12 Jan 2024

State of Emergency declared in Papua New Guinea

From Morning Report, 8:23 am on 12 January 2024

A state of emergency has been declared in Papua New Guinea's capital, Port Moresby, with more than a dozen people killed in ongoing rioting in the country. Widespread looting and arson broke out across Port Moresby and the country's second-largest city, Lae, on Wednesday, after police and military personnel went on strike after a "glitch" in the tax system caused pay deductions. Prime Minster James Marape is being called on to resign amid accusations of failing to run the country, while two MPs have resigned. Our Papua New Guinea correspondent, Scott Waide, is on the line.