An Australian academic says both the Papua New Guinea and Bougainville governments should sit down and sort out concerns over funding.
For several years the autonomous Bougainville government has complained the national government has failed to meet its financial obligations under the Bougainville Peace Agreement.
There are severe shortages across the Bougainville public sector and the Bougainville government says this is hampering its preparations for a referendum on independence in 2019.
Its President John Momis said both parties could seek a court arbitrated resolution, but University of Woollongong Emeritus Professor Ted Wolfers said they just needed to start talking it through.
University of Woollongong Emeritus Professor Ted Wolfers Photo: University of Woollongong
He said there appeared to be two issues.
"One is about the actual application of the formulae in the Bougainville Peace Agreement and of course now in constitutional law in Papua New Guinea," Mr Wolfers said.
"The other one is whether the money available under those formulae is actually being forwarded in a timely way."
Mr Wolfers had been an advisor on Bougainville issues and helped draw up the Peace Agreement.