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What is LNG levy for two quarters 2026?

Hi all, I am just letting you know that based on farmer feedback in PNG, we have completely redesigned the PNG cocoa app to be easier to access, include more videos and audio. The updated app can be downloaded here: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.boss.pngcocoa Tom

This is a very interesting and difficult issue - not always a problem, but always there in the wings. Way back, in the day, I had several conversations with Hammer DeRoburt and the Chief Justice Ian Thompson during the drafting phase of Ian's work on the court system. Pre-Independence and for a short time afterwards there were Nauruan magistrates, but Hammmer wanted the system changed. Hammer was adamant that there were to be no Nauruan magistrates and there would be no jury system. Hammer believed there were too many avenues for corruption and favouritism. Family and tribal ties were as much a problem as family and tribal feuds (for some, the events of the mid-nineteenth century were still to be brought to mind on occasion) were not uncommon and would threaten any system of law. One solution Ian wrote into legislation was the ability to have courts include expert lay members who could impart their knowledge to the judge. The idea has never been put into effect. Hammer had a strong belief in the rule of law and the constitution - something that has been lost over the years. I have always felt that one of Hammer's mistakes (one taken on board around the South Pacific) was the requirement that the courts adopt the formal dress of the English Courts: a practice that, in my opinion, borders on the insane - but there you go - who doesn't like dressing up in fancy clothes with full bottom wigs (and the rest) to impress.

Great article and such welcome support for all.

Great work in building your professional skills, few thoughts here! It would be interesting if you build in a hypothetical premise basing on the PNG past 50 years or the next 50 years and collect informant interviews to attest/confirm the premise would be a better way to gauge UNI students understanding and knowledge. For Example, what would be their take from the last 50 years in development, or a piece of valuable tradition/practice that may/likely to disappear in the next 50 year (your research should frame that way). It would be more interesting, if you have done or propose to do baseline data collection of gender-based violence or how gender related diversities is understood in a learning institution like UPNG, and if resources allow extend to other tertiary institutions and compare. (Your professional area of interest). The studies would cover, how students understand relevant government approaches and policies, pathways and how it affects development. The concern now is that many educated professionals after they left schools and find employment, they quickly ended up in multiple cases of gender based violences, even to the stage where lives were lost (am sure you will recall some cases). If recent graduates learned and understand something on GBV and the rippling effects, they would live within sound gender-based disciplines in the working fields. The above proposition is something that you may like to consider going forward, you can seek support beyond the ANU-UPNG initiative to undertake such research.

Hi Koivi, Nice to hear from you. As a start, you can download the app for free from: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.boss.pngcocoa I would recommend contacting the Cocoa Board of PNG for agronomy and cocoa growing advice! Tom

Hi Peter, I was encouraged that Minister Burke attacked the One Nation plan not to allow temporary workers to bring their families with them. Regarding the upfront travel cost promise, I don't think that made a lot of sense. It would have required some sort of credit system with repayments over time by employers, and was just too complex for too little gain. Not every election promise needs to be kept. But those which make sense certainly should be! Regards, Stephen

Hi Cha, This is a good point, but I think PNG is the only Pacific country eligible for the backpacker visa and the cap is only 100. Overall, this is a good decision for the Pacific.

Hi David, I appreciate your response, but I want to correct you on a few key points. On the 90,000 backpacker number in our blog, that is the number who received a second or third year backpacker visa in 2025-26, excluding UK backpackers. UK nationals are excluded from that most recent (90,000) number precisely for the reason you mention (they don't need to do regional work to get an extension). So, even with the UK deal, we are seeing many more backpackers work in regional areas. This relates to the second point. The boom in total backpacker numbers is only in part due to the increase in UK numbers. Even if we take out all the UK citizens, more than 50% of backpackers are now second or third year visa holders. So these regional schemes have become ever more popular. We are getting more first year backpackers and backpackers are staying longer, with a record number in the regions. You can read our more general analysis at https://devpolicy.org/the-second-backpacker-boom-causes-20260617/ Finally, it's not a key point for this debate, but I don't think the UK FTA is onesided. Australian backpackers can also stay for up to three years in the UK. I agree with you and we state in our blog that backpackers and PALM workers are not perfect substitutes. But, over the years, so many policy decision have increased the number of backpackers available for employers to hire without any regulation at all and so many policy decisions have made PALM less attractive to employers. So I'm glad to at last see a policy decision going the other way. That said, this is a very unsettled policy area. You would have to predict that next time the right side of politics is in power, they will increase or remove the new third-year backpacker cap and/or introduce an agricultural visa. Thanks again for your comment, Stephen

are you able to assist me to contact former Agric colleagues of Brian Scoullar

Interesting read findings suggest that the tax exemption is short term price relieve measure and its impact will wane given underlying cost pressures are not addressed by government. For example, effect of depreciating kina. Meaning that prices of these items will continue to increase amid the current policy in place. There is an upside risk for prices of these items to surge when this policy comes off.

Amazing women out there. We have the same common goals and we all fight for justice.