Comments

Thank you, Stephen, for sharing your thoughts. For Australia this a great initiative, particularly for the Albanese Labor led Government in delivering on one of its commitments towards strengthening the Pacific family narrative by growing the Pacific diaspora. For the Pacific, this may be a limited opportunity while the Labor party leads the Australian Government and PICs agressively compete to secure this highly prized visa. Whilst we may have valid questions around visa allocations and PNG as resounding winners (for now), there is also another argument beyond the PEV as to whether countries like PNG (closest neighbour with the longest standing relationship with Australia and one of the lowest PALM numbers and diaspora) and Vanuatu (highest PALM sending country over a decade now with low diaspora), should have their own visa access pathway to Australia. Similar to New Zealand's Samoan Access Category, this would subsequently remove PNG and Vanuatu from the PEV and even the playing field so to speak for other PICs to compete for the prized visa instead of a highly PNG favoured visa for obvious and valid reasons, but still questionable if we are to maintain regional buy-in. Of course, this may take longer for Australia to consider, given this is a first of its kind permanent migration pathway that was stalled and delayed significantly just to pass the legislative bills for the PEV. A PNG Access Category is something that the PNG and Australian Government should be actively pursuing given the long and enduring relationship between the two countries which Albanese and Marape have symbolically consolidated at their inaugural address at each other’s parliaments and recently by walking the Kokoda track together. I must also add that there was bi-partisan support during PM Marape's inagural address in Canberra after signing of the Bilateral Security Agreement - which was delayed and downgraded from a treaty instigated by PNG, but still a win for both countries. It is overdue but timely for PNG and Australia to start getting serious about setting up a PNG Access Category.

I have read the comments in relation to land reform with interest. Personally, I believe the registration of customary land by government and leaseback would rather than a panacea for all evils, be an unmitigated disaster for PNG. Land is the basis of Melanesian culture. Customary land supports every nine out of ten people in PNG - probably nine and three-quarters if the truth be known. Given its importance for food production and identity, the absence of what you might call a national unifying culture and the propensity for corruption, I shudder to think what would happen if land use was placed in the hands of bureaucrats. Knowing how important land is the country would simply fracture into multiple ungovernable pieces overnight. I take the point that the existing system is not conducive to the creation investment, business and taxation as we know it. But then PNG is not a reflection of the western economic world view. And in light of what is happening globally I would say they are all the better off for it. PNG should play to its strengthens, and a version of Fiji or Hawaii is not one of them. Heaven forbid that ever becomes their fate. While it is clear that the present situation is not necessarily making the best use of land resources, I sheet that squarely back to successive governments that have demonstrated a dearth of ideas in favour of a quick buck. Again, compelling evidence that land reform made in their image would be disastrous. Instead, I can envisage a nation of small producers using their customary land to produce all manner of food and other items that are fed into a purpose-built collection and value adding sector. I offer North Fly Rubber and Niugini Fruit Company as examples. May not sound very inviting for large agribusiness to invest in. But then look again at what agribusiness has done for local people throughout the developing economies, particularly on the continent of Africa and you may have reason to reconsider that pathway as well.

This blog article provides an insightful analysis of Papua New Guinea's public service reform journey, highlighting its turbulent nature and the challenges it faces. Drawing from my experience in policy analysis and development, I've observed similar reform efforts in other countries and understand the complexities involved. The article offers valuable lessons for policymakers and stakeholders seeking to navigate reform processes in diverse socio-political contexts.

Thank you for your clarification, it is better and prior to understand in order to refrain as early as possible.

Thanks for the clear points above.

Thank you Australian Government for the PEV Visa.

Hi Beverly and Michael, Thanks for your comments. To obtain cocoa seedlings, please contact your local Cocoa Board Office. They will be able to help you directly with obtaining these. See the Cocoa Board of PNG facebook for more information: https://www.facebook.com/CCBPNG/ Tom

The allocation of Papua New Guineans will most probably be dominated by the educated urban population, which is less than 20% of the population. They have access and then means to passport or already have one.

Thanks for this very interesting comment on the PEV allocation, Stephen. I am pleased you clarified the situation relating to some of the counties that are missing from the list, especially Kiribati. Like you I am puzzled about the allocations to countries in the northern Pacific that have Compacts of Free Association with the US and, to date, have had minimal engagement with Australia and New Zealand. I don't see these countries becoming major sources of migrants to countries on the southern Pacific rim. I was surprised Solomons and Vanuatu got the same shares in the allocation; like you, I would have given more to PNG and Solomons followed by a good allocation to Vanuatu. Fiji already has well-established pathways to residence in Australia, as do Tonga and Samoa, including via NZ as you have pointed out in earlier blogs. I am surprised Tuvalu gets an allocation at this stage of 100 when the Falepili Union arrangement, with its provision for residence visas, is still under negotiation. It is the three western Melanesia countries that will benefit most from the PEV. These are three countries that need support with building transnational communities in Australia and New Zealand. As has been demonstrated in many studies of migration in the eastern and central Pacific, transnational communities have a vital role to play in providing a wider range of opportunities and options for individuals and families in their everyday responses to environmental, social and economic change.

Oh this is a good start. There are not many things, in my humble opinion, that would be of such value to PNG as a good strong functioning diaspora. PNG and Sols have long had some of the smallest diasporas on the planet, and they have become increasingly exceptional in the region. Bravo!

Australia may have been envious of Solomon Islands opening up to China. But look: Australia's major economic trading partner including the United States of America and others love China because of its sizeable population. Playing double-standards and dirty geopolitical games on Solomon Islands and the Pacific. Our Party maybe voted out or not but they did ruffled the feathers of the Bloodthirsty American Eagle when the courted China and made Australia "weeping" like a toddler seeking aid from its staunch allies. China's footprints were already established in Solomon Islands and very soon their economic tentacles will grip the Pacific Family. Now, The Pacific Beat with China.

how do I get cocoa seedlings or beans to plant? please help me