Comments

I met Anthony Clunnies Ross in the Winter of 2001 in Hydro Cliff, Scotland during an course excursion there. He was one of our external visiting Professors who adjudicate on international development economics - IMF/World Bank conditionality and Washington Consensus on structural adjustment programs imposed on third countries. He was Professor of Economics at Clyde Univesrity, Glasgow at that time. As an only international student from South Pacific, I was lonely but when he picked me out and said I must be from Papua New Guinea, I was relieved. He said he taught at the University of Papua New Guinea prior to Independence. He has a great character from the first impression. He has shown he knows great deal about PNG economy. It is sad to hear the news of passing.

While I'm online I'll also note that my total number of women candidates varies very slightly from some other published numbers (i.e. http://www.looppng.com/tags/2017-election-candidate-numbers). When I get better data I'll look into this. For now though the difference is too small to affect analysis.

Thanks David. Point noted. The names are a function of how I store the data in the PNG Election Results database. When I get time, if I can make it work, I'll look into amending the database.

Hi Terence. I don't disagree with your conclusions, but just want to make the point that the Bougainville seat is not a 'provincial' seat (Bougainville not being a province). It is called 'Bougainville Regional'.

That such a blatantly sexist/offensive cartoon escaped all newsroom checks/balances and was actually published — by none other one of PNG's oldest and largest newspapers — could mean the senior editors saw nothing wrong with it. This highlights entrenched attitudes towards women and underlines the dire need for gender-sensitive training for journalists, especially if they are expected to be in the frontline, changing people's perceptions. If the cartoon example is anything to go by, media are reinforcing prejudices, which is a disastrous misuse of media's reach and power to influence.

Look on the bright side Terence: President Trump would be pleased with us as we will soon meet our fair share of defence spending at 2.0% of GDP https://www.minister.defence.gov.au/minister/christopher-pyne/media-releases/budget-2017-18-defence-budget-overview.

Thanks Bob. I agree that the data don't fit well with either country's preferred narrative of itself. Definitely depressing.

Terence, A terrific piece but very depressing. I am not surprised by the data but it is still depressing to read it. I agree that Australians are not overall selfish people but we need to improve the information flow to them about the real situation. This data might help.

The PNG National Population Policy (NPP) 2015-2024 is in line with the commitment to the International Conference on Population and Development's (ICPD) Plan of Action signed by the PNG government focuses on sexual and reproductive health including family planning as a key component. The last NPP (2000-2010) and its current successor were formulated with this commitment in mind. Community health posts (CHPs) staffed with a trained midwife and able to provide deliveries and antenatal care would do so much more to reducing high infant/child and maternal mortality situation in the country. Further, family planning and education go hand in hand in post poning age at first marriage and age at which a women has her first baby thereby reducing chances of any complications due to risky fertility behavior (having children outside ages 22-36, spacing of having children by a year or two, having more children, etc). Furthermore the ICDP recognizes both the intangible and tangible outcomes of reproductice health but often times, only the tangible is the main aim of programmes. These considerations should be kept in mind when talking about reproductive health generally.

Nothing is impossible if people and leaders put their minds to solving the service delivery disconnect affecting Gulf people. It would start with good determined people who have a heart for their people. In terms of the survey results I would like to see actual reasons why other than the apparent why there is a disconnect between government at Waigani and the rural health posts and community schools. I often wonder why government services during the colonial patrol officer days with limited gocernment resources achieved more. Maybe its also the system letting the people down.

Thanks Margaret and Grant for mentioning this book. I bought it last year in Madang in a dark gift shop at the Kalibobo Resort. At first they said $40 then I eventually bought for about $15. I enjoyed reading it then went to find the diaries of Maclay online which I have devoured. I live in PNG and find this early history fascinating. Thanks Grant for your excellent comments about life here and the gentle people.

Would PM O'Neill now after one term be classified as a member of the elite "Old Guard"?..or is he still a first term PM desperately vying to stay on in power and may be afforded another chance by the voters who most may still view him as young kid on the block compared to other rivals from the "Old guard" contesting the PM position in election '17?