| Subject: Boomerang Aid |
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Date Posted: Fri, Apr 29 2005, 09:46:47am
Cut & paste "The National"
Boomerang aid?
THE bulk of the money Australia will provide for the Enhanced Cooperation Programme will be spent on salaries and accommodation of personnel sent to PNG, a private group has revealed. According to non-profit aid watchdog AIDWatch, 43% or K860 million from the K2 billion to be provided under the five-year aid package for PNG will be used for Australian Federal Police salaries and accommodation alone.
In its Feb 12 publication, the organisation also pointed out that about K1 billion (50%) from the total of K2 billion would be spent on AFP logistics and operational costs.
The Royal PNG Constabulary will receive only K140 million over the next five years for technical assistance whereas much of the money in the programme goes back to Australia, said AIDWatch, quoting Australian aid agency AusAID figures on funds distribution under the programme.
AIDWatch was highly critical of Australian Assisting Police Commander Barry Turner who earlier this year made remarks that “boomerang aid was not an issue” with the Enhanced Cooperation Programme in PNG.
The Watchdog group said “the people of PNG have real reason to believe otherwise” and that much of the amount will flow back to Australia.
“With $800 million (K2billion) dedicated to the ECP, the amount dedicated to salaries and accommodation of the Australian Federal Police (AFP) is $339.6 million (K860 million).
“It is well known in PNG that the major real estate agencies in Port Moresby are owned by Australian interests and salaries are building up in Australian bank accounts while the AFP officers receive per diems (stipends) while operating outside Australia,” the AIDWatch publication stated.
“The amount of money budgeted for logistics and operational costs, $394.59 million (about K1billion) makes up less than half of the total costs of the five year ECP.
“Whilst some of this money may stay in PNG with local contractors in purchasing local goods and services, it is not clear what the precise monetary term will be.
“The people of PNG should be calling on the Australian Government to come clean on this issue and state exactly how much of this $394 million will flow back to Australia,” AIDWATCH said.
The Australian Assisting Police has remained quiet on the average amount it costs per year for each of their personnel deployed in PNG under the Enhanced Cooperation Programme Package.
When asked by The National, a police media unit spokesperson responded that: “As a matter of policy, the Australian Assisting Police (AAP) does not publicly provide details on the cost of deploying individual AAP members.”
There are currently 149 AAP officers deployed in Port Moresby, and according to independent sources, AAP constables receive around K7000 per fortnight whiles sergeants receive up to K12,000 fortnightly.
Most of these officers on deployment are paid K300 per day in per diems, equivalent to what their security forces counterparts currently on deployment in Iraq are receiving.
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