Papua New Guinea twenty-nine years on: What does the future hold?

The public service is not in good shape, but with the ECP and several structural adjustment programs now being implemented, key agencies such as the Treasury, should improve in capacity. Australia’s public service legacy to PNG was also inadequate.

But PNG has perhaps the world’s most robustly independent judiciary. Anyone who saw the magnificent “Australian Story” on Lady Carol Kidu on Monday September 13, 2004 will have seen numerous references to the judiciary her late husband, Sir Buri Kidu, crafted after independence.

The advantage of an independent judiciary responsible for upholding the constitution as well as administering civil and criminal justice, is that it serves as a check on excessive government and abuse of the parliamentary system. It is a protector of democracy and freedom of speech (something the National Constitution guarantees) and ultimately a bulwark against corruption in public office.

There is debate in Queensland today about the appointment of judges by politicians. It is the practice in all jurisdictions of Australia and is increasingly being brought into question. Papua New Guinea’s judiciary is not appointed by the government of the day. Judges are chosen by an independent commission, the members of which include a representative of the government, one from the opposition, the chief ombudsman (a constitutional office holder) and the Chief Justice (also normally appointed to the bench through this independent process). So the Government does not appoint - and stack - the judiciary, which interprets the constitution, though it does appoint the Chief Justice.

In PNG the judiciary has diligently upheld the constitution, freedom of speech and the rule of law. It has made some impact on corruption in public office, although it remains a problem.

Another significant advantage PNG has is an abundance of natural resources, such as gas, petroleum and minerals such as gold copper and nickel. The development of these resources have been largely free of corruption at any level. Perhaps of greatest potential is the nation’s vast gas resource. The Gas-to-Queensland Project  would underpin national revenues and provide cheaper electricity, facilitating PNG industry. The vast fisheries resource also has great potential to provide social and economic benefit.

Papua New Guinea has some critical problems beyond those already mentioned. The incidence of HIV/AIDS is an emerging social tragedy that will have wide ranging economic consequences. The delivery of basic services, such as health care is poor, but there are signs the crisis in service delivery will finally be confronted with a re-structuring of the public sector and a more stable fiscal position.

Papua New Guinea is not a failed state or anything like it. There are serious problems, but there are also opportunities. Good governance and the help of friends, including Australia, can convert into a better future for our five and a half million neighbours.