Now is the time to enhance public support for greater assistance for PNG and the South Pacific

It can and must also counter what China has been doing for the last decade or so – gaining effective control of the development of vital ports infrastructure such as the redevelopment and expansion of the Lae Port. Even the ABD which funded the project carried out by a Chinese contractor came to the conclusion it had largely "failed".

This announcement – which seems to have only been reported in "The Australian" here – meets the key criteria I have been recommending. Its needs to be not just Australian funded, but Australian managed. That will provide opportunities for the Australian engineering and construction sectors which have increasingly been effectively excluded from securing major work in PNG.

It is a good start, but it needs to be built on and not just in Papua New Guinea.

Sadly we have lost a lot of influence and presence across the region. Rebuilding it will be expensive – but it is urgent!

There are clear indications the people of Australia will support it, and perhaps will do so overwhelmingly if it is explained transparently to them.

In a pre-election environment that support is more important than ever.

We need the Prime Minister and the relevant Ministers to robustly and proudly link our increased support for our region to the genuine and worthy pursuit of "the Australian national interest".

Encouraging "development" in our neighbours is relevant – but helping to secure stable democratic friends is no less so!