Comments

Hi Ian, you can find more information on how to apply on the PALM scheme website: https://www.palmscheme.gov.au/how-apply

Hi Terence, really interesting - thank you! Just wondering - on what basis do you say that COVID-19 did not make that much of a difference to the scale of budget support as a % of total aid. If my calculations are correct, based on the attached Excel data comparing pre-COVID (2019) to post-COVID (2020-2022), it seems that budget support as a % of total donor aid has slightly more than doubled from about 1.95% to around 4% for OECD countries, for multilaterals the increase has been a bit larger, from 11.6% to 26%, while for Australia the change appears to have been very big, increasing almost fivefold from 1.19% to 5% - still small compared to the total aid program, but a big increase from where it started.

Well said Matt. Mekere set a high standard, but introduced reforms that demonstrate that it is possible in PNG to set policies and programs that are designed to improve the wellbeing of the ordinary citizens of this great country. The accumulation of wealth and influence by just a privileged few is a tragedy that robs the people of PNG of the financial and social well-being that they are entitled to expect. PNG is a relatively wealthy country. Its resources base far surpasses other South Pacific nations, and to the extent that these are exploited, the benefit should be shared by all. This would see health, education, public safety, transport and economic prosperity being available to all, not just to a selected few. We need others to follow in the path that Mekere pioneered, and adopting the principles of governance and public service that Mekere epitomised. Reform and economic justice is achievable. We need those who share Mekere’s vision to stand up and take up the challenge. Otherwise we see another lost 20 years, to the detriment of this generation and the next.

Yes it has been a feature in Samoa for a number of years although not always observed as diligently by the visitors as we might loke

Hi Zechariah, the riot indeed painted a bad image of the country. I hope the government investigation also covers the kidnapping and sexual assault cases which appeared on social media, but seemed to have not picked up by the mean-stream media.

Great overview and analysis Andy, Port Moresby and PNG is becoming more unsafe with time. There were also a reported case of kinaping a Child believed to be of Chinese origin and women and girls raped. What transpired on the 10th January has pinned a bad image for investors to invest in the country going forward.

Very succinct read and thank you for putting it together. Samoa is also using a similar 'black out' period where the focus is on internal policy, budget and priorities. Australia and other development actors are increasingly aware of this and incorporating into their own project life cycle planning and engagement priorities.

I am interested in working for the program..

Good observations, Tony Guan. Thanks.

The best kind of analysis this blog has to offer: a clear overview of context, backed by data, with clear recommendations. Thank you! > Formal sector employment peaked at 300,000 This is so incredibly low compared to the population. Gives an idea of how tough it must be to get a decent job for unqualified workers.

Mark, I concur with your comment. The politicians are power hungry for money, they should perform their duties as the law and policy makers. Our laws must be reviewed to remove their financial powers. I believe that will resolve all the corrupt practices associated with politicians and State bureaucrats.

Hi Dr. Hukula Thank you for your comment Since I only managed to analyse 152 cases for my Bachelor of Arts with Honors Sub-thesis (due to the word limit of the sub-thesis) these were the results. If I did analyse all the cases (2000+), who knows the results might show an equal number of employed and unemployed women reporting their cases to the FSVUs. But from interviews with the FSVU officers in 2020, most victims were unemployed women at that time. However, they always withdraw their cases. Thank you for sharing the links as well.