BUKA – Amid a brewing regional diplomatic crisis, Bougainville’s president has called on Papua New Guinea to overturn a travel ban on Australians, saying it breaches the spirit of the peace agreement that allows the island its autonomy.

President John Momis also contradicted Port Moresby’s claims Canberra did not consult with the PNG government over a new diplomatic mission outlined in last week’s Australian federal budget, saying the Bougainville post concept was discussed prior to its announcement.

Earlier this week, PNG’s foreign minister Rimbink Pato banned all Australian tourist, business and short-term entry visa-holders from entering Bougainville, which is an autonomous region of PNG.

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

Momis called on Pato to “lift the ban immediately”.

“A ban on Australians travelling to Bougainville will severely slow the delivery of important assistance that is helping Bougainville in many ways,” he said.

He downplayed the significance of what the Australian Government termed a new “diplomatic post” and called on Canberra to clarify the “misunderstanding”.

“I understand that what Australia proposes is a limited increase in the full-time office it has had in Bougainville’s capital Buka since about 2007.”

“But the announcement in the Australian Treasurer’s budget speech last week made it sound as if a major new diplomatic office is to be established. That is not the case.”

Bougainville’s regional member in the national government of PNG, Joe Lera, echoed Momis’s comments, also telling local media the diplomatic spat was a “misunderstanding”.

PNG prime minister Peter O’Neill and Pato last week reportedly expressed “shock and outrage” at Australia’s Bougainville plans and have stood by claims they only learnt about the move via the media.

In rebuttal, Australia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a statement on Tuesday night saying the first formal discussion of the proposed foreign mission occurred on May 12.

“This was after the details had been printed and provided to journalists at the Australian budget lockup,” the statement read.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said the matter was discussed with PNG officials in December 2014 and again prior to the budget announcement.

Meanwhile, Momis’s comments are contradicting reported statements from the PNG government that the travel ban on Australians had been “well received” by Bougainville.

Foreign Affairs Minister Pato earlier said: “There are deep historical sensitivities about how the Bougainville crisis started, particularly as this relates to Australia’s involvement through these decades.

“The decision to ban Australian travel is easing fears and concerns that have been raised on Bougainville since Australia’s unilateral attempt to place a foreign mission in Bougainville.”

However, the Bougainville president said it was PNG that was acting alone and that the peace agreement gave the autonomous government of Bougainville, not PNG, control over foreigners travelling to the island.

“I also seek assurance from Minister Pato that in the future he will not take unilateral action in relation to foreign citizens travel to Bougainville – instead he must recognise Bougainville’s autonomy,” Momis said.

Bougainville is currently holding elections for a new president and government that will shape the date and wording of a referendum on independence from PNG.

Rebels fought a decade-long civil war with PNG, sparked by conflict over the then-Australian-owned Panguna mine.

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