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Opinion Opinion

for Law & Cancer. She reported that, “NCDs accounted for 70-
75 per cent of all deaths in Pacific countries (2016), with the
highest prevalence in Fiji and in Samoa (84 per cent).” Pacific PAPUA NEW GUINEA AND AUSTRALIA:
islanders between 30 and 70 have a 26 per cent higher risk of A BROAD AND ENDURING PARTNERSHIP
death, with the risk being higher for males than female.
Buresova said the collection of sex disaggregated Sanap strong wantaim (Standing strong together)
data needs to be strengthened and recommends gender, 560 54,000
intersectionalities, social and economic determinants of 3500
health be considered when looking at the effectiveness of Australians visit
PNG each year
Australia Award
NCD regulatory measures for the Pacific. Scholarships 2018 (PNG TOURISM PROMOTION AUTHORITY 2016) Complete the
Kokoda Track
10,000
In my view, the most candid conference presentation PAPUA NEW GUINEANS IN annually
came from experienced career civil servant and Papua 3000 AUSTRALIA AT ANY ONE TIME $572.2 MILLION IN OFFICIAL
New Guinea’s High Commissioner to Australia, Ambassador LEGAL AND SUPPORT OFFICERS TRAINED DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE
IN 2018–19 (PGK 1.4 BILLION)
John Ma’o Kali, who expressed disappointment at what he Maintain core AROUND
network of 16
considered “a significant decrease in transparency in decision 4km National Priority 5000
making and prioritising” of development efforts between the Roads Australian businesses
two countries. Distance between 2000km OF ROADS IMPROVED IN 2017 operate in PNG
He say this means much of “the strategic planning and Australia and PNG (PGK 39 BILLION) INTO PNG ECONOMY
INVESTING OVER $16 BILLION
programming and decision making for resourcing is taking $2 BILLION Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific
place outside of our government circles...without justification
for the expenditure”, and that decisions are made $6 billion 4 NEW PATROL BOATS High speed
(PGK 14.3 BILLION) internet
“unilaterally without the involvement of other key central worth of two-way FOR PNG THROUGH AN UNDERSEA
agencies and line agencies.” trade in 2017 TELECOMMUNICATIONS CABLE
Ambassador Kali expressed particular concern about the
emergence of Australian-funded facilities and management Dr Rebecca Williams (left),
a senior clinician at Kompiam
contractors with no apparent “transparent procurement Hospital in Enga is helping train
Olivia Salagaras, an Australian
medical student from Adelaide
University, who is doing a
process in the engagement of these management placement atthe hospital as
part of her studies.
contractors.” Ambassador Kali cited his experience with the
Papua New Guinea Facility (PGF) which was set up to give key
central agency heads the platform to provide direction on NOV 2018
development assistance. unless an opportunity is created to build capacity and
“We would field requests from different agencies and improve Pacific skills and knowledge on the technical aspects
consider them against priorities of our Government and either of international development practice and knowledge.
approve or reject, thinking that the approved ones would Pacific nuances of doing development need to be discussed
get straight forward funding support from the PGF. That was and debated with Pacific expertise where it is available,
not to be the case because DFAT would always intervene and and opportunities created to build capacity for enhanced
reject the approval for reasons unknown to us. We came to inclusivity and an effort in genuine two-way dialogue
regard the PGF as a mere “window dressing”. between Australian and regional development practitioners
As a consequence, “there has been a significant decrease and experts.
in transparency and accountability of what is actually being It is hoped that Australia’s Pacific Step-Up will mean greater
delivered” and “we have no understanding of what is working agreement on development priorities and how development
and what is not” he says. is delivered, be it through trust and equality as requested
While acknowledging PNG and Australia’s shared history, by Ambassador Kali, or through a building of Pacific capacity
Ambassador Kali contends PNG’s Australian partnership in the technical language of international development
has had a greater focus “on the political and economic cooperation. This is essential if Pacific voices are to join
fronts rather than on development principles.” He called discussions on international development as equals and not
for engagement that is based on equal partnership in the remain on the fringes, with their representation still voiced
governance of any development assistance, including: joint through benevolent Australian partners.
agreements in the design, budgeting and prioritisation Pacific Ieadership, development agencies, diplomats and
of programs, open consultation in the identification and NGO heads need to upskill themselves in these technical
preparation of program initiatives before any changes are aspects of development, to do analysis and so join discussions
made to the delivery of support, and progressive management at forums such as AAC2020 from an informed position. Simply
and oversight of programs by Papua New Guineans, rather put, the Pacific itself needs to invest in Pacific development
than international experts. scholarship.
If there was one thing glaringly clear about the Australasian Sen is an independent regional development, governance and
AID Conference, it will remain a one-way dialogue for largely communications consultant.
Australian development practitioners, academics and donors editor@islandsbusiness.com

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