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Now is the time to enhance public support for greater assistance for PNG and the South Pacific

By Jeffrey Wall - posted Monday, 28 June 2021


The case for significantly greater assistance for Papua New Guinea and the South Pacific to counter China's growing intervention that in part is designed to dilute Australia's influence is one I have argued for in my On Line Opinion contributions this year.

It has long been a concern of mine that the federal government is worried about the public (voter) reaction to greater "aid" or as it is now called "development assistance".

The Lowy Institute survey out last week contains some very re-assuring statistics on public attitudes to supporting Papua New Guinea and the South Pacific. And it clearly gives the main reason why!

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The same survey looks at the attitude of respondents to Australia's relationship with China – and that has changed dramatically in just a couple of years. In answer to the question whether China is an "economic partner" just 34% responded positively. And whether or not China was a security threat to Australia, 63% said it is!

The poll showed above 70% support for assistance for Papua New Guinea and the South Pacific to counter Covid-19 but also in the case of PNG because it is our neighbour, and a long term partner and friend. Support for assistance beyond vaccinations is also in the 70% plus range.

There is no doubt the message I and others have been seeking to pursue with regard to China's influence in PNG and the South Pacific is starting to resonate with the Australian community. Apart from what I am seeking to do, the coverage by The Australian's Ben Packham, by the Guardian's features supported by the Judith Nielsen Institute, and even by the ABC, has helped shine a light on just how extensive China's economic social and diplomatic activity has become in our immediate region.

Apart from Lowy's survey, a couple of other online surveys by think tanks offer similar conclusions. The people of Australia see China as a growing threat to our national security and the security and stability of our region.

The level of "development assistance" outlined in the recent budget is in reality not dissimilar to what was provided in the last budget for 2020-21. To that has to be added generous assistance to our region to manage the response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Now is the time for the Australian Government to ignore "aid critics" such as One Nation, and some right wing commentators, and significantly step up our support for our immediate region is a really targeted way.

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The first step needs to be to downgrade the "development assistance" term when outlining what the government spends – on behalf of the taxpayer – in our region.

It needs to be quite deliberately identified as pursuing "the Australian national interest!"

The time has really arrived to stop promoting the $4 billion we spend as part of the aid budget (with about $1.5 billion going to the region) as just "development assistance".

Of course a substantial share can be identified as "development assistance" but we need to be much more robust when it comes to greater spending.

Especially in Papua New Guinea, but also in Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Fiji and Timor Leste, increased assistance and activity needs to reflect the reality that it is genuinely in "the Australian interest" for the federal government to do so.

There is far too much timidity in DFAT when it comes to engaging the Australian community with the real objectives of the support we given to Papua New Guinea and the South Pacific.

The Prime Minister needs to lead the way is totally revising how we explain the support we provide, and justify the significant increases that are inevitable if we are to counter China's growing influence and its "anti-Australia" campaign.

That means greater transparency in our existing aid program across the region. Its successes and its failures need to be highlighted. The people of Australia will support it provided there is transparency and competence in his delivery.

Terms like "Pacific Step Up" really are quite meaningless (especially when it has been baby steps to date).

The Government needs to engage the citizens (voters) with the real objectives of the support we provide across the region. Assistance with "development" yes, but also the genuine pursuit of the Australian national interest!

I have every confidence that if what is clearly in our own national interest in our region is promoted more openly and actively, the community will overwhelmingly support it.

The aggressive approach China has taken by effectively blocking key Australian exports has clearly been recognised in the community. Our deteriorating relationship with China is increasingly seen as been not irrelevant to our national security, and the very stability of our neighbours, especially our closest neighbour – Papua New Guinea.

Just last Thursday the Australian Government provided the first indication that the need to do much, much more in countering China is being understood.

The Australian and Papua New Guinean Governments signed a MOU under which Australia will provide up to $A400 million to support the renewal and upgrading of significant ports in Papua New Guinea.

Now the devil will be in the detail, but provided the project starts as soon as possible – and not be just a well-meaning MOU with no time frame – it is a very welcome one. If can really assist Papua New Guinea in a critical infrastructure and security area.

It can and must also counter what China has been doing for the last decade or so – gaining effective control of the development of vital ports infrastructure such as the redevelopment and expansion of the Lae Port. Even the ABD which funded the project carried out by a Chinese contractor came to the conclusion it had largely "failed".

This announcement – which seems to have only been reported in "The Australian" here – meets the key criteria I have been recommending. Its needs to be not just Australian funded, but Australian managed. That will provide opportunities for the Australian engineering and construction sectors which have increasingly been effectively excluded from securing major work in PNG.

It is a good start, but it needs to be built on and not just in Papua New Guinea.

Sadly we have lost a lot of influence and presence across the region. Rebuilding it will be expensive – but it is urgent!

There are clear indications the people of Australia will support it, and perhaps will do so overwhelmingly if it is explained transparently to them.

In a pre-election environment that support is more important than ever.

We need the Prime Minister and the relevant Ministers to robustly and proudly link our increased support for our region to the genuine and worthy pursuit of "the Australian national interest".

Encouraging "development" in our neighbours is relevant – but helping to secure stable democratic friends is no less so!

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About the Author

Jeffrey Wall CSM CBE is a Brisbane Political Consultant and has served as Advisor to the PNG Foreign Minister, Sir Rabbie Namaliu – Prime Minister 1988-1992 and Speaker 1994-1997.

Other articles by this Author

All articles by Jeffrey Wall

Creative Commons LicenseThis work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.

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