Australia's neighbour 'in strife': Looting and violence in Papua New Guinea as police strike

Papua New Guinea's capital has "lost control" and the city and country are witnessing an "unprecedented level of strife", its governor says, after police went on strike over pay.

People run with merchandise as crowds leave shops with looted goods amid a state of unrest in Port Moresby on Wednesday. Source: Getty, AFP / Andrew Kutan

KEY POINTS

• There is unrest in Papua New Guinea's capital after police went on strike over pay.
• Media showed fires burning in the city.
• No Australians have been reported caught up in the violence and unrest.

Shops and businesses have been attacked and set on fire in the capital of Papua New Guinea and people have been killed, the governor says, after police went on strike over pay.

Property in Port Moresby had been looted by "opportunists" after events "spiralled out of control," National Capital District Governor Powes Parkop said in a broadcast on radio station FM100.

"We have seen unprecedented level of strife in our city, something that has never happened before in the history of our city and our country," he said in the broadcast that was live-streamed on Facebook.

"This must stop tonight," he added.

Extra police were being moved into Port Moresby from regional areas, Commissioner of Police David Manning said in a statement.

The unrest comes after police went on strike over pay. Source: Getty, AFP / Andrew Kutan

Police in the Pacific island country have struggled with a surge in violent crime over the past year, and Prime Minister James Marape has said boosting security would help to attract foreign investment in PNG's burgeoning gold and copper resources sector.

Media showed fires burning in the city on Wednesday, with the PNG Post Courier newspaper reporting firefighters had been threatened as they tried to do their jobs.

The guard house at parliament had also been burnt, the Post Courier reported.

Defence forces were entering the city, Parkop said, and police could be seen returning to the streets.

"Some people sadly lost their life today," he said.

No Australians have been reported caught up in the violence and unrest. Source: Getty, AFP / Andrew Kutan

Police had begun a strike on Wednesday morning after discovering a reduction in their pay packets.

The government circulated messages on social media denying that a new tax had been imposed on police, with Marape vowing to fix any administrative error that had caused the pay shortfall.

Without police, the city had "lost control," Parkop said in the broadcast.

No Australians have been reported caught up in the violence and unrest as the High Commission works to account for citizens, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said.

Albanese said no calls for assistance have been sent to Australia but the government maintained a good relationship with PNG, which is just 160km north of Australia.

"It's not perfect advice and not every Australian is on a register in PNG ... but at this stage, we have not been made aware of ... any Australians being caught up in the conflict," he told reporters in Victoria.

"Our high commission in Port Moresby are keeping a very close eye on what is occurring there, making sure that Australians are looked after.

"We continue to urge calm at this difficult time."

The Australian High Commission has heightened security measures and staffing levels have been reduced because of the situation and remains in close contact with its PNG counterparts, a Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesperson said.

Australia signed a legally binding security agreement with PNG in December that mandates both nations to consult each other in the event the stability of either country is threatened.