PORT MORESBY – Papua New Guinea has lifted a ban on Australians travelling to the autonomous region of Bougainville, the foreign minister Rimbink Pato said, adding that Australia and PNG have “reached common ground” on issues relating to the ban.

“Travel restrictions on Australians travelling to Bougainville have been lifted as of today,” he said in a press release.

Last week, Pato banned all Australian tourist, business and short-term entry visa-holders from entering Bougainville, which is an autonomous region of PNG.

The ban did not apply to work and permanent visa-holders.

There was opposition from Bougainville’s president John Momis who called on PNG to overturn a travel ban on Australians, saying it breached the spirit of the peace agreement giving the island autonomy.

The PNG government expressed shock when Australia first announced plans in its budget to open a foreign diplomatic mission in Bougainville.

The government said it learnt about the move via the media, prompting the travel ban.

But Pato said prime minister Peter O’Neill “reaffi rmed Papua New Guinea’s position that the government does not approve of the establishment of an Australian diplomatic mission on Bougainville.”

“While the manner in which the proposal was announced was unfortunate, we have discussed the issue with our Australian colleagues,” he said.

“We recognise that there is a serious lapse in communication and we can now move on from this issue.”

Australia’s Foreign minister Julie Bishop said the matter was discussed with PNG officials in December 2014 and again prior to the budget. However, Bishop has apologised to the Papua New Guinea government saying that the Australian government “regrets their miscommunication regarding the proposal for an expanded presence in Bougainville, and for the way the announcement has been reported and portrayed.”

Bougainville is an autonomous part of PNG, but will be holding a referendum in the next five years to consider independence. The region is currently holding elections for a new president and government that will shape the date and wording of a referendum on independence from PNG.

The island was granted autonomy under a 2001 peace agreement and a referendum on independence must be held between July 2015 and July 2020.