Comments

Hi Richelle, The research in question isn't Anthony's (he's reporting on another study). One academic working paper seems to have been published to-date from the work. You can see it <a href="http://jasper-cooper.com/papers/Cooper_CAP.pdf" rel="nofollow">here</a>. You could also email the author. Their contact details are <a href="https://egap.org/registration/2042" rel="nofollow">here</a>. cheers Terence

Thank you Dr Grant Walton and Ms Husnia Hushang for a most interesting blog post, with clear analysis and helpful diagrams. One very small project which has had some wins and which may not be captured in the budget figures you’ve analysed is the Phones against Corruption project. For more information on Phones against Corruption, see <a href="http://www.asia-pacific.undp.org/content/rbap/en/home/ourwork/development-impact/innovation/projects/png-phone-against-corruption.html" rel="nofollow">here</a> and <a href="http://dpa.bellschool.anu.edu.au/experts-publications/publications/4461/reporting-corruption-within-papua-new-guineas-public" rel="nofollow">here</a>. Amanda Dr Amanda H A Watson Lecturer Australian National University

Anthony, have you published your research yet?

Helpful post on migration for small developing countries. Thanks for sharing with us.

Hi Stephen, I'm Rereiti Kaikai from Kiribati. I passed the test for the PLS on the 15th of September. My section is maintenance and so excited for the next step. Much thanks to you and your Government.

This is serious!

Good piece James, thank you. Australia’s current political landscape is driving dynamics in the Pacific. Inauspicious govt policies, big brother lip service, indigenous people abuse, racist undertones re Asian/Subcontinent asylum seekers in contrast to Afrikaaner predicament, deporting Pacific islanders and other human rights abuses predictably provide fertile breeding for non-European influence. Indonesia will be the next friend of Pacific nations by the looks of things. Australia and its current right wing undertone projects colonialist past and certainly not lost on Pacific states leadership. Despite toothy smiles all around, at the end of the day – those leaders understand the power of economic commercial trade and Mao’s barrel of a gun politics. No amount of political interference in local Pacific elections can change these current Pacific suspicions. New generational leadership will continue to look at Australia and NZ as colonial masters desperate to hold on its Pacific power with the help of US and UK. The way forward is not to throw money at the Pacific states in competition with China. That is what China expects. Who has deeper pockets? No, the way forward is to demonstrate to Pacific states that Australia is worthy of being the leader of the region. That means responsible government that respects national and international laws, and return to lifelong friend to regional Pacific states. Reciprocal respect equals return to lifelong friendship.

Beware the overwhelming use of cultural factors of tolerance's explanations. It is too reductive of the Thai population. Please, note more carefully the ban of meetings of more than five people, for example, and close cyber surveillance of the Thais.

Very interesting study. How can you support replication in other towns/ provinces ? And support and enable local organisations to undertake the research and participate in the analysis?

The Customs Recognition Act has been partly repealed by the Underlying Law Act 2000, although the extent of the implied repeal is a matter of debate.

Informative and balanced analysis indeed.

Not sure if depreciating the exchange rate is going to boost imports...but spending does need to be reigned in. let's not forget about the terms for Papua LNG, important for future revenue growth.