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Tim Swanston
Papua New Guinea
Tim Swanston is the ABC's Papua New Guinea correspondent. He has most recently worked in Western Sydney as the newsroom's videojournalist. He began his career at the ABC in 2017 and has worked in the Sydney, Brisbane and Cairns newsrooms and as a reporter for triple j's Hack program. He tweets at @Tim_Swanston
Latest by Tim Swanston
These refugees were detained for years on Manus Island. Now they're caught between three countries
By PNG correspondent Tim Swanston and Theckla Gunga
Men who spent years in detention on Manus Island living in the hope of resettlement now face being evicted from their temporary homes.
Refugees fear eviction as PNG and Australia clash over 'outstanding invoices'
The PNG government says Australia committed to providing funding to support the refugees there until they were all resettled, but service providers allege they are owed tens of millions of dollars.
'They're killing people at sea': The lucrative PNG trade that gave rise to pirates
By PNG correspondent Tim Swanston and Theckla Gunga in Manus province
In PNG's Manus province, dozens of locals have gone missing in treacherous journeys across the seas in search of the addictive betel nut. Some of them drown, but others meet their ends at the hands of other traders, or pirates.
Solomon Islands PM blasts the United States after missing Pacific Leaders' Summit at White House
By Pacific Local Journalism Network's Nick Sas, PNG correspondent Tim Swanston and Solomon Islands reporter Chrisnrita Aumanu-Leong
Mr Sogavare said the US "lecture you and lecture you" about "how good they are" and suggested the Pacific Leaders' Summit — held in Washington this week — needs a rethink.
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US 'disappointed' by Solomon Islands snub as Pacific Island leaders gather at White House
By North America bureau chief Jade Macmillan in Washington and PNG correspondent Tim Swanston
The United States says it is "disappointed" by the absence of Solomon Islands' prime minister from a summit aimed at improving Washington's ties to the region.
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PNG and Australia's defence cooperation is a 'jewel' of their relationship but forming a treaty has not been simple
By PNG correspondent Tim Swanston and Theckla Gunga
Months after an expected date to sign a Bilateral Security Treaty, Australia and PNG remain at the negotiating table, working to create a framework for current defence activities as well as expanded security cooperation in the future.
Violence is so bad in this PNG community that police sealed it off to outsiders. The ABC got to go inside
By PNG correspondent Tim Swanston and Theckla Gunga in Enga
With a seemingly endless supply of guns, money and young men willing to act as mercenaries, tribal fighting in PNG has become akin to guerilla warfare.
PNG's central bank is feuding with a major fuel supplier. Now the government has declared a national emergency
By PNG correspondent Tim Swanston in Port Moresby
The Papua New Guinea government is deeply concerned about ongoing fuel supply in the country, after declaring a snap 30-day national emergency on Monday. Here's how we got here.
Macron warns of 'new imperialism' in Pacific, as Blinken says 'door is open' for NZ to join AUKUS
By ABC Pacific's Nick Sas, Emily Clark and PNG correspondent Tim Swanston
The United States says "the door is open" for New Zealand to join AUKUS, as three of the world's most influential leaders continue their tour of the Pacific region.
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Chance encounter reveals partial remains of Australian soldiers who died on the Kokoda Track
By PNG correspondent Tim Swanston
More than eight decades after Australian soldiers were transferred from temporary graves on the Kokoda Track to a wartime cemetery, a chance discovery reveals the task was never quite completed.
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Analysis
analysis:Why PNG's diary of political visitors is full and Solomon Islands thinks someone might give them an army
By foreign affairs reporter Stephen Dziedzic and PNG Correspondent Tim Swanston
The United States is continuing to ramp up its campaign for influence in the Pacific to match China's intensifying efforts but with ever more outside players clamouring for a spot in the region, the margin for error grows narrower, writes Stephen Dziedzic.
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PNG family demand answers after soldier shot dead in a training exercise
By Theckla Gunga and PNG Correspondent Tim Swanston
The family of a Papua New Guinea Defence Force soldier who was shot dead in a "tragic accident" during a training exercise last week are calling for greater transparency from the force in investigating his death.
The PNG gang that kidnapped an Australian professor may now be unleashing new horrors on teen girls
By PNG correspondent Tim Swanston and Theckla Gunga in Port Moresby
A group of bandits that kidnapped an Australian professor in the PNG Highlands appears to have struck again, this time snatching and assaulting a group of women and girls. Warning: Readers might find the details in this story distressing.
US military granted unimpeded access to key Papua New Guinea defence facilities in new security agreement
By Papua New Guinea correspondent Tim Swanston and Prianka Srinivasan
The United States military is being given "unimpeded access" to key PNG defence facilities, including the joint PNG-Australia Lombrum Naval Base on Manus Island, as part of a sweeping Defence Cooperation Agreement.
Former PNG prime minister Peter O'Neill charged with giving false evidence at inquiry
By PNG correspondent Tim Swanston
Papua New Guinea's former prime minister, Peter O'Neill, is charged with giving false evidence after a commission of inquiry recommends he be prosecuted.
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New Pacific soccer competition driving interest in women's league
By PNG correspondent Tim Swanston
The inaugural Oceania Football Confederation Women's Champions League features the top club from five countries — PNG, Fiji, New Caledonia, Solomon Islands and Samoa — competing for glory.
The waters in this part of a remote jungle are so blue there are fears over what runs in them
By PNG correspondent Tim Swanston and Theckla Gunga in Bougainville
This Bougainville community is living on a literal goldmine, but some residents say that despite it being abandoned for decades, it poses a risk to their environment and human rights.
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'They encroach into our sovereign rights': PNG wants Australia to fix a proposed bilateral security treaty
By Papua New Guinea correspondent Tim Swanston
The security agreement was committed to in January but PNG is not happy with the proposed wording and has raised concerns with Australia's defence minister.
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Japan needs to release 1 million tonnes of water from its stricken Fukushima nuclear plant into the Pacific Ocean
By North Asia correspondent James Oaten and Yumi Asada in Japan and Papua New Guinea correspondent Tim Swanston
Operators of the Fukushima nuclear power plant are set to release treated wastewater into the ocean. But already Japanese authorities are facing a barrage of criticism from fishermen.
United States and Papua New Guinea strengthen defence ties with new security agreement
By foreign affairs reporter Stephen Dziedzic and Papua New Guinea correspondent Tim Swanston
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken signs a Defence Cooperation Agreement between the United States and PNG, a leaked draft of which suggests it might open the door to a substantial US military presence in the country, as well as potentially offering American personnel in PNG some protection from prosecution.
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India's Modi lands in Papua New Guinea to host senior leaders at forum for India-Pacific Islands cooperation
By Papua New Guinea correspondent Tim Swanston and foreign affairs reporter Stephen Dziedzic
India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi lands in Port Moresby to host the third Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC), which brings together leaders and top officials from New Delhi and 14 Pacific Island nations.
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PNG's prime minister says US security pact still a work in progress, reveals Blinken coming instead of Biden
By foreign affairs reporter Stephen Dziedzic, PNG correspondent Timothy Swanston and Pacific Affairs reporter Liam Fox
James Marape takes a call from US President Joe Biden mid press conference and confirms US Secretary of State Antony Blinken would be coming to Port Moresby instead of the president, who cancelled his trip.
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Major route into the Kokoda track appears to have been blockaded amid tour operator feud
By PNG correspondent Tim Swanston and Theckla Gunga
A major route into the Kokoda Track in Papua New Guinea's Central Province appears to be blockaded, amid a feud between a trekking operator and the track's managing authority.
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'The husband is spoiling her reputation': PNG's climate change office embroiled in corruption allegations
Exclusive by PNG correspondent Tim Swanston, Stephen Long and Theckla Gunga
Senior Papua New Guinea climate change officials are facing criminal action, after allegedly misappropriating more than $2m of public and international funds.
US President Joe Biden to visit Papua New Guinea on his way to Australia
By foreign affairs reporter Stephen Dziedzic, Thierry Lepani and PNG correspondent Timothy Swanston
On his way to Australia for the Quad meeting in Sydney next month, United States President Joe Biden could make a historic visit to Port Moresby as the US intensifies its diplomatic push across the Pacific.
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