CathNews New Zealand

Australia and New Zealand have commended the PNG Electoral Commission for preparing and organising the national election.

Australian Deputy High commissioner Margaret Adamson congratulated Electoral Commissioner Andrew Trawen and his staff.

“They have done a better job through extensive planning since early last year and have put the election on a timely schedule. Although it was a massive and complicated exercise, the PNGEC team had done well,” she said.

The election preparation so far has seen the completion of the electoral rolls, candidate posters, printing of materials, training of polling officers, organising of security and transporting of election materials and officials to the provinces.

Adamson said Australia was happy to assist PNG in its general election.

“Australia understands the importance of the election in PNG as an exercise that demonstrates the democratic rights of a person. And so it has provided assistance in the ways it can to support PNG successfully deliver a free, fair and safe election,” she said.

The acting New Zealand High Commissioner said NZ was proud to partner with PNG to ensure a successful national election.

A record number of 3,435 candidates have nominated to contest the 2012 general election, which is 676 more than in the 2007 national election, and which also includes 135 women.

This is the highest number of candidates to contest a national general election since PNG’s first election in 1977. A total of 2,759 candidates nominated to contest the election in 2007 and 2,910 nominated in 2002.

Source

• PACNEWS
• The garamut
• Image: Radio Australia

Additional reading

• PNG Electoral Commission Website
• New Zealand choppers being flown to PNG for election monitoring role
• Australia helps PNG prepare for election

News category: Asia Pacific.