An Australian academic who advises the autonomous government in Papua New Guinea's Bougainville has dismissed claims he has ties to mining companies.
The claims were made by the MP for Central Bougainville, Jimmy Miningtoro, who says the academic, Anthony Regan, should be removed from the province.
Mr Miningtoro says there has not been enough commmunity consultation on the draft mining law that Mr Regan has been involved with.
And he claims Mr Regan has links to Rio Tinto and Bougainville Copper Ltd.
But Mr Regan says he has never been involved with these companies or any mining operator.
"No links of any kind. I have no shares in any companies. I have never done any consulting work or any paid work for any mining company, including BCL or Rio Tinto, and it would be a gross breach of my duties as a lawyer and an advisor to the Bougainville Government, if I were to have any such links."
Anthony Regan also says there have been widespread community consultations over the draft mining law.
