Defending press freedom in the pacific is Australia's next challenge

Australia needs to urgently get our security agencies to check as far as it is possible to do so into the allegations of bribery and improper practices on the part of the PRC Embassy in dealings with the PNG media.

We also need to examine what is happening in other countries that are under increasing PRC influence - notably the Solomon Islands.

China's views on press freedom are well known - it does not exist!

The new Australian Government should give a high priority to measures that can encourage press freedom and media diversity not just in Papua New Guinea - but across our region.

The proposal advanced some time ago to re-engage the ABC more actively and effectively in the region needs to be implemented without delay - and with adequate funding.

Australia should offer to assist with the professional development of journalism in our region - but awarding young journalists, and journalism students, scholarships to study at universities in Australia, and through placements in our media outlets.

The government should also consider subsidising Australian media companies to establish operations in countries such as Papua New Guinea and Fiji.

In my time there were as many as five Australian news outlets with PNG posts. Today only the ABC has a permanent presence in our closest neighbour.

Helping to strengthen parliamentary democracy in our region is a vital component in at least limiting China's influence.

The maintenance of a free press - and one certainly free from improper influences and bribes - ought to go hand in hand with a comprehensive campaign to strengthen representative parliamentary democracy.

The PNG Blog piece should not be dismissed simply because the author is not named - except to see he or she is a Post Courier journalist.

The Chinese Ambassador to PNG is remarkably active in PNG, including through dialogue with political leaders at national and provincial levels. Remarkably active and remarkably effective.