Australian High Commission
Papua New Guinea

141211 Exxon MR

JOINT MEDIA RELEASE

Partnership to improve community safety in Hela Province

The Australian High Commission, the Hela provincial government and ExxonMobil PNG today announced a partnership to support and expand community safety in Hela Province.

Hela Governor, Mr. Anderson Agiru, ExxonMobil PNG (EMPNG) Managing Director Peter Graham and Australian High Commissioner, Her Excellency Ms Deborah Stokes, signed a Statement of Principles committing support for community safety through the PNG-Australia Law and Justice - Transition Program. A Memorandum of Understanding was subsequently signed between the Australia High Commission and EMPNG enabling joint funding of a full-time Tari-based community safety adviser.

“This is an excellent example of how business and development partners can work together to improve the lives of Papua New Guineans. Our partnership affirms our joint commitment to supporting and expanding community safety, and to the economic development of Papua New Guinea,” Ms Stokes said.

“The creation of the Community Safety Adviser role will support the expansion of community safety in Hela, especially for the most vulnerable and more remote communities in the province.”

The placement of a Community Safety Adviser in Tari will support the Hela government’s efforts to strengthen local justice delivery, improve collaboration with national agencies and assist in reporting justice outcomes. Of particular focus will be support for Village Courts and reducing and preventing family and sexual violence.

Governor Agiru extended his full support to the initiative. “The placement of a full-time law and justice advisor in Hela is welcomed, as it builds upon the work already done by the PALJP team in the province. My administration fully supports this initiative, and we appreciate the willingness of the PNG national government, the Australian government and ExxonMobil to support Hela’s development priorities.”

ExxonMobil PNG Managing Director Peter Graham noted during the signing ceremony that development challenges require ongoing collaboration between the public sector, industry and civil society. “ExxonMobil remains committed to helping develop human, social and economic capacity in PNG. We are pleased to support the Law and Justice Partnership and commend the PALJP -TP team and the Hela Provincial Government for moving this initiative forward.”

The Papua New Guinea-Australia Law and Justice Partnership – Transition Program focuses on four key and linked outcomes: community safety; addressing family and sexual violence; effective legal services; and anti-corruption.