The nation of Papua New Guinea, independent from Australia since 1975, has many friends here, people who work in the country, including the Australian Federal Police, business owners, holiday travellers, those making pilgrimages to World War II sites such as the Kokoda Track, Rabaul and Milne Bay.
A sign of special affection is the likelihood that PNG may field a team (hopefully a women's one too) in the Australian NRL competition, rugby league being considered the country's national sport.
As our politicians have become fond of telling us, PNG belongs to the "Pacific family". We share democracy, respect for religion, family loyalty, a capacity for hard work.
PNG's cultures are unique and its physical beauty is unsurpassed, from the magnificent Highlands to its marine life. However, the country is caught between two great states, the Republic of Indonesia, which controls half of New Guinea island, and nearby Australia.
In theory, this should not create concerns but the fallout from PNG's location is a massive problem that can be summarised in a single word - refugees.
Asylum seekers in PNG have come from diverse backgrounds and undertaken very different........