Like what you've read?

On Line Opinion is the only Australian site where you get all sides of the story. We don't
charge, but we need your support. Here�s how you can help.

  • Advertise

    We have a monthly audience of 70,000 and advertising packages from $200 a month.

  • Volunteer

    We always need commissioning editors and sub-editors.

  • Contribute

    Got something to say? Submit an essay.


 The National Forum   Donate   Your Account   On Line Opinion   Forum   Blogs   Polling   About   
On Line Opinion logo ON LINE OPINION - Australia's e-journal of social and political debate

Subscribe!
Subscribe





On Line Opinion is a not-for-profit publication and relies on the generosity of its sponsors, editors and contributors. If you would like to help, contact us.
___________

Syndicate
RSS/XML


RSS 2.0

Two Christmas gifts Australia might offer the people of Papua New Guinea

By Jeffrey Wall - posted Thursday, 23 December 2021


Christmas celebrations in Papua New Guinea differ from how we celebrate Christmas in Australia in one important respect. In Papua New Guinea it centres on the Christian significance of the occasion – and not the increasingly politically correct nonsense we have to endure such as "Seasons Greetings" and "best wishes for the Festive Season",

But in PNG there is still gift giving, though not to the same commercial extent in Australia.

I have been thinking about what "gifts" the people of Australia might give the good people of Papua New Guinea – and especially "gifts" that might contribute to the re-building of what is our most important regional relationship.

Advertisement

I would like to suggest that the transfer of responsibility for our PNG (and South Pacific) engagement from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to somewhere more pro-active and relevant. But that won't ever happen so there is little point proposing it!

This Christmas the good people of Papua New Guinea deserve a promise of Australian support that is more relevant, and frankly more "substantial". We have done well, very well, supporting Papua New Guinea, and our other South Pacific neighbours, with vaccines, and support facilities such as oxygen and ventilators.

And we have done better than anyone else – better that China, the US, and New Zealand in particular. There is today NO shortage of vaccines in Papua New Guinea, and we met just about the whole burden of vaccinating, and doing so successfully, And Australia has additional vaccines available for PNG and the region – if needed.

The fact that the vaccination rate in PNG is barely 2 per cent is NOT Australia's fault. Yes, we could have done more perhaps but this is a tragic problem the PNG Government has failed, and is failing, to address.

But Australia could offer a "Christmas present" in the form of an offer to seriously help with the task of rebuilding the "failed" PNG health system, and especially the public health system. Sadly, while the vaccination rate remains appalling, this year has unquestionably seen a further deterioration in the standard of health care, and not just pandemic care, right across Papua New Guinea.

I have proposed this before, but it is worth putting forward again. Australia should offer to suspend most of the existing $500 million aid budget (it is just not possible to effectively implement an aid program with dozens if not hundreds of projects when the border between Australia and PNG is effectively closed).

Advertisement

Our offer should be to immediately redirect around $300 million of our aid budget (which equates to close to K1 billion) towards beginning the massive task of rebuilding the PNG public health system.

These steps could be undertaken in a matter of months to begin the task:

1. Pressure the PNG Government to immediately cancel the contracts for the supply of vital drugs and medicines for hospitals and health centres which are highly suspicious, have been seriously questioned by at least one parliamentary inquiry and as recently as this week by the East Sepik Governor who has demanded the contracts with Borneo Pharmacies be cancelled. This would probably cost around $100 million a year and would restore a system that worked reasonably well before the then PNG Government cancelled it in 2014. But it would give PNG safe, reliable and an adequate supply of vital drug and medicines.

2. Offer to begin the process of rebuilding the nation's major hospitals – including modernising facilities and equipment, and locating experienced Australian doctors, nurses and administrators to skill and upskill Papua New Guinean health workers who do an outstanding job often with long delays in getting paid, and being forced to use inadequate and unsafe equipment.

3. The process could begin with the Angau Memorial Hospital in Lae. Australia paid for several new wards this year – but the hospital remains under enormous pressure. Angau could provide "feeder" health services to smaller hospitals and health centres across half a dozen or more provinces.

The total cost of this program, in the first year, could be met for less than $300 million. But it would need to be targeted and properly monitored. And the PNG Government would have to commit to ending corruption and waste in the public health system as part of the "gift" being accepted.

The second area we might offer a "Christmas gift" is in regard to two of PNGs most important agricultural products – coffee and cocoa.

Recently the PNG Agriculture Minister proposed the establishment of a government run marketing and export "system" for the nation's agricultural production. He perhaps inadvertently let the cat out of the bag when he commented that China would like to take close to half of PNGs coffee exports but could not do so under existing free enterprise export arrangements.

China would be delighted to buy the stated 20,000 bags of PNG coffee but at what price??

Australia needs to get in first – and offer to take up to half of PNGs coffee exports and do so at international price levels, something China would not do.

There is growing evidence in many countries linked to the PRC Belt and Road debt agenda are "encouraged" to prioritise exports to China as part of their agreements.

That is not yet happening in Papua New Guinea, despite the growth in Belt and Road loans. But it is clearly not far away judging by the Agriculture Ministers comments.

Australia could offer to buy, at world prices, up to half of PNGs coffee and cocoa production and ensure it gets to the Australian market via subsidised freight. That would eventually benefit PNG growers, the majority of whom have been afflicted by poor infrastructure and the prevalence of crop disease because of poor extension support services.

In return Australia could use some of the remaining aid budget to provide subsidised fertiliser to PNG growers – as an incentive to improve crop quality.

The PNG coffee and cocoa industries have been in decline for years. Coffee production today is barely half what it was 30 years ago….yet in 30 years the population of Papua New Guinea (and especially the rural majority) has more than doubled!

Of the nine million people of our closest neighbour over two and a half million depend on the coffee and cocoa industries for their livelihoods.

Taking up to half of the coffee and cocoa production, and supporting improved quality and production would be "a gift that would keep giving".

I worry that our once strong and wide ranging relationship with our closest neighbour (and former colony) is seriously "drifting". Any number of my friends and contacts in Papua New Guinea hold the same view.

The two "Christmas gifts" I have proposed will help to correct that – and it can essentially be done at no additional cost to our generous "development assistance" programme.

A Happy and Safe Christmas to all my readers – and best wishes to all for 2022!

  1. Pages:
  2. 1
  3. 2
  4. 3
  5. All


Discuss in our Forums

See what other readers are saying about this article!

Click here to read & post comments.

3 posts so far.

Share this:
reddit this reddit thisbookmark with del.icio.us Del.icio.usdigg thisseed newsvineSeed NewsvineStumbleUpon StumbleUponsubmit to propellerkwoff it

About the Author

Jeffrey Wall CSM CBE is a Brisbane Political Consultant and has served as Advisor to the PNG Foreign Minister, Sir Rabbie Namaliu – Prime Minister 1988-1992 and Speaker 1994-1997.

Other articles by this Author

All articles by Jeffrey Wall

Creative Commons LicenseThis work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.

Article Tools
Comment 3 comments
Print Printable version
Subscribe Subscribe
Email Email a friend
Advertisement

About Us Search Discuss Feedback Legals Privacy