Labor urges care on Papua New Guinea's $1.5bn loan request

Acting opposition leader Richard Marles says Australia should not let China fears dictate Pacific policy

Labor has called on the government to "consider very carefully" a request from Papua New Guinea for a $1.5bn loan, suggesting Australia must do more for the Pacific for its own sake rather than to block China's growing influence.

Acting opposition leader Richard Marles made the call on Tuesday after the Australian Financial Review revealed the loan request.