But Wenge indicated that he would not step in the way again as PNG looks for long-term solutions to combat crime.
The Morobe governor’s softer stand was a far cry from his stiff opposition four years ago when he challenged the Australian police presence in PNG, under the Enhanced Cooperation Program, in the Supreme Court which ruled in his favor, declaring the ECP unconstitutional
A somewhat mellowed Wenge said in Lae at the weekend that the renewed policing partnership between the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary and the Australian Federal Police should not violate the Constitution.
He said he had learnt that “it was the desire of the national government, in consultation with the Australian government, to bring back the AFP.”
Details of the new deployment of Australian police personnel are still being worked out by Canberra but it is understood that funding would have to be approved through the next federal budget in May next year.
This means that a revised ECP would come into effect in the latter part of next year.
