How James Marape was re-elected prime minister of PNG without opposition and how Australia might turn that to advantage

Australia usually sends to PNG as High Commissioner a long-term diplomat heading towards retirement. It's not a bad post, with a nice residence with harbour views and a very amply resourced high commission with something like 100 staff.

Our best ever "representative" to Papua New Guinea was appointed almost 70 years ago!

Long before independence Prime Minister Robert Menzies and External Territories Minister, Paul Hasluck, terminated the appointment of Colonel J K Murray as Administrator. He had been appointed by Dr H V Evatt in the terms of the Curtin and Chifley Givernments.

The appointment they made was controversial. Prior to his appointment as Administrator, Brigadier Donald M Cleland was Federal Director of the Liberal Party. It was a political appointment even though Brigadier Cleland had served in PNG in the Australian Army during World War Two.

He went on to serve as Administrator for 13 years until he retired in 1966. On his retirement he and Dame Rachael Cleland continued to live in PNG.

He died in 1975 just weeks before Independence. He was accorded a state funeral by the government of Chief Minister, Michael Somare.

I recall asking the veteran PNG politician and first Governor General Sir John Guise about the impact Don Cleland had during his record term. He was unstinting in his praise of the Cleland administration.

Dr Guise held the view that Don Cleland used his political skills, and his contacts in the Australian Government, to lay the successful foundations for self-government in 1973 and Independence just over two years later.

Fast forward 70 years. As I have often commented, the biggest business in PNG is politics. The events leading up to the re-election of Prime Minister Marape just confirm "politics" is as important as ever, if not more important than ever.

Australia should acknowledge that. It follows that the appointment of High Commissioner should consider the possibility of appointing a former federal or state politician, preferably a former minister, to the position.

The Australian Representatives in Washington, Delhi and New York are former politicians. When the London High Commissioner post is filled it is likely to be a former politician.

I would argue that Port Moresby is an even more "political" post than these, with the exception of Washington.

I hope the new foreign minister uses that reality to make a political appointment in PNG.

It will give Australia a significant political advantage - one China cannot match.