Shane McLeod, Research Fellow Lowy Institute’s Australia-PNG Network, joins Michael to discuss the federal government’s unveiling of a raft of measures to help PNG with their COVID-19 crisis following a “staggering” increase in cases.

Australia is expected to ramp up urgent coronavirus assistance to Papua New Guinea as aid groups warn the country is facing a public health catastrophe which has already placed enormous strain on the country’s hospitals and health clinics.

Australia has already pledged $144 million to support the first round of COVID-19 vaccines following PNG’s Prime Minister James Marape raising fears the infection rate will soon be “one person to three or four”.

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