Comments

Hello Natasha, I do like this idea and the two littlies looking out over the tarmac at Jacksons. Reminds me of my own children doing the same thing at that age. I would like to throw an idea into the ring. I know a few PNG health professionals with international qualifications to boot who work in PNG for the smell of an oily rag while those ostensibly doing a similar job in Australia earn a king’s ransom by comparison. With no desire to start a “brain drain” I propose the following. Subject to passing an accreditation exam, PNG health professionals (including nursing officers and midwives) be offered a six month on, six months off visa to work in the same or similar sectors in Australia (and New Zealand). Of necessity it would have to start small so as not to exacerbate the huge shortfall in qualified staff in PNG. But over time become the modus operandi for many. This would enable them to earn significant income every year while still contributing directly to the needs at home. The potential benefits as I see it are many and flow both ways. Apart from a boost in the personal income it could expose participants to levels of service delivery, particularly in the primary healthcare sector that many I believe would strongly advocate for upon their return home. It would be expected to significantly stimulate the uptake of health sciences training in PNG where at present a very large shortfall in training capacity and health professionals exist. If it was an ongoing arrangement, I envisage Australian teaching institutions establishing satellite or partnership arrangements with counterparts in PNG, an arrangement that would benefit all parties, particularly in primary healthcare services where the greatest needs exist. In total the benefits to both countries would be significant. I would suggest that Solomon Island and Vanuatu health professionals might also wish to participate in such a scheme which ultimately would include other sectors. Not unlike part of the vision that underpinned the creation of the European Union, I foresee our nearest neighbours benefitting in tangible ways on their own terms while we for our part would benefit greatly in many ways from becoming more neighbourly.

Thanks Natasha. I just pointed out the potential (and claims) for corruption and bribery during corruption during votes of no confidence. But I wouldn’t say therefore there shouldn’t be votes of no confidence. Because if the trajectory the country is in is not stopped through a VONC, it would get worse. CDFs should’ve been abolished a long time ago. But lingers on because, among other things, it helps the PM buy support. We’ve called for either it to be abolished, or at least legislated for that it removes government’s control over it. But again, the government wouldn’t want to lose control of the funding because it would lose the ability to control MPs’ behaviour.

very nice article 🥰👍 ,as a Papua New Guinean I got the points 1:bribery during vonc and also general election?? in my opinion it's part of selling your birthright. In the Bible story of essau and Jacob. 2: VONC ! why not we change it to debate like USA presidential elections. However I think the ministry holders and the prime minister as to undertake a course on how to run the country, province, district and how to do their ministerial jobs. For example,a teacher by profession holds health ministerial portfolio how can he/she knows what the health department needs and understand faster to issue funds. if needed ASAP .sometimes the request is critical but it as to go under review and could take another two weeks or more because he has no idea on what is being requested. PNG is and will be going back wards because of politics is being driven into economic downfall of our country.

I'm with you on this idea, Bird.

Very interesting and also challenging to all of us especially educated people who came out from poor backgrounds. Congratulations to your achievement, my brother.

Great informative article, Michael. The way I read this is that, it’s actually better to avoid a VONC and allow whoever is in Govt to serve their term to reduce even more corruptive practices. It doesn’t stop mis(use) of CDF. I don’t completely agree that CDF should be done away with though. If acquittals are not submitted then CDFs should be withheld. Enforcing the monitoring mechanism to ensure greater accountability, and of course prosecution for non-compliance, should together deter corrupt practices producing a robust governance system and flourishing democracy.

I believe Lisa has made an important distinction between the pursuit of strategies we might find desirable as opposed to what may work within a given context on the ground. Her statement that critical to conceiving how development is achieved is developing a framework for capturing learning about what works, for who, where, and why is essential. If, as she posits, development practice is fundamentally about understanding how sustainable change happens then getting a clear picture of how our strategies do or do not resonate within a given socio-cultural milieu is critical. I would suggest that is a far more nuanced process than is presently admitted to. For example, in a strongly patriarchal setting it might be one thing to promote a GEDSI agenda through local women’s groups (an approach that might attract a tick in a MEL log frame). Quite another to promote the economic empowerment of men that by design simultaneously empowers women and enhances the delivery of the essential services they need. A circuitous route towards the same objectives but in a more acceptable and potentially sustainable way. And if this approach necessitates the inclusion of greater local agency over activities and ownership for deliverables then so be it. The real challenge, as I see it, is for agencies to have the courage of conviction in the strategies they pursue to be more post box than implementer and demonstrate that.

I am grateful to be invited to this forum and wish to contribute ideas and suggestion on how best we can partner and work together in the recruitment and engagement of workforce to fill the labour market gap and be employable in the Horticulture and Viticulture Industries abroad. The workers will work and earn money to improve their livelihoods and the Company in the host country can depend on the steady workforce and maximize profits.

Great reading!

Does the Connect PNG Program cover Maritime provinces as well? There is a real need in connecting those little islands.

Thank you for sharing your inspirational story. It would be great if you publish it on newspapers as well.

Hi Emele, I do not speak for those distributing the places but you have already answered your own question there: there are already more Fijians in Australia than people from any other Pacific country, and part of the motivation here was to expand opportunities to those with historically less access. Of course, PNG also has ten times the population of Fiji. I don't disagree with anything your have said about Fijian workers though, and agree that there should be a large increase in places for Fiji (and all participating countries) next year.