Tougher controls for PNG border
Sean Parnell; 25/4/08
The border between Australia and Papua New Guinea is set to be tightened after a ministerial forum in Madang agreed it was time for “proper application” of the free movement provisions in the Torres Strait Treaty. As revealed by The Australian last month, both governments are aware that thousands of PNG citizens are illegally crossing the border to access Queensland Health clinics. The treaty, signed 30 years ago, allows traditional activities to continue between specified villages on both sides of the border - but that does not include visits to clinics, and some of the PNG citizens fronting Queensland Health clinics have come from villages not recognised under the treaty.
See: http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23595629-5013404,00.html