Australia's Foreign Minister, Marise Payne, is visiting Bougainville today as part of a visit to Papua New Guinea.
Today we welcome @MarisePayne , accompanied by @AusHCPNG @dfat to the Autonomous Region of #Bougainville. On behalf of all Bougainvilleans we welcome you, and we thank #Australia for your continued support and assistance in building a lasting peace in Bougainville pic.twitter.com/119FgVMGQT
— Joseph Nobetau (@JosephNobetau) June 19, 2019
The Australian reported Ms Payne's visit will be the first by an Australian minister since 2015, when PNG banned Australian officials from travelling to Bougainville over a diplomatic dispute.
It comes ahead of Bougainville's October referendum on independence from PNG, which Australia has put nearly $US8 million toward.
Ms Payne met with members of James Marape's government in Port Moresby on Tuesday.
Earlier this month Bougainville police dismissed suspicions over the presence of Australian Federal Police in the province, saying they were part of a support team ahead of the referendum.
