Australia cannot afford a failed state on our border

In a highly suspicious decision the PNG Health Department switched from the Australian arrangement to one funded by the PNG Government with an Asian importer. Ever since the health system has been plagued with shortages of even basic supplies and well as vital medicines such as antibiotics.

Again the bloggers have been at work disclosing highly suspicious, if not corrupt, purchases and payments that are at the heart of the shortages.

It almost defies comprehension that one of the most corrupt and rorted areas of the whole government structure in PNG is in the health system, at national and provincial levels alike.

Basic health services ought to be the right of every citizen of PNG no matter where they live. The simple truth is that even the most basic services are underfunded, rorted, resulting in a progressive decline in the standard of basic health care since Independence in 1975.

Australians are entitled to demand of their government that it learn the lesson from this crisis, and insist PNG does as well.

But our response will be costly, so how can it be funded?

Our total development assistance budget allocation for Papua New Guinea is around $600 million a year – that is close to 2 billion kina. PNG is the largest recipient of Australia's overseas aid.

The way to fund a takeover of part of the health system (such as major hospitals) is to suspend most of the aid spending on non-health areas and divert it to health care and administration.

Our assistance to PNG to try and reduce the incidence of Covid-19 must extend beyond vaccines and testing equipment. It must also focus on the total rehabilitation of a failed health system that is getting worse by the year.

As just one example last year there were just 109 cases of polio diagnosed in the whole world – 21 of them were in Papua New Guinea!

There are good hard working and well qualified doctors nurses and health workers in Papua New Guinea but their work is undermined by a corrupt and poorly managed overall health care system.

They need our comprehensive support as do the nine million men, women and children of our northern neighbour.

We are in a unique position to insist on genuine and comprehensive reform.

If we do we won't just benefit the good people of Papua New Guinea. We will be advancing the Australian national interest by not having all the dangers of a failed health system – far beyond the impact of the Covid-19 virus – on our border and in our closest neighbour!