A ‘failed’ Papua New Guinea national elections would be a disaster for Papua and Australia

There have to be limits on our assistance, even though a peaceful and fair election is clearly in the

Australian national interest.

We have assisted with the printing of ballot papers and training electoral staff. But we cannot be seen to be "running" the elections. That must be handled by the PNG Electoral Commission, an independent statutory body.

Reports this week indicate that the "common roll" is hopelessly out of date. It is too late to fix that.

There is also a real question over the integrity of the electoral boundaries. There has not been a nationwide redistribution since independence in 1975.

Early this year the government added seven new electorates with real doubts as to whether they were really the most deserving. As a result, the imbalance between the population in various electorates is glaringly obvious. Some electorates have just half the population of others.

But to my mind the flawed process and inadequate funding are not the greatest threat.

The real threat to the integrity of the elections is the distinct possibility that violence will erupt in some areas resulting in killings, looting, and destruction of property.

If that happens across the country the whole electoral process will be in doubt.

That would be a disaster, putting a cloud over the process to elect the next prime minister.

The results in many seats will be challenged in the courts. That process will take several years based on past experience.

The elections process has been disrupted already, with delays in the actual commencement of the nominations period, and the actual polling timetable.