Bougainville's Minister for Peace Agreement Implementation says he has made significant breakthroughs in a visit to the isolated south of the main island.

Unitl quite recently the unruly south was rarely visited by leaders from Buka, but Albert Punghau last week went there to meet a former rebel commander, Damien Koike, and hopefully Noal Musingku who has for many years run a money scam called U-Vistract.

Mr Koike has not been a supporter of the peace agreement, and had been involved in criminal activities in the past, but Mr Punghau says the Bougainville government needs his help preparing for next June's independence referendum.

He told Don Wiseman they got his backing, particularly on weapons disposal.