Is Twiggy Forrest serious about a major green energy investment in Papua New Guinea?

The Ramu River is dependent on regular rainfall. Its catchment areas are dependent on rainfall, and not huge reserves of water from areas where drought is virtually unknown.

The Purari River hydro project has one significant advantage over Ramu, and other, projects. It is NOT dependent on regular rainfall. The Purari is never short of water- it is a swift flowing river drawing on water from snowcapped mountains - yes, snowcapped mountains virtually on the equator.

The development of Purari alone offers absolutely reliable water supply to service a large-scale hydro power operation - enough to power Papua New Guinea for generations to come.

The Australian Government should engage with Forrest to ascertain where he stands on Purari - and ask what support Australia could consider contributing to advance it.

It needs that kind of "impetus" to advance it beyond talking about it. Time is now important.

The debate about whether climate change is a factor can continue.

But PNG needs major investment, and it needs it now. Reliable and affordable electricity just has to be a priority.

Andrew Forrest may well hold the key to that.

Now is very much the time to strengthen our bi-lateral relationship. The goodwill is there.

A nationwide hydro power scheme centred on Purari is not just in PNG's national interest - it is in Australia's as well.