Comments

I strongly endorse this. I would contribute 0.5% of the funding I received. The mining industry was able to do so much (damage) with their $20m televised advocacy program a few years ago. We could do quite a bit (of good) with $9m!

Hi Hillary. Thanks so much for the comment and for sharing the open knowledge maps resource. I love how it categorizes material in a simple and visually-appealing way - a big tick for my visual-thinking self! Though I did find that it linked to some non-open-access articles, like <a href="http://access.portico.org/Portico/#!journalAUSimpleView/tab=PDF?cs=ISSN_17459656?ct=E-Journal%20Content?auId=ark:/27927/phx64r6gfj0" rel="nofollow">this sweet potato article</a> that I clicked through to which even the ANU doesn't subscribe to, it seems. Nonetheless, it is very cool. I'll add it to the toolkit and can definitely see myself (and I'm sure others too) using it going forward. Thanks!

Foreign aid seems to be a matter that the public is broadly indifferent, neither strongly supportive, nor strongly opposed. It is therefore up to government to lead the way, and not feel constrained by public opinion. There is a role for leadership and moral reflection about what goals and commitments are valuable, whether valued intrinsically or valued instrumentally. Both types of value are relevant.

Hi Stephen and Vailala, We now have big earthquake in Hela and Southern Highlands province now. It is sad how all this will come to end but many believes that it is a man made earth quake. Lot of challenges now for the developer and all stakeholders of the project. regards

Thank you for highlighting this important issue about family separation. Being away from home for long periods triggers a myriad of issues for any family anywhere really - and is no different for developing Countries. Pacific household units also are integral to broader community and cultural cohesion. Welcome this article and the broader implications.

After giving this presentation and following the 39th Battalion's motto of "Factis Non Verbis", I have just now started a community service facebook page for the people of PNG who want basic information about the signs and symptoms of mouth cancer. The idea for an educational facebook page which has free mobile phone access for PNG people (instead of a website) came from Amanda Watson of ANU during the conference. Thanks greatly Amanda! The site is very basic as I have just started it and I will add to it over time. Also I will have the page translated into Tok Pisin when I get some help for this. The facebook page is called "Maus Dokta" Perhaps facebook community service pages could be used for other health topics information dissemination in PNG. Best wishes to all Barry Reed

Excellent article, raising an important set of issues for Pacific islands. Sustainable development seems likely to proceed only if the overvalued exchange rates can be lowered. And that seems only likely under a market-based approach to be achieved in the long run if the islands invest in financial system and institutional developments that allow nominal exchange rate flexibility and work assiduously to keep real wages low. Not an easy course, but perhaps better than the alternatives.

Thanks Kerry McCarthy for your response. Another experience we encounter during our work here is that we have too many public holidays. We want the Department to know that we not here for a holiday, or don't take us like the backpackers. We shouldn't be called holiday workers. We are here to work for short periods of time. We have only a very limited time to make money. But when we have so many public holidays or days off, we don't make enough money to take home. The people who bring us here are making money while we workers we're not happy. However, thank you to the Australian government and Australian farmers. And Australia thanks for your kindness. Nice people. Love Australia talofa.

How does New Caledonia and French Polynesia rate? Are French colonies more expensive that independent states?

Hi Stephen, It took a person with adventurous heart to travel and work and in the process I worked in Childers, Brisbane and Sydney and travel by road from Cairns to Rockhampton and travelled on tilt Train to Brisbane from Rockhampton to Brisbane. From Brisbane I got on the coach to the Boarder of new South Wales and Queensland (forgot name of place). Arrived in Sydney city centre and rested at one of the Backpackers at Suari Hills and got another holiday worked and stayed there for about three (3) weeks and returned to Rockhampton, where I was study at Central Queensland University in 1999-2000. I was on AusAid Scholarship so I saved all my stipend and really enjoyed my study and stay in Australia, especially living in Australian Towns like Childers. I also had good money travelling back home. regards

Very nice post Stephen and a powerful graphic. This really highlights the unique challenges facing Pacific economies and the need to develop policies that are specific to them.

When I initially moved to PNG, I was surprised to discover that prices were closer to Australian levels, vs Malaysia. I also realised that something was missing: no bicycles or motorbikes. Whereas Asia is full of bicycles and motor bikes. I think bicycles and motor bikes helped kick start light industry in Asia. It gave employment, facilitated commerce, and promoted learning and investment. It is a mystery why there are so few bicycles and motor bikes. I asked my PNG friends, and they couldn’t give me a good explanation.