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| Subject: PNG push to open up (Australian) job market - note the interesting comments about Rugby | |
Author: Ian (Australia) | [ Next Thread |
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] Date Posted: 14:31:05 12/14/04 Tue In reply to: David (Australia) 's message, "Policing Papua New Guinea's 'raskols'" on 11:00:57 12/11/04 Sat PNG push to open up job market Mark Forbes in Lae and Cynthia Banham Sydney Morning Herald December 15, 2004 Papua New Guinea will call for an Australian open-door policy for its workers and an expansion of the new $1.1 billion program to restore law and order in annual ministerial talks today. Senior PNG ministers will request short-term visas for seasonal workers and longer-term access for professionals in an effort to boost their economy and strengthen ties with Australia. Arriving in Lae yesterday, the Foreign Minister, Alexander Downer, said Australian ministers would examine the next steps for the "historic" program that is sending 210 police and 64 public servants to PNG's trouble spots. Measures to "promote growth and stability" would also be considered, he said. The delegation includes the Defence Minister, Robert Hill, the Attorney-General, Philip Ruddock, the Immigration Minister, Amanda Vanstone, and the Justice Minister, Chris Ellison. The talks follow yesterday's release of an Australian Strategic Policy Institute report on the PNG relationship, which warned Australia's closest neighbour could disintegrate into a series of "lawless and unviable mini-states". It urged closer ties with PNG, up to $500 million a year in extra assistance and backed opening Australia's job market to workers from PNG. One of the report's authors, Hugh White, said the country was Australia's most difficult foreign policy challenge and potentially posed a high security threat. Senior PNG sources confirmed its delegation, headed by the Foreign Minister, Sir Rabbie Namaliu, would push for seasonal access for agricultural workers, in the same way European backpackers can find jobs in Australia. The report also suggested including a couple of PNG teams in Australia's National Rugby League competition. The recommendation was based on the institute's assessment that PNG's lack of a national identity is one of its deepest problems. The report said rugby league, which is popular in PNG, could foster a greater sense of nationalism if broadcast nationally. Australia gives PNG almost $500 million a year under the Enhanced Co-operation Program. Warning of increasing trans-national crime in PNG, and a looming AIDS crisis, which, if left unchecked, could become as bad East Africa's, the institute said "central government authority in PNG could collapse" within 10 or 15 years if Australia did not act. "Politics and the economy could be dominated by criminals, and the rule of law and respect for human rights could disappear. HIV/AIDS could reach catastrophic proportions. Health and education services could cease to exist," the report warned. PNG's Police Minister, Bire Kimisopa, said he would call for an extension to the $1.1 billion program to rebuild the police. "I fear that after five years we may realise what we negotiated was too little, too late," he said. Mr Kimisopa wants a one-off payment from Australia of $2 million for a police retrenchment package and $5 million for a forensics unit. PNG will also call on Australia to back a planned liquified natural gas pipeline to Queensland. [ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ] |
| [> Subject: 'No magic wand for PNG's ills' | |
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Author: Ian (Australia) [ Edit | View ] |
Date Posted: 13:57:51 12/15/04 Wed 'No magic wand for PNG's ills' Mark Forbes in Lae Sydney Morning Herald December 16, 2004 Australia's $1.1 billion, five-year plan to restore law and order to Papua New Guinea could be extended for much longer, according to the Foreign Minister, Alexander Downer. Following annual talks between 18 ministers from the two countries, Mr Downer said yesterday that placing 210 Australian police and 64 public servants into key positions would not be a magic wand for PNG's problems. And it was too early to tell whether the program needed to be expanded. "Whether it's going to last for five years or much longer, we will know nearer the time," he said. The Immigration Minister, Amanda Vanstone, announced that Australia would consider allowing PNG citizens to obtain working holiday visas, in response to the country's calls for access to the Australian job market. And further increasing Australian assistance, the Defence Minister, Robert Hill, announced that four Australian officers would be placed in senior positions within PNG's defence force to drive reform. The lieutenant-colonels would start taking up their positions next month. These include the deputy commander of training and deputy commander of logistics. Mr Downer warned that despite last week's introduction of Australian police onto the streets of Port Moresby, the program faced a "long, hard road", with a need for long-term structural reform. But an Australian think tank's warning that PNG could disintegrate into several lawless states was misinformed and destructive, the country's Foreign Minister, Sir Rabbie Namaliu, said. However, Mr Downer described the analysis of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute as "a credible piece of work". On Tuesday night the office of the PNG Prime Minister, Sir Michael Somare, distributed a statement from his son and Government MP, Arthur Somare, alleging the report indicated Australia was gearing up to interfere in PNG's internal affairs. "The Australian Government relies on such outrageous claims to support their current policy of intervention into the Pacific," he said. The Prime Minister, John Howard, was emulating US President George Bush and taking an imperialist approach, Mr Somare said. The Federal Government funds the institute, which is its main think tank on foreign and defence affairs. The institute's call for police intervention in the Solomon Islands was credited with prompting the Australian-led intervention last year. The new report, "Strengthening our Neighbour", urges closer ties and up to $500 million a year in additional assistance. [ Post a Reply to This Message ] |