Comments

Hi Bruce - thanks for your comment on Tony's post. I just want to let you and other readers know that we happily welcome submissions to the Devpolicy Blog. If you're interested in writing an article about PNG's proposed rice policy (or any other topic!), please take a look at our article guidelines <a href="https://devpolicy.org/join-us/">here</a>, and then send us your draft for review to devpolicy@anu.edu.au. Camilla (blog editor)

Does New Zealand offer better policy coherence in this area Stephen?

I can only support this policy based on food security reasons, job creation and import substitution and other relevant policies. Also climate change issues contribute to volatility of food security issues affecting PNG and other Pacific Island countries. I have following reasons that make this policy questionable on its face. First, the awarding of import quota to an international controversial figure in the likes of Tjandra already raises moral and ethical issues on the PNG Governments obligations in doing business with such person. Second, Tjandra will become the sole administration of the Rice quota, this is something must be administered by Department of Agriculture and not individual person, third, Tjandra will be exempted from different imported taxes on the rice he will be importing to come and sell in PNG. In the end, he imported the rice free of duty and then sells to PNG consumers by charging them GST. Fourth, the monopoly, as stated will result in significant rice price for ordinary PNGuineans to afford. In turn, this will make Tjandra to become rich whilst ordinary PNGUineans consumers become poorer of being denied access to this stable food, especially the people in urban centers. This would off course generate food security issues in urban and some rural populace. I can explain in detail on these issues if I am given change to write an article on this policy.

Thanks so much for sharing you experience Jane. Your comment "What kind of humanitarian professional can't travel anywhere?" really struck a cord with me. I think we're definitely too hard on ourselves sometimes though!

Thanks Sarah. Really, heartfelt thanks to you and the Australian Breastfeeding Association who have been an integral part of my journey as a breastfeeding development mum!

Thank you Tofail.

Thanks Abigail. Where there's a will there's a way!

Thanks Tony. Glad you liked it!

Great blog Lindy! It's been posted twice on my Facebook timeline ????

Yes, you are right Chris, the MP funds that we refer to are those funds which are discretionary to MP's

Excellent lesson learned! It's a complete reflection report of your life. I know little about you. This realization and analytical thought will help you discover your hidden potentialities. Go ahead Lindy. All the way best of luck.

Hi Lindy, wow fascinating to read that. I did not realise that you had to cut short your Vanuatu assignment due to pregnancy, how awful. I am a single parent by design - it's always been just me and my son. My first assignment after he was born was to Cox's Bazar in Bangladesh (where I met you!) and arriving there on my own with a small baby and trying to set up house, child-care and start a new job all essentially in the same week was the hardest experience of my life. I would not wish it on anyone and I think that the UN can do much better to make landings like that easier. The UN gave me plenty of settling money, but very little actual practical help and no TIME to adjust. However, I do fantastically appreciate being able to have my baby and young toddler in a country where child care is affordable. I don't envy my sisters in Sydney who are faced with waiting lists and stupendous costs for child care if they want to continue work, not to even GO to the high cost of living. I eventually took a year out and bummed around in Thailand with my two year old son. One of the best years of my life. In my line of work (UNHCR), most of the best and most interesting work is in places I just can't go - conflict areas or emergencies where being on duty 24/7 is the expected norm. I can't do it. So I've been 'getting away' with assignments in quiet, family friendly places. Now my son is 6 years old and I further constrained - he needs to go to school in English which pretty much restricts us to capitals. With parents at home who are not getting any younger, the call to come home and be with family (as so many refugees would give anything to do) is getting stronger. Might be seeing more of you in the near future!!! PS: A few months ago, one of my mummy friends posted how proud she was that her six year old boy traveled unaccompanied to visit his grandma in Melbourne. When I read that I was so impressed by the bravery of that boy, but I also realized that I have pretty much never traveled on a plane without my son, forget about my son travelling without me. Travel is the real sticking point for me - I just can't bring myself to leave my son with a nanny for a week while I swan off to Geneva or Bangkok or wherever. So my place in my chosen profession does feel quite precarious. What kind of humanitarian professional can't travel anywhere? But I'm still happy and somehow I manage to keep doing what I love best.