PFA helps out its PAPUA NEW GUINEA COUNTERPART 18 delegation members, the PFA has police associations/ unions, or any * Police Federation of Australia. Police Journal The Police Federation of Australia has taken part in a begun to investigate the possibility of other organizations (clear from visits to * Australian Council of Trade Unions. joint mission by Australian International Labour Organization the Port Moresby office of the PAPNG * New Zealand Council of Trade unions to help their PNG financing of such training. It is also is that upgraded equipment would Unions. counterparts better establish discussing with the ACTU and better enable it to keep proper records The delegation moved to explain April 2005 themselves. As one of 10 unions PAPNG whether that training might be and operate an efficient office). that it had not come simply to bankroll which travelled to Port Moresby as delivered by ACTU trainers in The ACTU formed the delegation its PNG sister unions as a "big members of an ACTU delegation in conjunction with the PFA, or a PFA- after it considered a plan in mid-2004 to brother" from Australia. It outlined its February, the PFA focussed its efforts co-ordinated Australian police visit PNG, where it would help its sister purpose as "giving assistance in www on the Police Association of PNG. association/union, which would unions to improve their operations. whichever way we can provide it". .policejournalsa.org.au In a day-long meeting, PFA CEO provide a trainer). The PFA had, as early as 2003, Australian High Commissioner Mark Burgess held top-level talks with * Assistance to develop a health already discussed various means by Michael Potts addressed the the association's entire executive insurance fund for members of the which it might help the PAPNG, as meetings' participants on day two. He committee. He said the key issue to PAPNG (the PAPNG saw a health well as other police associations in highlighted the role of Australian emerge was the need for the insurance fund as an important the South Pacific, such as that of the police in the International Deployment executive to undergo professional member benefit. The PFA will Solomon Islands. Group through the Enhanced union training. endeavour to have an expert visit the As soon as it learned of the ACTU Cooperation Program. "In fact, this was the key issue that PAPNG to ascertain the plan, the PFA offered to join the On day three, more than 70 came from every other PNG union that appropriateness of developing a fund delegation ­ on the proviso that the Australian and PNG representatives interacted with the delegation," he and, if appropriate, assist with getting PAPNG was "happy for us to attended a joint meeting of all said. "This is a matter that will need to it set up). participate". With that assurance participating unions. be progressed with some urgency. * Assistance to get its police credit given, the PFA's Mark Burgess joined "Each of the Australian and PNG "Among other issues to emerge union fully functional again (the 15 other officials, who formed the sister unions gave a report on their was the association's endeavour to PAPNG and its Credit Society have largest Australian union delegation alter its rules. We spent time looking endured hard financial times. The PFA ever to visit PNG. meetings and outcomes," said Mr at corresponding sections of the PFA will liaise with the Federation of Each Australian union linked up with Burgess. "The important part of this rules and policies as a guide. Australian Police Credit Unions to its PNG counterpart for talks which report was the development of "I'm confident that, from that bring about a visit to PNG by an stretched over three days. Taking part ongoing dialogue." discussion, a new set of Police expert who could examine the viability from Australia and New Zealand were: Mr Burgess also spoke of a special Association of PNG rules will soon be of the Police Credit Society. He or * Australian Nurses Federation. assistance agreement struck developed and registered." she might also work with the * Community Public Sector Union. between the PFA and its New By the end of the day's talks, the organization so as to bring it back to a * Maritime Union of Australia. Zealand counterpart. PFA and PAPNG had agreed to co- strong financial footing). * Australian Education Union. "The New Zealand Police operate in the pursuit of: * Provision of computer equipment, * Australian Services Union. Association has committed to assist * Training for the PAPNG executive phones and fax machines that might * Finance Sector Union. the Solomon Islands, while the PFA (following discussions with the other be surplus to needs in Australian * Transport Workers Union. works with the PAPNG," he said. Tired of Corporate Express juggling - Office Products - Canteen Supplies - Promotional Marketing multiple - IT Solutions - Janitorial Supplies - Wide Format Printing - Business Furniture - Print Services - Safety Supplies suppliers? call 13 26 44 or www.ce.com.au Your Single Source Supplier! Corporate Express Australia Limited ABN: 9400 728 398 Police Association of PNG officials and van outside police headquarters. 19 Police Association Police Journal of PNG history The Police Association of Papua New Guinea turned April 2005 40 on February 26 and is one of the oldest unions in PNG. It enjoyed reasonable success www through its first 20 years but, by .policejournalsa.org.au the late 1990s, its membership had become restless and AUSSIE COPS' TOUGH CONDITIONS IN PNG demanded change. So, in 2003, a new executive came to office under the leadership of police prosecutor, Sergeant Robert Ali. With little experience, Ali and his Australian state and federal "not often readily available in Port quality. That, he said, would help police attached to the Moresby police stations". He added, make officers' working lives in such International Deployment however, that these issues were difficult conditions "a bit easier". Group are working in extremely poor "being rectified". At the end of his visit, Mr Burgess new team have set about turning conditions in PNG. That was the view He also spoke of "great spoke of his hope for more the association into a far more of Police Federation of Australia CEO, opportunities" he saw to improve professional dialogue to begin member-representative and - Mark Burgess, who visited police conditions for PNG officers through between the PFA and IDG co- responsive organization ­ and won headquarters and several local Australian police attached to the IDG. ordinators on the ground. support in the process. stations and sections in February. "Already, as a result of meetings "Sadly, such dialogue has not Over the past 18 months, "It is a credit to the PNG police that held while I was in Port Moresby, occurred in Canberra," he said. "This membership numbers have grown they have been able to provide a dialogue has commenced between visit, and others that follow, should by more than 900 to 2,500. The service to their communities from PNG police force employs a total the Police Association of PNG and demonstrate the PFA's genuine such conditions," he said. "And it is of 5,000 officers. the IDG co-ordinators," he said. interest in assisting ­ through an equal credit to the Australian police Ali and his executive, confident After another visit, on which he meaningful dialogue with the AFP ­ who, in conjunction with their PNG in the new association strategy, inspected some of the Australian police in their overseas colleagues, are working to improve expect that membership numbers accommodation provided for deployments. those conditions." will rise to more than 3,000 and Australian police, Mr Burgess "It should also demonstrate our Mr Burgess said facilities such as continue to climb. congratulated the AFP. He said not desire to improve the lot of PNG refrigeration, and supplies such as PNG police have had no pay only he, but also many Australian police through assistance to their reasonable drinking water ­ generally increases for three years and are, officers to whom he had spoken, had police association." taken for granted in Australia ­ were naturally, disenchanted. found the lodgings to be of a high ENFIELD 449 Main North Rd Ph: 8342 8888 MUNNO PARA Lot 2005 Main North Rd Ph: 8254 0700 MARION 822-826 Marion Rd Ph: 8375 7777 NOARLUNGA Seaman Dr Ph: 8329 5400