Page 11 - IB MAR 2019

Political Brief - PNG

A controversy that won’t go away

AUSTRALIA’S Department of Home Affairs says it will now
investigate how the Paladin Group came to win A$423 million
(US$300 million) in refugee service contracts on Manus Island.
Following last month’s revelations of alleged impropriety over
the awarding of security and other contracts to the Singaporean-
registered company, Papua New Guinean workers contracted to
Paladin staged a brief strike demanding pay increases, overtime,
bonuses, life insurance, holiday pay and food rations while on
duty. While they have returned to their jobs for now, there is a
chance they’ll walk off the job again if negotiations fall through.
Earlier Prime Minister O’Neill said his government would
welcome an investigation into the Paladin contract, and he
wanted a full briefing on the matter. Finance Minister and
Leader of Government Business James Marape had pressed the
PM to demand an explanation, telling the Post Courier: “We …
demand Canberra have a full scale investigation and report on
the asylum deal that must entail whether Australia government
has fulfilled all commitments to Manus Island and PNG; and
their assessment and finding on Paladin contract must be made
to the Parliament of our country.”
Meanwhile, back in Australia questions have arisen around
the awarding of a A$82 million (US$52 million) contract to PM Peter O’Neill would welcome an investigation into Paladin
Papua New Guinean company NKW Holdings to provide ca-
tering and site management services on Manus Island. NKW refugee services.
reportedly has links to a prominent Papua New Guinean aligned While drama unfolded in Papua New Guinea and Australia, a
to the ruling party. refugee who had been detained on Manus told the UN Human
The Australian media is also reporting on the involvement Rights Council that Australia must be held accountable for its
of Greg Rudd, brother to former PM Kevin Rudd, in compa- treatment of asylum seekers. Abdul Aziz Muhamat made the
nies recently awarded multimillion-dollar contracts to provide comments while accepting the Martin Ennals Award for human
health services to asylum seekers on Manus Island. While no rights defenders in Switzerland. “After six years, we deserve
wrong-doing has been suggested, there is continued interest our lives back and a future. We urge your mandates to take
in the interconnectedness of politics, contracting companies this up with the Australian government, which deserves to be
and policy decisions in the management of Australia’s offshore held accountable,” he said.

Bougainville poll date set PNG better gains from extractive industries such as forests,
THE Bougainville independent referendum has been set for fisheries, oil and gas and agriculture.
October 12. “We have a huge asset base in the country, translation of the
The referendum was deferred from its original June date as an- balance sheet of what we have as asset into actual cash is not
ticipated, due to the level of preparation still required for the poll. taking place,” Finance Minister James Marape told the delegates.
Making the announcement, Prime Minister Peter O’Neill and “Our resources in mining, oil and gas, fisheries, agriculture,
Autonomous Bougainville Government President John Momis forestry sector to name a few, look at timber, it is our easiest
also agreed that a national reconciliation ceremony will take place industry to make money, let’s take stock and see if our provinces
before the referendum is held. However there is still contention can take charge.”
over the distribution of restoration and development grants.
The Bougainville Referendum Commission led by former Irish ‘Stateless’ PNG-born Australians want answers
Prime Minister, Bertie Ahern, is now working on the referendum Frustrations continue for Papua New Guinea (PNG)-born citizens
roll, voter registration, how to include Bougainvilleans outside who have been deemed stateless following an administrative error
Bougainville and public awareness campaigns. The BRC says it by the Australian Government.
urgently needs K54 million (US$16 million) already approved to Australia reportedly incorrectly issued citizenship certificates
deliver on its program of work. and passports more than 40 years ago. When PNG gained inde-
pendence in 1975, anyone with at least two Papuan grandparents
Leaders want more for natural resources automatically became a PNG citizen. However an unknown num-
PAPUA New Guinea leaders are prioritising the improvement ber of these people were led to believe they remained Australian
and development of infrastructure and services at the provincial citizens. Only in recent years have the PNG-born Australians
and district levels. discovered the problem as they have gone to get passports re-
National leaders converged on APEC Haus in Port Moresby for newed and immigration laws have tightened.
their three-day summit earlier this month to discuss national is- While Australia has issued some of them bridging visas and
sues, and plan and identify programmes that need to be developed say their cases will be prioritised, the confusion means one af-
alongside foreign and domestic partners. fected woman was unable to visit a fatally-ill family member in
The leaders heard that there needs to be more focus on how Papua New Guinea.

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