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Our mineral policy grants all mineral rights to the Independent State of Papua New Guinea leaving the ancient peoples of Papua barren and disabled. Now if the Government wanted to truly transform PNG into a Richest Black Christian Nation. Then all it requires is to empower the people through investments on Small Scale Mining Lease in all gold producing areas in PNG and get people to be engaged and involved in gold production at sub national level including districts and local level governments throughout. Now if we look at it this way, we may also ask if PNG's Gold Bill has or will have any negative effect on Small Scale Alluvial Mining Leases? The Bill will have a catastrophic impact on all indigenous small scale alluvial gold mining practices in PNG.

This is truly an inspiring story. Life is indeed tough but only the toughest stand out.

A good piece, Ms Kakarere.

Hi Stephen. I agree that the Australian aid has not suddenly dipped in quality. Instead, what we have seen is a steady and concerning fall in the quality of the aid program after almost a decade of cuts and neglect. The clear underlying priority of Australia’s new International Development Policy is to rebuild development capability in DFAT so that an effective and high-quality international development program can be delivered. This prioritisation would not have occurred unless there existed substantive concerns regarding aid effectiveness. Advocating for a larger Australian aid program should be done in a considered way which takes into account these challenges if it is resonate with policy makers and the general public. By promoting the uncontested need for more aid funding the Development Policy Centre also risks being seen as representing just another special interest group where more is always better.

Hey, Sinclair, and Miranda! You avoid as much as I think is possible the common tendency to propose, simply, the opposite of what obtains as the solution. But I don't think we'll ever identify a single doable intervention that could work (the last candidate for that was Independence). But I've long been haunted by the example of Afghanistan in the 90s. Riven by politically meaningless conflict among warlords, the country finally found a fairly effective unity and stability through a different kind of force - not the monarchy or the Communists, not foreign occupation or imitation liberal democracy, but religious fervour. The Taliban. We'll never know how that might have developed, of course, beyond the first 5 years; but we know it happened. Could - this is the haunting - could something similar arise in PNG? A kind of Christianity, naturally, motivating organisation and good-faith dedication in a "Students" movement...? Kastom, policing, and the construction of Western-modelled institutions never seem to get very far. And the churches and pastors seem far and away the most legitimate authorities, there and elsewhere in Melanesia. Not a proposed or, I think, wished-for reform, of course! Just a question.

Thanks for the comment - Yes, I agree with you.

I totally agree with you regarding Palau and FSM and so the wisdom of those deciding really needs to be questioned and particularly given that we have limited links with these countries compared to those island nations participating in the PALM scheme. I question why the Australian government needs to have agreement from the governments of those countries that it wishes to offer PEV's to their peoples. I suggest that at least one country has paternalistic governments wanting to control their people and not so interested in their aspirations that lie beyond their own shores. Also, to talk of possible brain-drains occurring from countries participating in the PALMS scheme is baseless as many PALMS workers applying for a PEV will be able to gain offers of employment from their present employers, and so this diversifies further the skill pool of applicants. Lastly, the degree of climate effects (and specifically sea-level rise) on participating countries should be a major factor in determining future proportions of allocations.

100%. You can apply from anywhere in the world, as long as you have access to the internet, meet the other criteria (age, citizenship, and birthplace) and have a passport (which you obviously do).

Absolutely inspiring. Keep grinding for more success to come. The country needs people with solid foundations.

The Kanaks should use the Melanesian Spearhead Group to raise the issue. I don't know how active it is, but if mainland French are allowed to vote in New Caledonia then a Quota from Melanesia (PNG, Fiji, SI, Vanuatu) to match every non-Kanak individual should be allowed to vote in New Caledonia.

Hi, Stephen am working in Australia for three years now under the PALM scheme but currently am on holiday and I will return August. But I really interested to apply. Is it still okay for me to apply while I on holiday in my country?

Nice reading, Generally, cocoa production had dropped since 2008 due to CPB, which may also had compounded with other factors. Industry needs time and effort for a full recovery, which can only be possible through smallholder capacity building using existing models such as FFT and others that work well for the industry.