<P> The southern half of eastern New Guinea (the Territory of Papua) came under Australian administration in 1902, following annexation by the United Kingdom . In 1920, Australia was given a League of Nations mandate to rule German New Guinea, and in 1945 Papua and New Guinea were combined in an administrative union . Papua New Guinea was ruled by Australia until independence in 1975 . The two countries retained close relations, with Australia supplying development aid . Papua New Guinea's political institutions are modeled on the Westminster system, shared by Australia . </P> <P> Relations between Prime Minister Michael Somare (PNG) and Prime Minister John Howard (Australia) were often strained, a strain which culminated in Somare being barred from entering Australia . </P> <P> In 2001, relations were very good . A detention center was built on Manus Island, in Papua New Guinea, as part of Australia's "Pacific Solution". Refugee claimants seeking asylum in Australia were sent to Manus Island (or Nauru), and Australia paid for the costs of their detention, providing Papua New Guinea with economic aid . The last inmate was Aladdin Sisalem, who was kept in solitary confinement from July 2003 until he was finally granted asylum in Australia in June 2004 . Australia continued to pay for the upkeep of the empty detention center until late 2007 . </P> <P> In March 2005, Somare was required by security officers at Brisbane Airport, Australia, to remove his shoes during a routine departure security check . He took strong exception to what he considered a humiliation, leading to a diplomatic contretemps and a significant cooling of relations between the two countries . A protest march in Port Moresby saw hundreds march on the Australian High Commission, demanding an apology . </P>

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