Woman fled PNG in fear of revenge attack

An Australian woman advised by the ANZ bank to leave Papua New Guinea after being involved in a hit-and-run incident will continue to co-operate with police as required.

The woman, whose husband works for the bank in Port Moresby, left Papua New Guinea earlier this month after receiving advice that her family faced a "significant risk of a targeted revenge attack".

The bank has confirmed the wife of an ANZ staff member had been involved in a road accident and had "clipped a young girl" on the Poreporena Freeway on May 7.

The girl was subsequently run over by another vehicle travelling in the same direction, and suffered two broken legs, ANZ said in a statement on Tuesday.

"We understand the girl ran in front of the traffic without warning because she was being chased by an attacker," the bank said.

The Australian woman travelled directly to ANZ immediately after the incident and the accident was reported to police the same day, in keeping with security protocols designed to avoid being caught up in roadside violence.

"The staff member's family sought professional advice which was they should leave the country due to significant risk of a targeted revenge attack," the bank said.

"Our staff member and his wife are available at any time to provide any further assistance required to the PNG police, and ANZ is providing continued assistance to the girl and to her family."

The bank said it had been in contact with the injured girl's family to express its deep concern about her welfare and to offer support.