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Most important lessons from a laymen's understanding. - Poor judgment of future trends - Slow and late application of cushioning policy responses - Nill to less investment in Agriculture and export industries Government spending has not affected 80% of the rural population. Advisers need to be more proactive, Active Agr. sector commodity boards with funding. Thanks

The authors claim that "the need to broaden labour migration debates in the Pacific beyond the narrow focus on temporary/seasonal mobility." While this is a fair claim, one must note that the goal of seasonal labour migration is to create a win-win solution in terms of providing some job opportunities (where there was none to start with for low skilled workers) and employers' to gain from this program in terms of having labour to work for them in the hoticulture and viticulture industry. This is the basic idea of the scheme and the benefits for the temporary workers are becoming evident. However, we must not mix the short-term migration programmes with other forms of migration. The seasonal labour migration has its own place in the development discussion and therefore need not be mixed with or connected to (at least in direct sense) to permanent migration. A unifying thread that runs between temporary and permanent migration is the idea of 'demand driven' opportunities. If the demand is there, then other things such as regulatory structures can be paved to support this. However, if the demand is not there, then oversupply only puts stress on the resources and the migrants themselves. Another important issue that needs to be (and this is not a new issue) tackled, especially in regard to skilled migration, is why people choose to migrate? RSE workers don't choose (and the scheme is not for migration). The workers to have employment to support family and children back home and also share their expriences as part of the learning and development.

Yes a systematic review should be made by the authors, as there have been several authors that have been documenting experiences of seasonal workers since 2007. Then the authors would have realised that changes were made to the RSE policy enabling more flexibility in the program. If up-to-date sources were used, the authors would have noted that seasonal workers do indeed have opportunities to upskill and gain promotions and far from being vulnerable, and at least in the case of RSE workers they are the most protected workers in these industries. Also it would be interesting to know more about the ‘restriction of welfare and family rights’ that the authors are alluding to.

Thank you Ashlee! Kind Regards Bal

PNG does not have any problem in terms of the economic development, PNG is rich in every natural resources it is still the best. However, the development program and policy and in place should be adjusted. It is clear indication of the poor management. It is not that we fall in any aspect of our economy. The people involve in decision making are the problem in this country. Concern Citizen...................thanks

Good to see that Rostow’s 1960s modernisation theory of throwing money at aid will result in development still has its proponents, as Howes seems to be suggesting in his condemnation of the recent cuts in the Australian Aid budget. Modernisation theory is in contrast to the impact evaluation literature, the work of Tikly, Pritchett, UNESCO, World Bank, ODE , USAID and DFID who all are saying that despite the huge amounts of aid money thrown at education, students still are not learning after over 50 years of aid. Just to bring those who are in modernisation theory brigade up to 2016, a recent Better Evaluation blog on Impact evaluations identifies the fact that it’s not the quantum of dollars in aid, it’s the impact and the efficiency of the dollars spent that leads to development in host countries. When the education aid industry can deliver improved student learning outcomes, I am sure that the money will be invested again. But after fifty years of lack of impact, one can be excused for thinking students in host countries are categorised as exploitable resources for the aid industry, not children deserving development

Leonard Fong Roka is another Bougainvillean author who has written about the experience of the crisis. His books are available on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=dp_byline_sr_book_1?ie=UTF8&text=Leonard+Fong+Roka&search-alias=books&field-author=Leonard+Fong+Roka&sort=relevancerank" rel="nofollow">Amazon</a>.

I would like to make several brief comments on Anna Maalsen's article and references to distortions, over-reactions and sensationalism I worked for nearly 15 years in PNG, all in health in the provinces, which included 5 years over a ten year period as the provincial health adviser in Daru. I am well acquainted with the MDR TB situation there, its history and outlook With all due respect to Ms Maalsen, I find her dismissal of recent commentaries on MDR-TB on Daru as well-meaning sensationalism to be patronising and wrong. In fact, many in Western Province and many TB experts believe that what is currently known is only 'the tip of the iceberg' The threat posed by MDR TB is undeniable - and recognised by international experts - and it deserves the 'Ebola with Wings' tag. The suggestion that it is no more important or serious than maternal health or violence against women issues does none of these issues justice. MDR TB is different, the threat it poses is real, and the need for urgent and more effective action is clear. Readers who doubt the seriousness of the MDR TB crisis, or imply that there isn't a 'crisis', would be well advised to read Emma McBryde's /Burnet Institute's Scenario Analyses. They would also be well advised to visit Daru and villagers in Western, and talk to health professionals on the ground and the communities affected. The concerns that TB experts have are justified and the fear in communities is well-founded

The global demand for rapid actions to address climate change adverse effects is not effectively mainstreamed into the established government service delivery structures. Low level of capacities and lack of knowledge and information about the mitigation potential like REDD is a new scheme not fully understood by the public to implement in a meaningful way..

Have we ever thought about restructuring the government system to protect it from our cultural norms that tends to manipulate it regardless of the government of the day? I would definitely agree with Gitte Heij above. Blockchain can be an avenue to explore to keep the system clean. Stephen would you have a response to that suggestion?

Thank you Bal for the list. Another important concern that can be added to your analysis lists, PNG debt level over the last two years. Huge borrowing from external and domestic funders-estimated debts has gone up to over K25billion (over the limit of 35% allowed under the Fiscal Management & Responsibility Act) with some due for repayment which the government is unable to repay and has gone into co-financing to repay, further increasing the debts. Many of the economic decisions taken by the government in the last 2 years or so is outside the annual budget limit, therefore the true picture of the country cash flow is not declared, thus kept to few individuals who take a band aid approach by creating one problem to the next. Now PNG have a huge backlog of transactions for foreign exchange while BPNG running out of cash surplus, the recent borrowing of US$300m from IMF to fix the problem will not make much difference. Also the 2016 PNG budget of approximately K16 billion was handed down last November with a projected deficit of K2 billion (maybe to be financed through loans). However, with the current debts and cash flow situation, this projection will be beyond PNG capacity to finance its 2016 budget. No wonder, the reported cases of budget cuts made to PNG education and health services this year like the church health partnerships budget cut is a true reflection of this burden. The future looks frightening now for PNG.

Werner, John and Gerard, you all touched on the different aspects of the issue i.e. international law, respect for sovereignty and the economic and environmental effect from the detention centre. We hope future discussion on asylum seekers detention centres in the region will take account of these aspects. Bal