Expectations from both sides will be high, as will sensitivity and touchiness, if Australia is seen as bullying, hectoring or interfering on the one hand, or ignoring, being indifferent or failing to provide needed support at times of need, on the other.
Many in PNG would like to see the relationship move away from development assistance and focus more on trade and investment, with some concerned that Australia has been dis-investing as greater investment comes from elsewhere, perhaps with less interest in PNG's underlying development.
Many in PNG would like to see the relationship move away from development assistance and focus more on trade and investment, with some concerned that Australia has been dis-investing as greater investment comes from elsewhere, perhaps with less interest in PNG's underlying development.
There have long been accusations of Australian Aid comprising unduly of 'boomerang aid' with too much focus on contracts going back to Australian firms and advisers. Sometimes Australia is urged to put more into concrete infrastructure, while others emphasis capacity building, to enable PNG institutions to become more functional and autonomous; others emphasis education and broader human resource development, while other emphasis assistance with economic development.
Clearly, Australia doesn't have the financial, institutional or human capacity to deliver all functions effectively, as well as providing emergency support at times when relief is needed; it does need to focus its efforts to be more cost effective and better aligned with both PNG's own development needs and capacity and those of Australia.
Clearly, Australia doesn't have the financial, institutional or human capacity to deliver all functions effectively, as well as providing emergency support at times when relief is needed; it does need to focus its efforts to be more cost effective and better aligned with both PNG's own development needs and capacity and those of Australia.
The Manus Detention Centre distorted the focus and relationship away from PNG's development priorities and towards political and other expedient aspirations for several years. Hopefully that relatively toxic agenda is receding into the past, and hopefully other issues, notably regional economic and power rivalries, don't unduly distort the basis of the relationship, although they clearly will play an increasing part.
Many Papua New Guineans (and some Australians) are now asking why Australia seems to condone or tolerate the level of corruption in PNG, including over financial or property transactions involving PNG political and public servant/SOE leaders operating in the Australian market.
Many Papua New Guineans (and some Australians) are now asking why Australia seems to condone or tolerate the level of corruption in PNG, including over financial or property transactions involving PNG political and public servant/SOE leaders operating in the Australian market.
Following the Panama Papers and greater global exposure and public intolerance of abuse by political and business leaders and officials, it seemed that Australia has remained surprisingly silent with respect to PNG, including in the face of the major abuses in the National Election process in 2017 and major governance and financial exposures.
They ask, is Australia so weak that it feels unable to speak out, let alone engage more actively, even with transactions occurring on Australian soil or through Australian institutions, and wonder whether Australia feels it needs to kowtow to some PNG leaders to gain influence or to counter other regional influence, or just to secure recent deals over Manus, for example.
They ask, is Australia so weak that it feels unable to speak out, let alone engage more actively, even with transactions occurring on Australian soil or through Australian institutions, and wonder whether Australia feels it needs to kowtow to some PNG leaders to gain influence or to counter other regional influence, or just to secure recent deals over Manus, for example.
They wonder what's become of the Australian Aid program, which had been more proactive and engaged; largely, but has seemingly become stymied and unresponsive to priority local needs and priorities, despite some very large and perhaps unwieldy programs and managing contracts.
Most Papua New Guineans seem to feel that if Australia is a true friend of PNG, as they believe it should be, it should retain higher standards and look to the future, beyond short term expediency, and support and engage with ordinary Papua New Guineans and their needs/priorities and not just the interests of some leaders, for seemingly pragmatic reasons.
Most Papua New Guineans seem to feel that if Australia is a true friend of PNG, as they believe it should be, it should retain higher standards and look to the future, beyond short term expediency, and support and engage with ordinary Papua New Guineans and their needs/priorities and not just the interests of some leaders, for seemingly pragmatic reasons.
….As well, of course, as being more responsive to other aspects of the relationship, such as making visas and working visas for Australia more accessible to ordinary PNGeans, as well as reopening access to Queensland health services for border communities in Western Prov etc.
Source: Paul Barker - FaceBook.
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