Papua New Guinea PM Peter O'Neill Lashes Out at Tony Abbott Over 'Nonsense" Claims on Asylum Seekers Deal

Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Peter O'Neill has only scathing remarks regarding Opposition Leader Tony Abbott's accusations. Mr. Abott had attacked Australia Prime Minister Kevin Rudd for telling Mr. O'Neill that he has the power to decide where the foreign aid budget will be spent.

Mr. O'Neill reacted to Mr. Abbott's verbal attacks and accused him of spreading "nonsense" and "completely untrue" statements over the asylum seeker deal.

Mr. O'Neill accused the Coalition of misrepresenting him for political reasons after the escalation of comments delivered via the PNG High Commission in Canberra.

The criticism of the PNG Prime Minister has overshadowed the Opposition's announcement of its plans to turn back boats of asylum seekers. Tony Abbott said the policy known as Operation Sovereign Borders will improve coordination of Australia's border security agencies. The Coalition also wants a three-star military commander to report directly to the Immigration Minister.

A Coalition government within 100 days of the election would establish protocols for Operation Relex II. This is the strategy name of the Coalition to turn back asylum seeker boats when it is safe to do so. Mr. Abbott told the press that the asylum seekers crisis has escalated into a national emergency.

Mr. Abbott criticised Mr. Rudd's government of all talk and no action, referring to the Prime Minister's announcement last week of the deal with Papua New Guinea to address the problem of asylum seekers.

Meanwhile, Immigration Minister Tony Burke has arrived at the detention centre in Papua New Guinea's Manus Island to investigate claims by a security guard that staff allowed torture and sexual assaults in the facility.

The diplomatic row ignited after Mr. Abbott launched a verbal attack over foreign aid diverted to Papua New Guinea and asylum seekers. Mr. Abbott accused Mr. Rudd of handling PNG a "free gift" for subcontracting Australia's foreign aid program to process asylum seekers. He also told the media that it was simply wrong for Mr. Rudd to hand over "absolute and total control" of the aid budget worth $500 million to Papua New Guinea.

Mr. O'Neill was apparently not impressed with Mr. Abbott's statements. He said he was not planning on putting up with that kind of nonsense. PNG is helping Australia solve the asylum seekers issue. He asked Mr. Abott to "try to be respectful" of that effort.