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“‘Visit diplomacy’ has often been used to seduce leaders, by playing on their ego and sense of self-importance ... Large Solomon Islands delegations have visited other countries. Beijing is a master of visit diplomacy. The Chinese government has rolled out the red carpet, mounted guards of honour and pampered Solomon Islands politicians ... Other countries are likely to entice Solomon Islands with such visits, but they are unlikely to outmatch Beijing.” Beijing pampering Pacific leaders during visits to Beijing plays into the Bigman tendencies of these leaders, especially those from Melanesia. It’s a cultural expectation, which Beijing meets with perfection. In Melanesia, you get the loyalty of the Bigman you gain influence among his people. Despite education and exposure to Western values diminishing Bigman politics somewhat, national elections have shown how much of an influence Bigmen still have. These Bigman, when they return from such trips, can sway parliament’s decisions - most of which are weak and dominated by the executive branch. Prime Ministers are the Bigman among their peers in parliament, having control of resources such as the constituency development funds (Solomon Islands and PNG). After Sogavare’s visit, PNG’ Jame Marape will follow. Fiji’s Rabuka delayed his due to an injury but will be visiting China. Whist the US invites and meets the Pacific leaders as a “groups”, China plays one-on-one with the same leaders, giving them culturally expected treatment. China is said to be playing the long game. And it seems like a well researched, well budgeted, game. Exploiting the cultural tendencies exceptionally well.

Information production and consumption in Papua New Guinea is a complex issue, with a number of factors to consider. On the one hand, Papua New Guinea has a rich oral tradition, with a strong emphasis on storytelling and the transmission of knowledge through generations. This tradition is still very much alive today, and it plays an important role in shaping the way information is produced and consumed in the country. On the other hand, Papua New Guinea is also a rapidly developing country, with increasing access to digital technologies. This has led to a growing demand for information, and a shift towards more formal modes of communication.

Thanks for this, Raymond, David and Kingtau... yes this a feature of the coffee and election cycle, and 2022 was expected to be a great coffee season despite the growing spread of CBB, but especially because of the high coffee price. unfortunately the main harvest season also coincides with election times every 5 years, and with progressively more disruptive elections, especially across the Highlands, with violence but also more money politics and feasts, etc, luring farmers from harvesting, the impact has become greater. It's interesting that in the mid-2000s we raised this issue, and during the PNG Updates, that were then held in 2 provinces each year as well at NCD. Rod Duncan (son of Ron Duncan of ANU Crawford School) did some analysis that found, which he presented I think at the forum at UOG, no significant correlation between election and reduced crop or returns. I wasn't fully convinced by his findings then, but I think the case is much clearer now ... you can look up his paper in the PEB from around 2007.

Thank you Mr/Sir IIa Geno, the true son of PNG

Thank you for sharing such heartfelt words about Peter, Ian. He was not just a colleague but also a dear friend, and his absence will be deeply felt. My visits to Peter at ADBI revealed his immense popularity, both within the Institute and beyond, a testament to his character and impact on those around him. Peter's willingness to share his time and offer valuable advice to others was a true reflection of his generous nature. However, what truly leaves an indelible mark on my memories of him is his sharp and witty sense of humor, which never failed to brighten any moment. As we bid farewell to Peter, let us remember the joy he brought to our lives and the positive influence he had on so many. His legacy will continue to inspire us, and he will always be dearly missed. May he rest in peace, my dear friend.

Surely it is better to be a small island country facing two global powers, than one facing a single global power? At least when there are two, there's scope (if the political capacity exists) to play them off against one another. But if local vulnerabilities mean there is a risk local leaders being misled, is that risk likely to be greater or less if there are two superpowers around?

Come on big brother! Act like one.

Ian, you're right about Peter's views on long sentences. He particularly disapproved of using the word 'and' to link different ideas. His circular on how to write influenced my writing enormously, to this day. I often think back on it with gratitude. I worked as Peter's executive assistant for a year or so around 1997-98. I think I had stars in my eyes being able to work with someone I admired so much. He was very easy to work with, and I remember there was always a bottle or a cask of red wine at late afternoon meetings with division heads. Thank you for your very thoughtful eulogy.

Good summary and questions... the ADB converted itself, at least in PNG in the 2010s ( notably under the former Country Director) into being exclusively a transport financing platform, although in the past 3 or 4 years it's diversified with some social sector and of course budget lending. This transport financing was almost exclusively to Chinese contractors as featured in papers by Pete Connolly; although Lae Port was of course China Harbour, PNG Port's engagement with ICTSI and with Matheson took a different direction. Of course, Matheson had a finger in multiple land and prospective construction pies and certainly not exclusively the ports, eg a new HQ- township for Jiwaka on an agricultural estate etc. Questions certainly need to be asked and answered in Canberra and Manila also. There is a concern up here that governance on issues related to PNG are set aside down south to avoid ruffling feathers, and pushing some leaders towards other camps. That won't wash with the PNG public though, which expects high er standsrds, and not just opportunism, compromise or real politic from GoA... including when it comes to PNG leaders committing abuse ( money laundering etc) with Australia, or lawyers or others wanted in PNG but residing in Australia not being promptly delivered to the the justice process up here. With Fega and his protagonist I hear strong indications that it was more than a drunken dispute and that protagonists felt feared that something was owed and undelivered, but we'll probably never know that.

Until COVID, farmers used many more backpackers than they did Pacific seasonal workers. So a comparison with backpackers is definitely the best way to measure the relative costliness of SWP workers. Of course, during COVID the backpackers went home. But they are back now, so it is still a very relevant comparison. On your second point, I would say that SWP are the most profitable option for some employers. That is very different to being the cheapest option.

Great article

Hi Stephen, Cheap relative to the counterfactual of employing locally-available labour in rural Australia - I'm just not convinced that itinerant WHMs or illegal labour practices are great barometers against which to measure the relative costliness of SWP workers. I apologise if I misconstrued your point about employer preferences for higher-waged SWP workers as a suggestion of benevolent motives (though it is a sentiment that's been prevalent in farming groups' responses to e.g. recent PALM reforms). One does nonetheless wonder why some employers do opt for SWP workers if, as you mention in your review, others prefer lower-waged options: I suspect that the answer relates to SWP workers being the cheapest option (per unit of output) for those employers. Are the 'productivity' and 'reliability' you mention not relevant factors in costing the relative expense of labour?