Page 569 of 806
From Tess Newton Cain on Backpacker tax under review: implications for the Seasonal Worker Program
I agree that this review should provide an opportunity to enhance the position of the SWP and provide more opportunities for Pacific island workers who wish to pursue this option. However, it is important to ensure that necessary regulatory protections relating to welfare and prevention of exploitation are not stripped away in order to make it more palatable to Australian employers.
From Jo Spratt on Antipodean apathy on Syria continues
More reading: an excellent summary of why NZ should double its refugee quota in general, as well as what more NZ can do to assist in Syria. These are complex issues, and of course nobody wants to become a refugee, but the reality is that many people around the world cannot live safely in their home country. Until the international community rectifies that situation, NZ can easily share its peace with those who need sanctuary. http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/opinion/77935806/Doubling-the-refugee-quota-is-just-the-start
From Marshall Malu on PNG growth – the measurement challenge
What is the current status of PNG economic growth? So far there has been cuts in the 2016 budget. Is there any change in the progress of economic growth?
From Tess Newton Cain on Vanuatu’s neglected international airport
That is a valid point but it implies that a failure in one system or one part of the system means that everything is flawed to the same degree and that is not the case in Vanuatu.
From Stephen Howes on Vanuatu’s neglected international airport
Hi Tess, Good that the advertising money hasn't been spent! My point relating to the cyclone was that if you call on donors to use your systems, you need to be able to demonstrate that those systems work, or at least that they don't fail spectacularly and in very important ways, as they have in the case of the runway. Regards, Stephen.
From Somali Cerise on Will gender equality promises be kept? Accountability and the 2030 Agenda
https://polisci.unm.edu/common/documents/htun_apsa-article.pdf
MALA HTUN and S. LAUREL WELDON (2012). The Civic Origins of Progressive Policy Change: Combating Violence against Women in Global Perspective, 1975–2005. American Political Science Review,106, pp 548569 doi:10.1017/
S0003055412000226
From Garth Luke on Will gender equality promises be kept? Accountability and the 2030 Agenda
Somali, could you please provide a link to the research you refer to on the most important factor in the implementation of gender equality policies. Thanks.
From susan wau on The perilous state of Taskforce Sweep: an interview with Sam Koim
God has chosen Sam Koim and no one will let him down. We prayed that one day Papua New Guinea would be a better place. Let's all work together and fight corruption. We hope that our tears will be wiped one day.
From Shakirullah on Robyn Alders: saving chooks, empowering women
I got introduced to Robyn through Anton Van Engeles who is my advisor here in Afghanistan in an ARTF funded project works under the umbrella of Ministry of Agriculture. I am an active player for poultry sector development where women economic empowerment is the core objective. Poultry is often overlooked by the bigger agricultural players, yet they are still vital for women. They provide the “mark revolution” and the glue to keep the system going. More than 35000 women got benefit from this project in poultry production. Supporting this work as she does, is therefore vital for developing practical approaches to empowering women across the world. She is a well-deserved recognition.
From Peter Graves on Achieving a larger Australian aid program will require broader budget changes
Thanks Garth and Bob
We do need new taxes for the 21st century, as the additional revenue paying for the services we expect of Government. Like the three main "cares": child; health care; aged. Or foreign aid.
An alternative is a new (Tobin) Tax of about 0.01% applied to high-frequency foreign exchange transactions. A year ago, the Chairman of ASIC claimed that “Australia is being picked off by highly-leveraged, online foreign exchange brokers”. http://www.smh.com.au/business/markets/currencies/asics-greg-medcraft-says-foreign-exchange-brokers-are-picking-off-australia-20150322-1m499a.html]
The Reserve Bank calculated FOREX trades in April 2013 averaged US$182 billion each day. By contrast, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade reported Australia’s two-way trade in 2012 was $623.8 billion, or about 4 days FOREX trading. This suggests over 90 per cent of these trades are speculative.
A Tobin Tax would mean a possible extra $18 million each day in Government revenue. Taxing the speculators would provide the extra revenue for Australia’s aid budget, e.g. child immunisation, clean water and education.
From Celia Grenning on Robyn Alders: saving chooks, empowering women
I have had the pleasure of working with Robyn since 1999 in one form or another and she has been a true inspiration to me. Her focus on achieving a sustainable Newcastle disease vaccine supply for village chickens is amazing and through sheer determination she has succeeded where many would have given up. The support that ACIAR and DFAT have provided over the years to keep this activity going has been great and it is a true credit to Australian Aid that the outcomes of this work are providing such tremendous benefits to the "last mile" poorest of the poor.
From Melissa Rothstein on Robyn Alders: saving chooks, empowering women