Comments

I think there are other issues, of critical importance, not recognised here. A child of five, abducted from her front yard, taken for the night and raped. Manages to get away when the rapists went to sleep. Walks 6 kilometres home. Is taken to the hospital because of her injuries. Police are involved. Inadequate medical examination - e.g. she has complained of penetration of her anus, but no medical examination. No real records. Inadequate police record taking. It gets to court, and the magistrate finds, because the records are in English (from the hospital and the police), that the child could not have given this evidence. Case dismissed. This means better magistrate training; better police training and better medical training to ensure judicial processes are used to protect a child from harm and find perpetrators guilty so they do not repeat their behaviours on other children.

Your description of the current situation is accurate and deplorable. However, I would advise against referring to the collection of project fees as being 'illegal'. Just because the national Department of Education says that something should not be done does not necessarily make the doing of it is illegal. Provinces that have their own Education Acts, of which EHP is one, can make their own decisions on administrative matters. Education functions are, by law, highly decentralised such that the national government retains little control other than curriculum at the elementary, primary, high and secondary levels. To add further confusion to the situation school Boards of Management/Governors also have legally devolved powers to make management decisions. It would be beneficial to teachers and parents it some legal eagle would take up a pro bono case at the high court for a clear statement as to where the power lies on such matters under the existing Organic Law on Provincial and Local Level Governments, the National Education Act and Provincial Education Acts.

I agree with you Carmen. I also love PNG. I am a Filipino and went to Port Moresby for a two month vacation as a tourist and I found it very nice. The number one thing that I love is no traffic compared to here in the Philippines. But there's one thing I would like to know, can a Filipino couple or any expats get married in Port Moresby? And any requirements needed? Thanks.

I appreciate this article because I was fortunate to work with a couple of farms in New Zealand and farmers have shared the same sentiments that during their peak seasons the existing domestic labour market is not always enough to satisfy their market requirements therefore the RSE program provides a much a very critical relief to an extent by meeting that shortage. As stated delivering on time with premium quality is always an important going concern for farmers for market demands both the export and local. Hence RSE is as critical to the New Zealand economy as it is to nations involved with New Zealand on the program. As a Papua New Guinean I would like to see my government proactively pursue and tap into this labour export market at ministerial level with the New Zealand government bilaterally through a similiar quota system like everyone else so we can mutually benefit from this. At this moment New Zealand has the most potential and willingness compared to Australia. Thank you.

Liam Fox of Radio Australia provides a good footnote for this item <a href="http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-03-22/nauru-'notes'-contentious-criticisms-in-un-rights/7267814" rel="nofollow">here</a>.

Thank you

Forests policy has long been controversial. Chan introduced the 1971 Forestry (Private Dealings) Ordinance (later Act) which he mentions at p. 60. Critics argue that when combined with <a href="http://press.anu.edu.au/ssgm/policy_making/mobile_devices/ch11.html" rel="nofollow">ministerial approval</a> (see <a href="http://press.anu.edu.au/ssgm/policy_making/mobile_devices/ch11s02.html" rel="nofollow">this page</a>) the Act led to the widespread destruction of forests by unscrupulous members of the elite and foreign companies. It was only revoked forty years later, after the Barnett Forests Inquiry.

The government is spending millions of kina on unnecessary activities that are not actually helping the total population of the country. The government should be careful on the spending and save some money for the future. The government misappropriation leads to inflation and increase in school fees, taxes, rents, etc.

Great read and very glad to see this work highlighted! I second all the comments above that attest to Dr. Alders's work and her character. I worked with her briefly in Angola and the experience remains one of my greatest inspirations.

I agree that this review should provide an opportunity to enhance the position of the SWP and provide more opportunities for Pacific island workers who wish to pursue this option. However, it is important to ensure that necessary regulatory protections relating to welfare and prevention of exploitation are not stripped away in order to make it more palatable to Australian employers.

More reading: an excellent summary of why NZ should double its refugee quota in general, as well as what more NZ can do to assist in Syria. These are complex issues, and of course nobody wants to become a refugee, but the reality is that many people around the world cannot live safely in their home country. Until the international community rectifies that situation, NZ can easily share its peace with those who need sanctuary. http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/opinion/77935806/Doubling-the-refugee-quota-is-just-the-start

What is the current status of PNG economic growth? So far there has been cuts in the 2016 budget. Is there any change in the progress of economic growth?