The disease time bomb on our border

The terms of the contract have never been revealed. A parliamentary inquiry probed the issue and exposed corruption, abuse, and incompetence. Mainly in the bureaucracy but also at the political level.

But it was inconclusive in terms of criminal charges being laid.

When the decision to purchase supplies privately was public the Australian Foreign Minister, Julie Bishop, took a strong stand - rightly - and ended all engagement with the PNG Health Department.

A decade on, a failing health system has become a failed health system.

Low vaccination rates are just one symptom of that.

One can't blame James Marape or Peter O'Neill for that. The whole system has failed the good people of PNG.

Extra funding has not fixed the problem. Much of it goes to uncompetitive suppliers - foreign with local agents taking commissions and opening doors.

We have a health crisis on our border. It will inevitably have consequences especially in the Torres Strait at least.

The agreement on defence co-operation is welcome. It adds to our regional security.

But health is a basic human survival issue. In our closest neighbour it is being corruptly neglected.

The position is getting worse. Not better. All the key health indicators are headed in the wrong direction.

We must tell the PNG Government it cannot continue.