22 June 2020

The Government repatriated  82  Papua New Guineans  from Australia and New Zealand by a chartered Air Niugini flight from Sydney, Australia, on  June 16  2020

Out of the 82  citizens,  43  were Regional Seasonal Employment (RSE) Workers who flew in from New Zealand.

Chief of Protocol Mr. Morea Veratau, was present at the airport to receive the passengers

A representative of the RSE workers, Mr. Henry Maino thanked the Department of Foreign Affairs & International Trade especially the Government under the leadership of Prime Minister Hon. James Marape,  for undertaking this humanitarian exercise to bring them and other fellow stranded citizens safely back home during this global pandemic.

Mr. Veratau was grateful that the charter returned  safely  into the country with the citizens,  as it was aborted earlier due to some travel and compliance issues.

He   thanked  the governments of Australia and New Zealand, and the PNG diplomatic missions in Wellington, Canberra, and Sydney for their support and collaboration and coordination through the various agencies of the three different Governments, to effect a successful repatriation of the  citizens during these different times, especially with regards to international travel and transits.

The stranded citizens were  screened on arrival   by the Health Authorities and NAQIA team, and were later transported to the designated  government -funded hotels for their 14-day  quarantine.

Mr Veratau said over 273 PNG citizens stranded in Australia have now  been repatriated back into the country.

The Government through the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade continues to arrange and coordinate   Air Niugini  charters into the Asian Region to repatriate stranded PNG citizens.

DFAIT including the PNG Diplomatic Missions and Consular Posts overseas will continue to maintain contact with  stranded citizens and provide necessary consular assistance  to them whilst waiting to be uplifted.