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Don’t hack my phone, just ask me, says Peter O’Neill

DAVID WROE & CHRIS JOHNSON | The Age

PAPUA NEW GUINEA prime minister Peter O’Neill has warned of his displeasure if Australia tapped his phone or those of his family.

''I would hope that my communications, and those of my family, are not being intercepted by any agency - government or non-government. If they were, I would be less than happy,” Mr O’Neill said, responding to questions from Fairfax Media.

“But I am not aware that they are being or have been. ''If people want to know what I discuss, they can ask.''

Senior diplomats from other Asia-Pacific nations have also expressed concerns over the Indonesian phone-tapping allegations.

Suggesting that Australia's reputation as a friendly regional leader may have been tainted, embassies and high commissions in Canberra are closely monitoring the situation. ''Australia should not have been spying on any leader,'' said one foreign diplomat.

Mr O'Neill said PNG was a good friend of both Australia and Indonesia. ''We hope the goodwill between Australia and Indonesia is fully restored as soon as possible,'' he said. ''That is in the interests of our neighbours and ourselves.''

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