Comments

Hi Theresa, The bill was listed for consideration by the Australian Senate last week, but never made it to the floor. It is now listed for this week, but for Thursday, the very last day of the session. That's not a good sign. There is one positive thing to report. Senator David Pocock (Independent, ACT) has moved an <a href="https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/download/legislation/amend/r6977_amend_753f6f35-6b6f-45b0-a848-48fe65a5a24c/upload_pdf/2050%20CW%20Migration%20Amendment%20(Australias%20Engagement%20in%20the%20Pacific%20and%20Other%20Measures)%20Bill%202023_D%20Pocock%20.pdf;fileType=application%2Fpdf" rel="nofollow ugc">amendment</a>which would mean that the lottery which would run the PEV cannot be used for humanitarian (refugee) visas. The Greens have made it clear that this is a requirement for them to support the bill. So Pocock's amendment should make the PEV legislation acceptable to the Greens as well as Pocock. If the Jacqui Lambie Network also supported the Bill, then that would give the numbers to pass the Bill even without Coalition support.

Hi Andrew, Are you able to publish the NDB Audit Report? I note that you have cited a news article from the National, however, a copy of the Audit Report would help give credibility to your citation and comments. Thank you.

Thanks for the info Karen. I am currently on a 408 visa working under Disability sector. Praying I will get the opportunity to apply for PR in the PEV when it’s legislated

Wondering if there have been any updates on the July senate meeting?

Hi Rick I think our local people are not educated well enough to understand the impact and effect of the project. I think from my perspective as a small scale mining field that project is more valuable and it is really economical. That liquidation of Nautilus mark the end of the road for the deep-sea mining industry? That might be the case in PNG, but the Pacific Ocean continues to be at the forefront of the global deep-sea mining frontier. The deep see mining is safe and economical. Thank you

This is one of the major issues affecting many developing countries, though they aspire for economic development through activities such as logging or fishing for that matter, they are not prone to its side effects. Neighboring PNG is one such country that is going through similar issues, economic and social development is occurring at a cost, and in most cases, those costs are unplanned such as this. This calls for re-strategizing the strategies of intervention and planning by governments when proposing development activities. Careful considerations for the long-term effects of large-scale projects and their impacts on the local community and the natural inhabitants must not be overlooked.

I am a concerned student and I have been working hard on this proposal for a waste management project in my dads village and cant get any support from the Central Provincial Government funding's, IDG,DSIP,PSIP. So as high tide bringing the huge amount of waste into the village/community. Your project to convert waste to energy is really interesting. Keep up the good work!! Morea Morris Hitolo POM Central Province

Your joint article on the relational state in Bougainville is insightful, eloquent and so refreshing. Having worked in PNG and other weak states in international development and witnessed the challenges local bureaucrats face, it is so wonderful to FINALLY read a much needed critique of the dominant negative characterisations of local bureaucrats (although there are some there are not enough) and, as you say, start to consider the complexity of their environment and their contributions in a meaningful way. Thank you for a brilliant contribution..

Totally agree with your sentiments. Its not just the Department of Planning and Monitoring that needs to do more auditing on the ground. DIRD and AGO also need to be more resourced and be more proactive. Hopefully, our new website www.ddawatch.org can also help provide more transparency. Eddie Tanago ACT NOW!

Thank you @Stephen Howes & @Huiyuan Liu for this valuable entry in regards to Pacific island (PI) statistics. Great to know about the method used - 'augmented ancestry' as it addresses some of the barriers faced by the different industries when they want to look at the numbers for PI communities. I am of PI cultural heritage and it is so useful when we are putting together a narrative in order to address issues as we are over-represented in poor health outcomes and incarceration rates. I was wondering if you would have the numbers for the individual states or if you can point me to any other research/studies/sources that would give me more specific data for each state. Thank you in advance for any help you can offer.

Thank you Nelson, I look forward to reading it. For others who are interested, the article is here: https://www.thenational.com.pg/time-to-revisit-melanesian-rule-by-consensus/

A great and timely reminder to realign and refocus on the Pacific Way and Vision. And, this calls for special awareness and inclusion; genuine participation, exchange and diplomacy.