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Pacific students have taken remote studies in Australian universities and are sponsored by the Australian Government. That lot doesn't need visas and is missed from this analysis.

Dear John, Good evening. Thank you for acknowledging the Tribute of John Paska. He was truly remarkable, and it's a pity you didn't have the chance to meet him. In response to your question, you are indeed correct. I overlooked Bill Kelty, who also advocated for the PNGTUC in the second wage sitting of the three sittings the Board/Tribunal had in 1974. His then-colleague Bob Hawke represented the peak union in the final/third sitting of the year. Hawke’s presence added significant influence and credibility to the workers' case, as he pushed for higher wage standards and improved working conditions. Earlier in the second sitting, Kelty advocated for potential wage increases and the economic impact of setting a national minimum wage. Employers were more resistant to significant wage hikes, citing costs and economic stability concerns. The first minimum wage sitting in 1974 was primarily introductory and laid the groundwork for wage determination in PNG. The Minimum Wages Board examined economic conditions, labour market data, and wage disparities between expatriate and local workers. The wage determination in 1974 was a historic moment for PNG, as it set the foundation for labour standards just before the country's independence in 1975. The presence of influential labour leaders like Bob Hawke and Bill Kelty was critical in ensuring a fair outcome for PNG workers, aligning wages more closely with their needs and living conditions. I'm sorry; I’m providing a wage fixation history here. However, it had to be done to highlight the separate periods when ACTU advocacy became readily available, particularly in 1974, to support its PNG counterpart. That was the year when the wage fixation machinery was put together for the first time before the country's independence, and the first deliberations also occurred simultaneously.

Thanks for this interesting piece, Ben. I enjoyed hearing about John Paska, whom I never met. One point, though concerns Bob Hawke: you say that 'Bob Hawke (in his trade union leader role before becoming Australia’s prime minister) advocated for the PNGTUC in the 1970s wage tribunals'. That may be so, but if you mean he came to PNG as an advocate for the cause, I'm not sure that's correct. I do recall that Bill Kelty, a distinguished Australian trade unionist, came to Port Moresby for the 1974 minimum wage hearings (and of course he was a close collaborator and comrade of Hawke). Is it possible you're confusing one with the other? Anyway, thanks for the post!

Hello Natasha, I think your article with Prof Howes touches upon a bigger picture that runs deeper than seasonal employment opportunity. I refer to the Papua New Guinea Governor General, Sir Bob Dadae’s 49th independence address to the nation (https://www.postcourier.com.pg/gg-initiates-reality-check-for-nation/) in which he is reported by the Post Courier, to have said, “It is utterly disheartening to read in the dailies and see in the electronic media, almost every day, the total chaos, mayhem and madness in every province and communities of our country.” I cannot remember seeing such a direct and forthright statement to the ruling elite from such a prominent person before. His words by the norms of PNG protocol represents an earthquake. With a population of 11 or maybe 13 million people, I believe Papua New Guinea is where Australia’s focus should be. Building genuine trust and opening up civil society and nation building opportunities for PNG citizens in Australia and New Zealand has become critical. Sir Bob also said, “We need to transform our economy to create economic opportunities and empower our rural economies.” He is right. In relation to this I believe we need a quantum shift in focus from primarily institutional strengthening towards community economic empowerment and tailoring some of our markets to facilitate the undoubted opportunities that exist here. The notion that with more assistance PNG government mechanisms will deliver has proved at best to be a misnomer, for many a disaster and the many can tell you why. Given the cultural diversity (hyper regionalism) and the results of the first half century I believe there is a compelling argument to focus more support directly on civil society entities and local solutions. Enable them to participate in appropriate economic activity and service delivery. I fear that a failure to make a step change towards these goals will result in the further erosion of social cohesion, increase inequity and the fragility of the nation. I am convinced that with larger players now peddling alternative visions and wooing willing listeners the time to build greater trust and act on what the PNG population has been telling us, is now. Tai Nani

Cooking reduces or destroys mycotoxins in sago. Just like what happens to other foods when cooked. What the paper suggests is that people who depend on sago should improve its production, storage, and cooking to minimize or eliminate any mycotoxins. The Applied Technology Institute at the University of Technology in Lae and the MRI should take lead in this space.

Hi, my name is Wendy Jimmy and I'm interested in the program if it is possible for you to reach out to the villages in West Kerema, Gulf Province , specifically Bainuru, Kikori and Ihu districts.

As by means of 'democratic nation", PNG's national constitution provide provisions for equal participation and representation in all spheres of life either in political, economic, social, phycological etc. What matters is our adoption of 'Melanesian culture'. Culture is pinned to be most influential sector greatly impacting votes mindset on who they want to be in power. Man is the head; he has the right and potential to make decisions as most of us know. There is no law guaranteed for PNG to uplift 22 reserved seats. Our minds, and how we (voters) and candidates perform/ influence to earn public favor. This is what will earn us power. Everyone is guaranteed to run for election.

Proud to hear about establishing partnership arrangements with counterparts in PNG. I am an Health Administrative Officer of which I am keen and much interested about the opportunity for PNG Health Professionals. Please share more of your thoughts.

Hi Stephen, Thank you for suggestion. I agree with the mutual benefits you’ve highlighted. This is an idea that I’ve considered particularly under the PALM scheme short-term stream (up to 9 months) that would realise circular mobility. It would re-position PNG toward strategic skills transfer and capacity building of key twinning industry sectors generating “brain gain”. So when our people are “off season” from Australia, they return to PNG and re-integrate into the same industry/partner employer. such an offshore arrangement stipulated in an employment contract over a 4 year period provides incentive and achieves retention if there is employer-buy in. Ultimately achieving circular mobility and wins for all stakeholders. For now in PALM, PNG and other participating countries only supply the workforce to Australia where they determine workforce gaps exist in identified sectors. Currently, in the health field only age care is offered under the PALM-long term, and it has its own pro’s and con’s. Nonetheless, our shared ideas are worth exploring further. Tenkiu tumas.

Dames father Jim Taylor first came to Hagen and he was welcomed by my grandfather Yamka Kaura. Jim camped at Kelua for 6 months after moving to a new location were Hagen Town now located. Hope to meet with Meg anytime soon to discuss important things to put up a monument for Jim Taylor and Yamka Kaura at Kelua.

Hello Natasha, I do like this idea and the two littlies looking out over the tarmac at Jacksons. Reminds me of my own children doing the same thing at that age. I would like to throw an idea into the ring. I know a few PNG health professionals with international qualifications to boot who work in PNG for the smell of an oily rag while those ostensibly doing a similar job in Australia earn a king’s ransom by comparison. With no desire to start a “brain drain” I propose the following. Subject to passing an accreditation exam, PNG health professionals (including nursing officers and midwives) be offered a six month on, six months off visa to work in the same or similar sectors in Australia (and New Zealand). Of necessity it would have to start small so as not to exacerbate the huge shortfall in qualified staff in PNG. But over time become the modus operandi for many. This would enable them to earn significant income every year while still contributing directly to the needs at home. The potential benefits as I see it are many and flow both ways. Apart from a boost in the personal income it could expose participants to levels of service delivery, particularly in the primary healthcare sector that many I believe would strongly advocate for upon their return home. It would be expected to significantly stimulate the uptake of health sciences training in PNG where at present a very large shortfall in training capacity and health professionals exist. If it was an ongoing arrangement, I envisage Australian teaching institutions establishing satellite or partnership arrangements with counterparts in PNG, an arrangement that would benefit all parties, particularly in primary healthcare services where the greatest needs exist. In total the benefits to both countries would be significant. I would suggest that Solomon Island and Vanuatu health professionals might also wish to participate in such a scheme which ultimately would include other sectors. Not unlike part of the vision that underpinned the creation of the European Union, I foresee our nearest neighbours benefitting in tangible ways on their own terms while we for our part would benefit greatly in many ways from becoming more neighbourly.

Thanks Natasha. I just pointed out the potential (and claims) for corruption and bribery during corruption during votes of no confidence. But I wouldn’t say therefore there shouldn’t be votes of no confidence. Because if the trajectory the country is in is not stopped through a VONC, it would get worse. CDFs should’ve been abolished a long time ago. But lingers on because, among other things, it helps the PM buy support. We’ve called for either it to be abolished, or at least legislated for that it removes government’s control over it. But again, the government wouldn’t want to lose control of the funding because it would lose the ability to control MPs’ behaviour.