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Nice piece I enjoyed reading it

A recent migration amendment for the Ag visa has revealed that the visa fee will be $630AUD/worker. So, exactly double the cost for PALM. From the MYEFO we can estimate that: By 2022/23: ~7500 workers By 2023/24: ~14500 workers With that number the same for 2024/25, so presumably the 'upper limit' for Ag visa worker numbers to grow to is roughly 15k. This number would be smaller than the current number of Pacific workers here now, as well as the ~50k prescreened Pacific workers waiting to come here now.

Helo from Vanuatu. There are also many non monetary factors (similar in Vanuatu) that can influence demand for credit: a) The low level of financial literacy tend to be popular at micro level target market which could create "perceived fear"amongst potential clients from borrowing b): Issues with access to markets where borrowers can sell their produce promptly whenever harvests are due and buyers are available c) infrastructure issues to get to funding locations , d) heavy logistic processes or procedures (paper work) for a basic Finance Model, d) Lack of ongoing consistent support given to borrowers which otherwise could detect early signs of credit problems, etc. Also, strong influence of pacific culture in mixing business with our traditional style of managing finance complicate matters at times. Culture factor can also extends to shying away from informing financial institutions when we have loan problems or switched to "silent mode" until last minute pressure from MFI. Anywhere in the Pacific, what we need is building "Financial Clinics" (not just health clinics) in rural communities in proximity to borrowers locations to provide instant reliable management advisory support to those struggling, hence, reducing default rates and empowering borrowers. Those MFI also need to be innovative to create basic products that best align with client financial circumstances and not over lend. Financial staff must educate themselves on national economic trends of emerging new markets so they can create new lending products to attract new set of customers plus diversifying credit portfolio minimising risks. I think it is important for Financial institutions to start considering investment on Fintec technology to use for MFI which will minimise a lot of costs to borrowers and increase their productivity. The level of Financial Awareness (Financial literacy) must match the level of Lending business volumes, especially for Pacific market to be successful!

Thanks for the response Joe. Cheers

Hi Augugsto, I would be really interested to read your research if possible? Thanks, Brad.

Gerard, Many thanks for your detailed comment on our blog. It is important to note that the Australia Awards Scholarships Policy Handbook (January 2022) available <a href="https://www.dfat.gov.au/sites/default/files/aus-awards-scholarships-policy-handbook.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow ugc">here</a> states on page 36 clause 2.7.1 “Australia Awards Scholarships are not available for: i. undergraduate courses that are available at tertiary education institutions in the awardee’s home country”. Other clauses list other grounds for exclusion. So this means that no aid-funded scholarships would be awarded for undergraduate degree courses in teacher training, as your example assumes. From my work in evaluating the field of studies of the scholarships awarded, the reference point for the selection committee is a list of priority study areas provided by the recipient government. Richard Curtain

Thanks Peter. From what I've seen, changes in government, and within government in terms of ministers brings about policy change, but not personnel change, except at the top i.e. heads of departments. An example of change in policy when Marape came into power was the scrapping of the free health and education policy, and bringing in the IMF for a staff monitored program in 2020. An example of change in policy was the review of the Department of Justice and Attorney General's office, once Brian Kramer was given the ministry. PNG's fluid political scene makes it very difficult to follow its long term plans such as Vision 2050.

Good morning Michael, I think that is a very valid observation. At the National Level the Government and the Prime Minister have far more significant resources at their disposal to influence members to support legislative changes. In Bougainville, I think the nature of the parliament and the political system differs.The Bougainville Parliament is not divided by the more traditional “government/opposition” dichotomy. Decisions are reached by consensus as a sign of unity. As I noted in my article, it is rare for any Bill to be defeated on the floor of the House. In the case I have cited, the constitutional change was defeated. I believe this was because a select number of members voted by their conscience. The stakes were much higher because had the changes been approved, it would have given the Cabinet unfettered power to hire and fire senior public servants. A similar issue arose when the former Government of President John Momis sought to amend the Constitution so he could run for a third term. I believe that many in the Parliament voted against these amendments because they had the potential to significantly undermine good governance. I’m not sure that really answers your question, but in short, I think that Bougainvilleans are protective of their Constitution, and for many, the proposals put forward by the Government were considered as a step too far. Joe

Thank you Joseph for this interesting piece. It is difficult to defeat government proposal even in PNG parliament with government having high numbers of MPs on its side. It’s more interesting that Bougainville, which doesn’t have an opposition, prevented such amendments. A possibility: the ABG president doesn’t have the resources that PNG PMs have, like the millions of Kina in DSIP/PSIP which PMs use as a tool to get political support for such amendments in PNG?

Very important political database ... whether official or not, the database will provide a good 'pointer' for anyone interested in PNG politics.

Thanks Maholopa - the numbers are very instructive. Is there now scope for a further examination of the consequent decision-making by the Government(s) of the day(s) please? If Governments are regularly replaced by Votes of No Confidence or resign to avoid them, what does this mean for continuity in "government" (with a small "g")? Does this then disrupt the relationship(s) between Ministers and their Departments and thus the continuity in public administration and the effectiveness of that administration? Do programs as administered by PNG public servants retain their momentum? Something that is part of the current debate in Australia about the long-term effectiveness of the Australian Public Service.

I agree with you. At the end of 2021, last December to be exact, I conducted research on waste management strategies in the city of Dili (Dom Aleixo sub-district as a sample), it was found that there was a lack of awareness in managing waste properly, properly and efficiently. This fact eventually created a waste problem in the capital Dili and continued to the Final Disposal Site, Tibar. Another interesting fact from my research is that socialization activities regarding waste management strategies by several stakeholders are not comprehensive and adequate. Sometimes we hear them talking on television and reading in the mass media various solutions to the waste problem in Dili, but the facts give different data.