NZ Man deported, could be victim of political war.

Papua New Guinea has deported an Australian businessman, reportedly because of his involvement in local politics.

The foreign affairs ministry in PNG told Radio Australia the prime minister Peter O'Neill issued the orders for New Zealand-born Graham Osborne to be removed from the country.

The government, which recently faced weeks of political unrest, have accused Mr Osborne of meddling in PNG's affairs.

Mr Osborne, who runs a business in Port Moresby, said he had no idea why he's been told to leave.

"I'm not involved in any political parties, I am not a member of any political pary. But I am very good friend of the Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare, so maybe that is the reason," he said.

Graham Osborne runs the Ela Beach Brasserie. The Post Courier reports that immigration and police officers went to his house early on Wednesday with a search warrant.

They were looking for a unregistered gun, drugs and pornography but the paper quotes a friend of Mr Osborne, saying they found nothing.

But Mr Osborne, who has lived in PNG for many years, was then driven to the airport by police and put on a flight to Cairns.

He’s a close friend of Sir Michael Somare who has been in a battle for the control of the government with Peter O’Neill.

Sir Michael’s group had used the Ela Beach Hotel, where the restaurant is, as their temporary meeting place during the political turmoil last week. The paper says it appears Mr Osborne is the victim of the political tug-o-war.

The Immigration office has confirmed to the Post-Courier it was acting on a complaint from the government. Mr Osborne is a member of the PNG bid to enter a rugby league team in Australia’s NRL and is active in the development of rugby union there.

AP/RADIO NZ REPORTS

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