Australia’s new Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has opposed

Australia’s new Prime Minister was greeted on his first visit to Papua New Guinea by landowners living along the Kokoda Track, who staged a noisy protest against Australia’s opposition to mining in the area. The Kokoda Track is a revered part of Australia’s military history and Canberra wants it given World Heritage protection. Villagers, though, want sections of the rugged path to be mined for copper and gold. They stand to make a fortune if permission is granted, something Kevin Rudd has opposed. Relations between Australia and its former colony and nearest neighbor have been sensitive in recent years. The former Australian Prime Minister, John Howard, rarely saw eye-to-eye with officials in Port Moresby.