17.9.2003. 17:42:09

Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer told Papua New Guinea to be grateful for Australian aid, as he pressed ahead with controversial proposals to install Australians in the PNG bureaucracy.

Mr Downer arrived in PNG on Wednesday to visit to meet Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare and Foreign Minister Sir Rabbie Namaliu, who have accused Australia of behaving like a colonial power.

Mr Downer received a cool reception in the capital Port Moresby, where Sir Rabbie failed to show at the official welcome on the airport tarmac, instead sending his department head to greet his Australian counterpart.

There was no sign of the colourful traditional greetings usually afforded to visiting dignitaries at the airport.

Instead, Sir Rabbie welcomed Mr Downer later at their meeting at the Prime Minister's office, following which Mr Downer said PNG should be grateful for Australia's $A350 million aid program.

Mr Downer denied Australia was distrustful of public servants in PNG, where corruption is rife.

"We're not arguing that the people who are there are incompetent or we don't trust them," he told reporters.

"What we're arguing is that we can bring people with certain technical expertise, born out of the government systems of Australia who might be able to assist very substantially with technical implementation in areas like audit control and financial management systems - that kind of thing.

"And this is the country which, if I may say so as the Australian foreign minister, is very lucky to have a resource available to it which helps it - and that is Australia."

Mr Downer denied Australia was considering the wholesale withdrawal of Australia's aid program.

All, tell Downer to remove his AusAid. PNG does NOT need AusAid & Australia. Australia is not the whole world.

PNG has the resources & it will look away from Australia soon for other genuine trading partners. Watch the developments taking place........NO MORE NO LESS......