Why Australians are being prevented from walking Kokoda Track

Thousands of Australians could be barred from making their way along the historic Kokoda Trail on the 80th anniversary of the World War II campaign.

The track in Papua New Guinea, which is the site of one of Australia’s most significant military battles, has recently been blocked by local villagers.

Kokoda Historical Managing Director, David Howell, says villages aren’t receiving payments their region entitled to from elected officials.

So they’re blocking the track with barriers fashioned from branches and leaves to draw attention to their plight.

“The perception there amongst the people was they didn’t receive their ward payments from the government. We sympathise with them, in fact I wrote a report … I gave it to the Australian High Commission and the PNG government,” Mr Howell told Dee Dee.

“The reason they stopped Australians walking is because, think about it, they dot have the same mechanisms we do to be able to bring attention to their plight.”

The Australian reports locals are blocking the track due to claims of exploitation and illegal practices by tour operators, but Mr Howell has denied those claims.

Press PLAY below to hear why the track is being blocked