MEDIA RELEASE
31 October 2006
For immediate release
AUSTRALIA ISSUES NEW TRAVEL ADVICE FOR PNG
The Australian Government has reviewed and reissued the travel advice for Papua New Guinea, but the overall level of the advice has not changed.
The new travel advisory continues to advise Australians to exercise a high degree of caution in PNG because of the high levels of serious crime.
It also notes that there has recently been a serious upsurge in crime in and around Lae and that travellers should be particularly vigilant in that region.
The Australian High Commissioner to PNG, His Excellency Mr Michael Potts, said: “It is important not to misunderstand the intention behind travel advisories.
“Our travel advisories are just that: advice. They are not warnings and they are not designed to stop people travelling. In addition to information about security, they provide useful, practical tips on travelling such as health, visa and local laws information.
“In issuing travel advice we do not 'single out' countries. We maintain a travel advice on most countries that are popular destinations for Australians around the world.
“The sole purpose of Australia’s travel advisories is to assist Australians to make informed decisions about overseas travel. The Government does not allow commercial or political considerations to influence our judgements about the safety and security of Australians abroad.”
The most recent travel advice was issued on 27 October.
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