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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

Both.

I have already applied for the ballot. How are they going to email me? Through my email account or through my Immi account?

A well-articulated piece of information from practical positivities and negativities of mine in PNG: Blessing, Curse, and Lesson sums it up well. A holistic sustainable approach is vital to ensure landowners and impact communities continue to enjoy the benefits after the lifespan ends. The government must prepare the landowners to make well-informed decisions on using the benefits to avoid repeating the same mistake when the mine closes down. All emerging mining, oil and gas project owners must learn from the old Porgera Case and take a more holistic sustainable approach when dealing with resource harvesting, and the reward it brings.

Yes, but the Australian government will help you.

If CRA and BCL are funding the Panguna Legacy Assessment the final results and reports will be compromised and not transparent. The awarding of Exploration License to BCL by the President of ABG is not in compliance of the due process as stipulated in the Bougainville Mining Act 2015. The Panguna Mine Class Action is in order and supported by more than 4,000 signatories. Political decisions by the ruling Executive Government is dictatorial and not transparent. The supporters of the PMCA are Landowners and it's within their constitutional right to do so. If ABG and BCL are aggrieved the Court is where they should submit their defence.

What has since been forgotten is that 2005 was The International Year of Microcredit (https://www.yearofmicrocredit.org/). This was the background to Professor Yunus' earlier work in establishing and developing the Grameen Bank - a leading cause of decreasing poverty among rural Bangladeshi women. Microcredit subsequently got a bad name, largely through an Indian "microfinance" bank that lent in order to generate profits for shareholders (who were not the borrowers). The current activities of the Grameen Bank are worthy of an article, especially for its being a contributing factor in this conclusion "Bangladesh has been recognised as the fastest-growing economy in the Asia-Pacific region by the Asian Development Bank in recent years, raising millions of people out of poverty, as well as increasing food security and foreign reserves."