An Australian academic says there is no indication yet just what greater autonomy might mean for Bougainville.
Last week the leaders of Papua New Guinea and the autonomous PNG region agreed on the question to be put in next year's referendum in Bougainville.
Bougainville president John Momis, left, and former PNG Prime Minister Peter O'Neill sign the agreement on the question for the independence referendum. Photo: Joseph Nobetau
People will be asked "Do you agree for Bougainville to have Greater Autonomy or Full Independence.
University of Woollongong emeritus professor of politics, Ted Wolfers, has long been involved in Bougainville issues and was at the meeting in Port Moresby.
He said just what greater autonomy means is yet to be defined but it could mean a more complete implementation of the present autonomy arrangements.
"It could also mean that you sit down and talk about the particular issues that can't be transferred and define them and leave most others then to the autonomous government," Ted Wolfers said.
"So you might say that there's agreement that we will share a currency for example, or there will or won't be freedom of movement between Bougainville and the rest of the country. There's all these sorts of issues to be looked at."
