina out when good contractors can be engaged to do a good job out of it that lasts,” Mr Isoaimo said. “I thank the World Bank for taking on the Kuriva-Brown River portion, I also learned through the minister that there’s another variation for Brown River to Tasiama, another 10 kilometres.” “Can he confirm to the people of Kairuku-Hiri through this house when that 10 kilometre variation will take place?” In response, Minister Nali said many roads around the country including the Hiritano Highway have fallen apart because of lack of funds. “In order for us to rehabilitate and reseal one particular section of the highway, it will cost the Department of Works K3.5 million per kilometre depending on where the materials are and the condition of the road itself,” Mr Nali said. “Talking about K8 million or K10 million, you cannot rehabilitate a major section of the highway with that kind of money so what the department does is it tries to spend that K8 million or K10 million funding right through the whole section of that particular road so that’s why the department is not doing any major rehabilitation work.” He further said the sectional road upgrade along the Hiritano highway was made possible through the World Bank funding assistance. “The sectional road upgrade done from Kuriva to Bereina through the World Bank assistance is a patch up work that was very well done by the local contractor engaged.” “It’s not a major rehabilitation, meaning that its a major reconstruction work, this is more or less like a patch up work but the contractor, Dekenai Construction has done a very good job,” Mr Nali said. “The member is correct in saying the section between Laloki and Brown River has really deteriorated badly, however the road work has not started as yet because it is also a World Bank funded project and there are a lot of processes to observe.” “But as soon as all the formalities are signed, work will begin.”

The case of the missing person on a boat between Lou and Baluan Islands on New Year’s Eve is now being treated as murder after a lengthy investigation by police. Provincial Police Commander Chief Inspector David Yapu said the missing person was identified as Steven Chauka, 42 years from Mouk Baluan Island and he was travelling with three other persons at the time of the incident. They departed from Loniu Bridge and were traveling to Baluan Island to celebration new year. On the way, they consumed alcohol and a commotion started resulting in the deceased being thrown out at sea. A search party was immediately mounted for him for several days but his body could not be recovered at sea. Two of the suspects from Baluan Island were arrested and charged for murder and are now in police custody awaiting their appearances at the Lorengau Committal Court. Chief Inspector Yapu further appealed to people not to drink alcohol while travelling on sea.

Air Niugini is pleased to advise customers that effective from 1am Saturday 22nd January, fully vaccinated international passengers can fly into Queensland with no requirement for any quarantine on arrival. Passengers will be required to self-conduct a Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) within 24 hours of arriving in Australia. Fully vaccinated passengers have been allowed to fly into Sydney, NSW since late last year without quarantine. Air Niugini operates six services per week to Brisbane (daily except Mondays), twice weekly to Cairns (on Wednesdays and Saturdays), and a Monday service direct to Sydney, NSW. At present travel remains restricted to Australian Citizens, Permanent Residents and New Zealanders normally residing in Australia. Additionally on 15 December 2021, a number of other visa holders were also approved for travel. The full list can be accessed at https://covid19.homeaffairs.gov.au/vaccinated-travellers under “New arrangements for eligible visa holders” Air Niugini expects travel to be extended to other visa holders such as tourists in early February. Intending international travellers who are not yet vaccinated should get this done now. Passengers are also reminded that the Green Card PNG Vaccination Certificate is not valid for international travel, as it does not include the persons Date of Birth or Passport Number, The PNG International Certificate of Covid Vaccination is available from NDoH at email: martzpogo@gmail.com or nonwovienna@gmail.com . Travel to Australia Passengers are required to complete a new “document” being the Australian Travel Declaration/ATD including as part of this an attestation (confirmation) that the passenger is fully vaccinated and the certificate is valid. The ATD is a mobile phone App and available for download at the Apple iPhone Store for iPhone, and Google Store for Android phones. Initial one off entry of set-up information takes about 15 minutes, so it is recommended this is downloaded and updated prior to coming to the airport. Manual paper forms will be available at check-in if required. Passenger do not need to complete the “Queensland International Arrivals Registration” All passengers departing internationally on Air Niugini flights, including to Australia, will still need to complete a negative PCR test at Port Moresby airport at time of check-in. Access to testing opens four hours before departure (for flights to Australia) or five hours before departure for all other destinations, and closes two hours prior to scheduled departure time. Travel to Papua New Guinea Passengers travelling to PNG are reminded they still need to get Pandemic Controller’s approval prior to check-in. This process normally takes between 7-21 days, and applications can be emailed to nocapproval@airniugini.com.pg Whilst quarantine is only required for passengers arriving from India and Philippines, all passengers still need to include an approved place of quarantine on the I-APTF just in case they test positive on arrival. Additionally passengers need to be fully vaccinated and undertake a negative PCR test within 72 hours of scheduled departure. This may be as a SMS message. For passengers departing Brisbane and Sydney Airports, Histopath provide tests on the day of departure and these can be booked and paid for online in advance. Passengers also need to complete the PNG Health Declaration form at https://www.pnghdf.info/ It is recommended that passengers bring three hard copies of all documentation to the airport with them. Passenger are required to complete a negative Rapid test on arrival at Port Moresby airport. Wearing of face masks in the airport terminals and on board the aircraft is mandatory, hand sanitisers are provided for your protection, and social distancing is followed wherever practical in order to ensure your international travel remains as safe as possible.

Following the detection of the first Omicron variant case in PNG the Commissioner of Police & Controller of the Papua New Guinea National Pandemic Response David Manning has banned public gatherings of more than 100. All events or public gatherings of more than 100 people will not be allowed until March 1, 2022. The ban which has become effective as of Friday, 14 January, 2022, means that spectators will not be allowed if a sport requires 100 team members. Big gatherings have proven to be avenues through which large numbers of people become infected with infectious diseases such as COVID-19. “March is when we will see increasing numbers in COVID-19 cases as per the modeling from our Epidemiological (EPI) team. We are attempting to control the rate of infections before we go to the election period. We cannot take this lightly. We have so many sad examples from around the globe to learn from. For instance, when the Delta Variant emerged last year, India was in its election campaign period. A total of 400,000 people died during this period in India alone. We only have to refer to India to see what happens when we ignore it,” Mr Manning said The first case of Omicron in PNG is a 45-year-old expatriate man, who traveled from South Africa. He was diagnosed in Goroka, Eastern Highlands, on 26th of December, 2021, nine days after he left Johannesburg, so it is believed he contracted the virus outside of South Africa because the incubation period of Omicron is less than five days. Mr Manning said all requests for events of more than 100 persons will not be approved from the 14th of January, 2022, until 28th of February, 2022. Approvals given prior to this new direction are now revoked. Mr Manning said, “The gatherings include social events such as clubbing/bar activities, dances, diners, parties, sporting competitions and religious activities such as church and fellowships. “Those affected must now liaise with the Niupela Pasin team at the National Control Centre for rescheduling of events." The Controller said those who want to hold gatherings or events with participants numbering from 20 to 100 must seek approval from the NCC. Under the same direction, Mr Manning has urged all organisations whether private or public, to liaise with the Niupela Pasin team to formulate standard operating procedures for COVID-19 workplace safety and operations within their organisations. He said while the severity of Omicron variant is lower than Delta, it spreads faster and therefore there are more people getting sick with Omicron than with the original COVID-19 and other variants, putting a lot of stress on health resources in affected countries such as Australia. “We have to do everything we can to ensure this variant does not spread like wildfire in this country because PNG does not have the capacity in the health system to respond favorably,” Mr Manning said. The Controller also urged the public to be responsible and adhere to the COVID-19 protocols to protect themselves, their loved ones and others from this disease. “Prevention is better than cure, and one way is to get yourself vaccinated. Our statistics currently show that we have 229,459 people in this country who are fully vaccinated and those that have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine is 290,946. This shows that the COVID-19 vaccines are safe. “There is a high probability that Omicron is in the country and transmitting, but due to mild presentation of the variant it may be going undetected,” Mr Manning said. The first case of Omicron was detected in South Africa on 24 November, 2021, and was declared by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as a Variant of Concern on 27 November, 2021. It is now detected in close to 30 countries including Australia.

Afghanistan defeated PNG in their first game of the World Cup. After winning the toss and choosing to bat first, Afghanistan scored 200 all out and in response PNG were all out for 65. Coach Rodney Maha was pleased that the PIH Under 19 Cricket PNG side restricted Afghanistan to an achievable target “Katenalaki Singi had a great debut match with figures of 4/18 and Rasan Kevau continued to take regular wickets with 3/23. Our innings started disastrously with Peter Karoho bowled off the first ball of the innings. Unfortunately, we were never able to get in the game with regular wickets falling to the quality bowling of the Afghanistan team.” Captain Barnabas Maha added “I was really happy about the bowling and fielding where we put a lot of pressure on Afghanistan. Special mention goes to Katenalaki for taking 4 wickets today. The Afghanistan team has the best bowling attack we have faced, with faster bowlers who can move the ball both ways. It was a good experience for us to learn from. I believe we are on the right track to improve and learn from this tour.” For PNG the player of the day was undoubtably Katenalaki Singi, who started with nerves and finished with wickets. “I was very nervous and bowled 4 wides to start. I settled down with support from the team, and that support gave me the drive to settle down and take 4 wickets. I want to thank Amoiha Cricket club in Alotau, my family and people of Milne Bay and all of PNG for their support.” The PIH Under 19 Cricket PNG team next take on one of the favourites for the tournament, Pakistan, which will be an exciting opportunity for our team.

Two high-achieving Australia Awards scholars from PNG have been awarded the Allison Sudradjat Prize for 2021 for their leadership skills and determination to contribute to the country’s development. Deputy Australian High Commissioner to Papua New Guinea His Excellency Paul Lehmann presented the prestigious prize to Benishar Kombut, a scientist working in community health, and Posangat Ilius, a public sector human resource expert, at a ceremony at the Grand Papua Hotel, Port Moresby on 18 January. The Allison Sudradjat Prize is awarded annually to two Australia Awards scholars from PNG and four from Indonesia. It honours the late Australian official for her enduring contributions to education, development, and the Papua New Guinea-Australia Partnership. “Allison Sudradjat was passionate about the transformative power of education and made a lasting contribution to the PNGAus Partnership while serving in PNG,” Deputy High Commissioner Lehmann said. “I congratulate Ms Kombut and Mr Ilius on being awarded the Allison Sudradjat Prize for their leadership skills and drive to support PNG’s development. I wish them every success as they continue the proud tradition of previous Allison Sudradjat Prize winners by contributing to PNG’s development and the deep links between our two countries.” Ms Kombut works at the Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research and has been selected to study a Master of Biomedical Science at The University of Melbourne. “To receive a prize that commemorates the legacy of a pioneering woman and close friend of Papua New Guinea is a great honour. I look forward to making the most of this opportunity to contribute to healthy communities and support Papua New Guinea’s development,” Ms Kombut said. Mr Ilius, an officer of the Department of Personnel Management, has been selected to study a Master of Business Administration in Human Resource Management at the University of South Australia. “It’s a privilege to be awarded the Allison Sudradjat Prize. I plan to use the prize to develop my leadership skills and support organisational change management in Papua New Guinea’s public sector,” Mr Ilius said. The Allison Sudradjat Prize has been awarded to 26 Australia Awards scholars from PNG since 2008. The Prize includes up to AUD25,000.00 to undertake additional learning and professional development activities related to the recipients’ course of study. Allison Sudradjat was an exceptional representative of Australia in our region who died tragically in 2007. Allison was deeply passionate about education as one of the pillars of development. She made a major contribution at both the Australian missions in Indonesia from the early to mid-1990s and from 2005-2007, and in Papua New Guinea from 1996-2001. Previous Allison Sudradjat Prize winners from PNG have undertaken projects in diverse fields, including finance policy development, public health, disaster risk reduction and wildlife conservation in Papua New Guinea.

Police Commissioner David Manning issued instructions for police to find and arrest a woman who took a video of herself sexually abusing an infant. The shocking and disturbing video which was posted on the internet shows an adult female sexually assaulting an infant. The 2-minute 24 seconds video show the woman undressing herself before abusing the child. “This is a sick person who must be found, arrested and locked up. No child is safe around this person,” Mr Manning said. Anyone with any information of the identity of the woman are urged to contact Sergeant Job Eremungo of the Family and Sexual Violence Unit on telephone 76526156.

Parliament today (January 19 2022) passed the Mineral Resources Development Company (MRDC) Ltd Authorisation (Amendment) Bill 2021, after it was introduced by Prime Minister James Marape. The Bill allows for governance procedures relating to appointment of directors on the MRDC board, and the election of directors for the MRDC company boards, to commence as mandated by its respective company constitution. It rectifies the unintended consequences of the current provision in the Principal Act, in that it prevents the refreshing of representational mandate for directors on the MRDC board as well as project area representative directors on their respective MRDC Company boards, by subjecting it to the respective MRDC company constitution and the Companies Act 1997. “The refreshing of representational mandate is critical for validity and community support for the MRDC Group,” PM Marape said when introducing the Bill. “It instills a culture of accountability on the Board members, who are project area landowner representatives, and is also an important aspect of good governance and transparency, “The Principal Act relating to the ownership of MRDC, as well as its roles and responsibilities as a corporate trustee manager, remain unaffected. “It is only the administrative arrangements governing the appointment of directors on the MRDC board, and MRDC company boards, that are proposed to be changed in this bill to align with the Companies Act 1997. “This Bill is necessary as it will allow for Governance procedures relating to the MRDC Board, and the election of directors for the MRDC Company Boards, to commence as mandated by its respective Company constitution.”

Prime Minister James Marape has reiterated that no new round log export licenses have been granted to foreign companies as of 2020. He told Parliament today that by 2025 there must be no more round log exports. PM Marape said this when answering questions from Ambunti-Drekikier MP, Johnson Wapunai, about round log exports by foreign companies. “My Government has a clear policy view (on round log exports),” he said. “There must be a time when we stop round log exports. “We must process our logs in-country. “That commitment still stands. “When we came in, we said that from 2020 onwards, there will be more more issuance of licenses to new companies to export round logs. “The only exception will be local companies, national companies, landowner companies, provincial government companies. “That is the thinking of my Pangu Pati Government.” PM Marape said all present license holders must work with Government to migrate into the downstream processing space. He said he would give a full scorecard on the progress of this policy before the end of this Parliament in April.

The proposed eviction by National Airports Corporation on tenants living around the fringes of Jacksons International Airport area will be put on hold. Prime Minister James Marape made these remarks in Parliament yesterday in response to a series of questions by Moresby North East MP John Kaupa during question time. Mr Kaupa asked the question in relation to the eviction notice issued to tenants on portion 2965, a declared aerodrome land near Jackson International Airport in Port Moresby. Kaupa asked the Prime Minister to have discussions with the Lands Minister and Civil Aviation Minister to review that declaration gazetted under G71 of April 2010, saying the land outside of the airport fences and away from the flying path shouldn’t be considered an aerodrome. Prime Minister Marape in response said he had asked the National Airports Corporation to hold up the eviction for now until the matter is resolved. “At the moment, I assure the people of Moresby North East electorate that there will not be any eviction carried out, NAC has been asked to put on hold its proposed eviction exercise until we find a permanent solution to the issue. Meanwhile, the Prime Minister further advised displaced settlers at Gardens Hills that their resettlement matter is now before the NCD Governor and the respective NCD electorates MPs who are working on to find a resolution.

Prime Minister Hon. James Marape says counting of people for the 2022 General Election will continue at the council level as well as through the Common Roll update being conducted by the Electoral Commission. He said the 2020 National Census was not held as scheduled due to COVID-19 and the politics at that time. PM Marape said this in response to questions from Rabaul MP, Hon. Dr Allan Marat, relating to the Papua New Guinea population, and population update in view of the elections. He said the Electoral Commission would give an update this week on updating of the Common Roll. “Let me assure our citizens that the Common Roll update, and knowing the population we have, are very important,” PM Marape said. “Whilst the latest population update (census) may not have taken place, let me point one important fact: Population growth rate of our country of our country is known at an average rate of 3 to 3.1 per cent.” The Prime Minister said using data from the 2011 Census, there should not be an “abnormal explosion” in population, in all electorates. He said the Common Roll could be updated using the data already on hand, from the 2012 and 2017 elections as well as the 2011 Census, for any one electorate. PM Marape said he did not know the actual population of Papua New Guinea as asked by Dr Marat, however, assured the country that every person had the right to be included on the Common Roll. “There should not be any extraordinary (population) blowout in one polling place, one village, one LLG or one district,” he said. “Let me assure everyone in this Parliament, and throughout the country, that we are very-conscious of the need to have good data and roll update to ensure the integrity of the election. “This is something that we will be ticking off." “I encourage all leaders here to assist the process and to use 2012 and 2017 (common rolls) as benchmarks to eliminate those who have died, or bring into the Common Roll those who have moved from childhood to above 18. “We’re conscious of the need to have a high integrity population database to facilitate the 2022 elections.”