No apology from Howard after PNG security checks

CANBERRA - Prime Minister John Howard remained defiant today following Papua New Guinea's demands for an apology over the treatment of PNG Prime Minister Michael Somare at an Australian airport.

PNG has suspended an A$800 million ($870.6 million) Australian assistance program, saying Australia must apologise for making Sir Michael remove his shoes during a security check at Brisbane airport on March 24.

The incident has provoked protests in PNG, which has now cancelled meetings with Australian officials over the row.

Mr Howard said Australia and PNG would have to work through the incident, but did not offer an apology for the PNG leader's treatment by airport security staff.

"It should be understood that what was applied here are the rules that apply to all of us," he told Melbourne radio 3AW.

"The last time I went overseas in January on a commercial flight ... I put my bags through the X-ray machine like everybody else."

Mr Howard said his wife Janette always took off her shoes, many of which had metal bands, before going through domestic airport security checks to avoid setting off the alarm.

"I've never had any problem with doing it," he said.

"We have a simple rule in this country that we do have these systems and if I go to another country and I'm asked to go through an X-ray machine I'm only too happy to do so.

"I frankly believe that these are things that if it's good enough for the rest of the community it's good enough for the prime minister."

PNG government's Chief Secretary Joshua Kalinoe said yesterday that 149 Australian police and civil servants already in the country under Australia's Enhanced Cooperation Program would be allowed to stay.

But he said no new personnel would be accepted until Canberra apologised over the incident.

Mr Kalinoe said today Australia's response to the issue has been arrogant.

"There was no indication of sympathy or regrets at the way the incident happened," he told ABC radio.

"The fact of the matter is the incident happened to an elderly statesman and prime minister of a foreign country.

"And, the least we expected from Australian authorities is that to say, look, it was a regrettable incident, we will be investigating this and try to reach an understanding that it doesn't happen again in future."

Human Services Minister Joe Hockey said PNG's action would only hurt its own people.

"I just find it astounding I must say," he told the Seven Network.

"It's going to affect the people of Papua New Guinea who need the aid.

"We're not in the business now of throwing dollops of money through the Papua New Guinea government ... we actually spend it on projects that help people with water supply, sewerage and so on."

Opposition foreign affairs spokesman Kevin Rudd said the PNG government should be more concerned with its looming health crisis.

"Frankly his (Mr Somare's) big challenge, if he was serious about it, is what to do with the exploding HIV Aids problem right across PNG," he told the Seven Network.

Australia plans to eventually deploy 210 police officers and 64 government officials to its northern neighbour under the five-year Enhanced Cooperation Program.

- AAP