The Australia Government is now considering a request from the interim government to relax its travel sanction and allow interim Prime Minister Commodore Frank Bainimarama to transit through Brisbane en route to PNG for the Pacific Islands Leaders Forum.

The Sydney Morning Herald reported that a spokesperson for the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said that New Zealand made transit arrangement allowances for Bainimarama for last year’s Leaders forum in Niue.

She confirmed that the request is being considered and the fact that the travel is related to a forum meeting and is for transit only will be taken into account. She also confirms that no decision has been made as yet.

Meanwhile, NZ Foreign Minister Murry McCully is urging Commodore Bainimarama to attend the forum in PNG next week after he had stressed on an interview with Fijivillage earlier that he will not cut short his work with the flood relief efforts as it needs his full efforts, following the aftermath of the flash floods last week.

McCully said it is desirable to have a full representation at the gathering of forum leaders, who are expected to push for Fiji to be suspended from the Forum until a concrete timeframe is given to hold general elections.

The special Pacific Islands Leaders Forum will be held next week in Port Moresby.