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The federal government needs to help the ABC expand its South Pacific profile and engagement now!

By Jeffrey Wall - posted Friday, 25 March 2022


Ideally that would give the ABC to expand its footprint in PNG, to employ more journalists in PNG and elsewhere in the region to boost its coverage of the PNG national elections, and regional issues - including China's growing influence which inevitably will extend more and more into the communications fields across the region.

China's footprint is generally substantial - it can be argued that a greater role in radio and television communications is inevitable and imminent.

The more the ABC can broaden its presence the better placed Australia will be to counter China's communications expansion. And the sooner the better of course!

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The proposal increases some technical support for the NBC of Papua New Guinea - which has a long and historic association with the ABC.

Papua New Guinea is slowly but surely expanding literacy. The education system has serious shortcomings, but literacy is improving.

With the majority of the population (say 80 per cent) still living in rural and remote communities, communications via radio and television is a challenge. In recent years, the rapid expansion of mobile phone and internet services has helped improve communications and enhance literacy.

Australia gives PNG around $500 million year in "development assistance" in various forms - some good, some frankly useless.

Is it too much to ask that an extra $12 million to vastly improve the ABC's services in PNG, and other neighbours such as the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu, at a time when it would be highly beneficial?

That the ABC has not even had a response is to be regretted.

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There is time to correct that!

Is it too much to ask that it happens before the Parliament is dissolved before our national elections?

Surely not!!

 

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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.

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

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