Putting them into in-line positions, having them work as police officers, not as advisors, would be a dramatic escalation of the program.
PNG’s prime minister Peter O’Neill says he’d like to see the officers in-line with the his force.
But is it realistic, given a similar project was scrapped in 2005 after PNG’s Supreme Court found that the immunity that had been granted to AFP officers was unconstitutional?
And would the Australian government be open to the idea?
David Connery from the Australian Strategic Policy Institute authored a report on the Wok Wantaim program last year.
He says Prime Minister O’Neill would need to indicate he’s prepared to change the law to show he’s serious.
SOURCE:Radio Australia (ABC)