Andrew Peacock and his unique role in Papua New Guinea’s development

But by then the neglect of three key areas was simply a task beyond the capacity of the new PNG Chief Minister and his team, and the Australian Government, had gone on for far too long under the Barnes stewardship.

The real areas of neglect were inadequate basic infrastructure development (notably all- weather roads), the broadening of agriculture (including the establishment of a sugar industry) and the proper funding of schools to improve low education and literacy levels.

But what Andrew Peacock did effectively was work in a collegiate way to ensure that the emerging PNG Government had confidence in the genuineness, and the bi-partisan commitment, of the Australian Government, and Parliament, at a critical time.

The debate about whether or not Papua New Guinea was granted independence too early, or at about the right time, continues.

Guided by Andrew Peacock, the Australian Opposition led by Billy Snedden and then Malcolm Fraser formed the view that September 1975 was the right time, and that a bi-partisan approach would serve the best interests of Australia, and its relations with the new nation on our border.

After the 1975, Australian elections, Andrew Peacock, assumed direct responsibility for relations with the newly-independent Papua New Guinea.

When I joined the then PNG Opposition Leader, the late Sir Iambakey Okuk, in mid -1978, as his chief advisor, it was apparent to me that Andrew Peacock was held in the highest possible regard by all of PNG's political leaders.

His five years as Foreign Minister, was a vital period for the new nation. It could not have had a more passionate, or better informed and better connected, advocate in the Australian Government than Andrew Peacock.

Relations have never been as harmonious as they were in that post-independence period. He gets the lion's share of the credit for that and deserves to do so.

When Prime Minister Somare instituted Papua New Guinea's own national honours and awards system in 2003-2004 he resolved to recognise a small number of Australian political leaders who had been Papua New Guinea's best and most genuine friends in Canberra.

It came as no surprise to me that in 2006, Sir Michael Somare awarded PNG's highest honour, Grand Companion of Order of Logohu, to Andrew Peacock. At the time the announcement of the award was warmly welcome across the political divide in Papua New Guinea.

As Andrew peacock's passing in the United States is mourned, I hope that there is special recognition for his unique and remarkable contribution to Papua New Guinea's peaceful transition to Independence is fully acknowledged. It deserves to be!