Biden’s ‘build back better world’ partnership must be big and bold

There is strong support in Papua New Guinea for Purari. It is environmentally friendly and the fact that the Purari River never runs dry makes the project even more feasible.

It ought to be examined by a task force assembled by the Prime Minister and urgently discussed with G& members and our other friends in the region. But the process needs to start now, and include a significant private sector technical and advisory input.

The second project is arguably just as important. It requires a brief history explanation.

Papua New Guinea is in serious economic decline, with a real decline in living standards across the nation and especially for the rural majority.

Covid-19 is not the major cause of either. Poor governance, including the absence of agricultural extension services and rural road infrastructure, are the major reasons.

As I wrote recently the nation's main agricultural crops – coffee – say a 65 per cent decline in production last year. Recent reports indicate that this year may be even worse.

Unless steps are taken to raise the living standards and opportunity for the rural majority and for young Papua New Guineans in particular I can see enormous social problems not far ahead.

There is any number of steps that should be taken to avoid that catastrophe.

One factor that is discouraging rural communities from focussing on boosting cash crop and export crop production is the appalling state of infrastructure principally rural roads.

In many areas of the Highlands, and some Coastal communities, the roads are either non-existent or in a state of disrepair. The result is the cost of getting agricultural production to major centres and ports for export are uneconomic.

Australia could spearhead an initiative under the Biden proposals to identify the best potential and existing areas for substantial agricultural and fisheries production.

The construction sector in Australia, and our allies, could be marshalled to work with PNG construction businesses, to undertake a massive road infrastructure upgrading program. In some areas it would require entirely new roads, bridges and other infrastructure.