Comments

Since I am catching a late flight here. It's already passed the due date. Will they have another intake in the future?

Very informative information.

Hi Stephen, Thankyou for response to the same query I also had regarding the job offer requirement. Are you able to provide more info regarding the Australian government matching service you've mentioned. How can we get in contact with them please?

Hi Just wanted to know when will the PEV ballot draw? Any information will be highly appreciated.

Hi Dr. Amanda and Team. Thank you for the research and information you have provided. whilst the reasons and drivers for the retail prices is clear to me your research is inconclusive of what could have driven the price reductions. In the past, I had argued that retail price reduction would be driven by retail competition. The CS2 and KSCN I believe have had an impact on reduction of a major barrier to entry into the mobile market which is the need for huge capital expenditure up front to build transmission networks across the country. The fact remains that DataCo had initially reduced prices in the past with little or no consequential reductions from Digicel or Telikom. However with the entry of Vodafone and increased competition, we have seen price reductions from both Telikom and Digicel. Your research also concludes that it is inconclusive as Digicel was also acquired by Telstra around the same period. I would request that since Telstra had acquired Digicel Pacific which is not only in the PNG Market, the research should also see other markets to understand how Telstra acquisition affected the other markets that Digicel/Telstra is now in. Further, if the Digicel acquisition did have an impact on the price reduction, I cannot understand how that acquisition would affect the Telikom Price Reduction that happened in the same period. The common driver to me is the increased competition. Further, whilst your research monitors prepaid services, I also not that Digicel has just recently increased their prost paid services under the Telstra Management. I look forward to your ongoing updates on the mobile market. Ebu Gomana

Hi I'm very interested in this information.

We don't know the numbers yet, but yes it seems like massive oversubscription except in FSM and Palau, the two that have been extended. Citizens of these two countries already enjoy free movement to the US so not surprisingly there is little demand for migration to Australia. They shouldn't have been included in the PEV in the first place.

A child can only be selected as part of a broader family application. The child can't be the primary applicant.

Was the PNG ballot oversubscribed? some good number missed out.

Hi Stephen, Thank you for this information. I can confirm that a lot of people I know have been selected. One question is: in a case where a child's application is being selected, can he/she include the parents and siblings on the visa application? If so, then will they also accompany the child who is the primary applicant?

The Mining (Bougainville Copper Agreement) Act (Ch. No. 196,) provides - 15. OVERBURDEN TAILINGS AND SAFETY. (d) Notwithstanding that the same may have been disposed of in an area and in a manner approved as hereinbefore provided in this Clause the Company shall make compensation for any loss suffered by any indigenous or other inhabitant of the said Bougainville Island or the other islands adjacent thereto resulting from any damage done (whether to land, anything on land, water or otherwise) or any interference with any right to use land or water caused by the disposal by the Company of any overburden removed in the course of, or tailings produced as a result of, its operations under this Agreement, but nothing in this paragraph shall oblige the Company to make any compensation to the Administration or any governmental authority. Such compensation shall be provided either in cash or by way of provision on reasonable terms and conditions of land or other facilities or benefits or partly in one form and partly in another … https://www.paclii.org/pg/legis/PG-consol_act_1986/mcaa344/ The Panguna claimants are represented by two law firms. Goodwin Bidar Nutley are a Port Moresby based law firm with a familiarity and knowledge of the PNG courts civil procedure rules, processes, and style of pleadings. Morris Mennilli is a Sydney based law firm. Simon Morris has experience with class action law suits. Investor-funded class action lawsuits are supported within Australian jurisdictions on grounds that they enhance litigants access to justice. The identity of the litigation investors is described by the blog author as ‘secret’. This is an inappropriate choice of word. Litigation suits of this kind take place within a world of predatory capitalism. An investor cloak of confidentiality serves the interests of the Panguna claimants. The identity of the investors must be revealed to the sitting Judge. Arrangements must be made for the posting of a bond to cover any costs order that may be made against the Panguna claimants. If and when a settlement is reached it is within the Judge’s competence to inquire into the ‘fairness’ of the contract between the law companies, litigation investors and Panguna claimants. Additionally, the rules governing lawyer/client relations and fees in both PNG and NSW are relevant. An interesting class action development has been the judicial creation of a damages/compensation ‘common fund’. This fund covers not only those who signed up to the litigation but also those who were eligible to sign but did not sign. Under the ‘common fund’ arrangement the non-signatories are included in the general payout and subject to a deduction for their share of the litigation expenses, including the investor fees. Since much of the BCL/Rio Tinto damage has been done to customary owned land and resources the inclusion of non-signed Panguna people may well, in equity, be mandated. Vailala

I know a lot of our readers follow the PEV. From what I understand, ballot winners were informed today except for Palau and FSM who will be informed on 19 August. Congratulations to those who were selected, and good luck. You have till the end of February to meet all the requirements. See https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/pacific-engagement/ballot-registration/ballot-country-status