PNG Prime Minister O'Neill extends the condolences of the nation to the family of the Late Sir Michael Curtain

“It is with sadness that we have received word of the passing of Sir Michael Curtain in hospital in Townsville over the weekend,” the Prime Minister said.

“I would like to offer our sympathies to Lady Jennifer, Peter, Louise, David, Christopher, and Sean at this difficult time.
“For a half century, Sir Mick has worked in Papua New Guinea and been responsible for many of the infrastructure projects that were undertaken in that time.
"Sir Mick is likely to be best remembered for the significant contribution Curtain Bros made to the construction phase of the nation's first LNG project, and even more recently the Motukea Island Port project.

“He also deserves thanks, and credit, for investing in the Papua New Guinea construction sector when other Australian construction companies withdrew from Papua New Guinea in the 1980's.
"Sir Mick returned to Papua New Guinea initially to undertake uncompleted road projects in the Oro Province, and he rapidly developed Curtain Brothers into a major force in the nation's construction sector, a position it continues to hold today.
"When others departed, when conditions were tough, he returned, invested, and showed his confidence in our future - confidence which the passage of time has more than justified.
"Curtain Brothers has long been a major participant in the Townsville and North Queensland construction sectors, and an important business link between North Queensland and Papua New Guinea.
“Papua New Guinea thanks Sir Michael Curtain for his commitment to the development of our nation.”