Australia gifts vessel to PNG police

THE Australian Government handed over a police patrol vessel (PPV Minigulai) to the PNG Royal Constabulary yesterday.
The A$1.8 million (about K4.5 million) vessel will enhance the cross border patrols of the Torres Strait region between Papua New Guinea and Australia.
Attorney-General for Australia Mark Dreyfus said the vessel was purchased by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) from the Tasmanian police force.
“The AFP will assist the PNG water police department in training its members to crew the vessel, which would take part in joint cross-border patrols between the two countries,” he said.
Dreyfus said the commissioning further demonstrated Australia’s commitment in assisting the constabulary to address transnational crime, and to support joint cross-border operations through the expanded PNG-Australia Policing Partnership.
The commissioning of the PPV Minigulai follows the renewal of the PNG-Australia Policing Partnership until 2026, the AFP’s largest bilateral partnership.
Dreyfus added that over the next four months, more than 60 police officer cadets will travel to Australia to undertake training with the Queensland Police Service and attend the Australian Institute of Police Management where they will have the opportunity to develop their leadership capabilities.
“Today’s commissioning of the PPV Minigulai, will clearly demonstrate the strength of the ties between Australia and PNG and the depth of our collaboration in policing as in so many areas across government and our nations,” Dreyfus said.
Prime Minister James Marape said: “we have a geographical dynamics that is not similar to what you will find in the Pacific. We are placed in a situation where our responsibility to take care of our region is greater than other Pacific Islands.”
He said the vessel would add value to Government’s efforts in containing lawlessness.
“Lawlessness can germinate into lawlessness elsewhere in the region like water crimes and even transporting of weapons that find their way here and other parts of the Pacific and for that I am thankful for this vessel,” Marape said.
The vessel is 22.7m in length with the top speed of 30 knots and 23 knots as its cruising speed.