Like what you've read?

On Line Opinion is the only Australian site where you get all sides of the story. We don't
charge, but we need your support. Here�s how you can help.

  • Advertise

    We have a monthly audience of 70,000 and advertising packages from $200 a month.

  • Volunteer

    We always need commissioning editors and sub-editors.

  • Contribute

    Got something to say? Submit an essay.


 The National Forum   Donate   Your Account   On Line Opinion   Forum   Blogs   Polling   About   
On Line Opinion logo ON LINE OPINION - Australia's e-journal of social and political debate

Subscribe!
Subscribe





On Line Opinion is a not-for-profit publication and relies on the generosity of its sponsors, editors and contributors. If you would like to help, contact us.
___________

Syndicate
RSS/XML


RSS 2.0

The critical questions Scott Morrison must ask the PNG prime minister

By Jeffrey Wall - posted Friday, 24 September 2021


Papua New Guinea has been independent from Australia for 46 years. It must determine its own political, social and economic priorities as an independent democracy.

But that reality must not, I repeat must not, prevent the Australian Government from pursuing "the Australian National Interest" (ANI) when it comes to our relationship with our closest neighbour through frank and robust dialogue with the government of Papua New Guinea.

Now is the time for Prime Minister Morrison to draw on his "close friendship" with Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister, James Marape, and pursue the ANI when it comes to the consequences for both Papua New Guinea and Australia of the "failed" Papua New Guinea health system and the Covid-19 crisis right in the community closest to Australia: the Western Province capital of Daru.

Advertisement

Australia has offered PNG generous support since the pandemic began: high quality vaccines, a skilled medical advisory team, as well as oxygen and ventilators and direct cash support. Our support has been far more generous than any other country.

But it is increasingly apparent that the overall PNG response to the virus, and the state of the nation's health system, put our closest neighbour on the cusp of a crisis that simply cannot be adequately managed or controlled.

Last week, the Federal Member for Leichhardt, Warren Entsch, warned that the islands of the Torres Strait, which are in his electorate, were at critical risk of a virus outbreak because of the position on Daru, and in the Western (Fly River) Province. In his robust statement he called the response to issues relating to the "treaty Villages" in both the Torres Strait and Papua New Guinea as a "bloody disgrace".

Warren is one of Papua New Guinea's best, and best-informed friends, in the Australian Parliament. His concerns ought to be treated with the seriousness and urgency they merit.

In his statement he warned about the situation in Daru in these terms:

It's going to be devastating in Daru. At the end of the day, if you want leprosy, cholera, tuberculosis, encephalitis, meningitis, it's all there!

Advertisement

To that sad list he of course added and focussed on Covid-19. Since he spoke just over a week ago, the position has worsened profoundly.

I have been reliably informed there are now approximately 2,000 positive Covid cases in the Western Province and many are on the relatively small island of Daru. Some have travelled and been transported from mainland parts of the Western Province. That number of cases is massively beyond the capacity of the Daru hospital to cope. A number of hospital workers have fallen victim of Covid, and last weekend the hospital's medical superintendent died of Covid.

Daru is right on our northern doorstep. Its basic services are in dreadful shape. Until the border was closed due to the pandemic Papua New Guineans traded with the people of the Torres Strait and utilised the better health services.

According to Warren Entsch, about 69% of the people of the Torres Strait have had one vaccination, and 51% are fully vaccinated.

Contrast that with Daru. It has been estimated that just over 25% of the population is vaccinated. Elsewhere in the province, the figure is reportedly much lower.

Now before I outline the direct questions that Scott Morris must ask James Marape, just one more observation on the Australia-Papua New Guinea relationship.

The 28th Papua New Guinea-Australia Ministerial Forum was held virtually on 2 September> I have not commented on it in On Line Opinion because to be frank it was about as useful as an ash tray on a motor bike!

But one paragraph simply cannot go unaddressed. In the joint statement, Ministers from Australia and Papua New Guinea signed off on these words in paragraph 7:

Ministers noted the strong vaccination rates in Western Province (South Fly) and interest in expanding vaccination support to communities adjoining the treaty villages.

Really? If that was true, then how is it that the Western province is one of just three PNG Provinces today facing an effective lockdown???

And how is it that the whole of the Fly River community is seeing pandemic rates now higher than any other part of Papua New Guinea – and with a rising death toll. But for the outstanding work of Ok Tedi Mining, its position would be even worse.

The question that both Canberra and Port Moresby must answer is simple: on what basis was the "strong vaccination rates" claim made?

But now to the questions Scott Morrison simply must ask James Marape with absolute urgency.

The rising incidence of Covid-19 (the Delta variant) in PNG just adds to the critical challenges the "failed" Papua New Guinea health system faces today.

The Prime Minister must raise with his PNG counterpart more than just the rising incidence of Covid-19 and related questions. He must ask James Marape whether the time has come for my suggestion – and it is one that other observers have suggested as well – that Australia take over some critical aspects of the PNG health system to rebuild public confidence and address failures that are causing death among the good people of Papua New Guinea?

Last week it was reported that the relatively large Bulolo Hospital in the Morobe Province saw the death of at least nine patients simply because the hospital was completely out of vital medicines and drugs including antibiotics.

Hardly a day goes by without the PNG media reporting another hospital or health centre closing down because of a shortage of medicines, funds, and personnel.

The shortage of vital drugs and medicines, and supplies as basic as bandages is utterly inexcusable. It is due to a system that is widely regarded as corrupt and utterly incompetent.

The Prime Minister should offer to return the position to what applied before 2013 when Australia supplied most of the drugs and medicines, and also offer to help ensure their nationwide delivery, if need be using the resources of the Australian defence force.

The second question is whether the PNG Government would agree to Australian health managers and doctors and nurses taking over the operation of at least one major hospital – Angau Hospital in Lae being the obvious candidate.

And the third question must relate to transparency when it comes to the true position with regards to both the incidence of Covid, and the capacity of PNG to manage it.

Unlike here in Australia where most Premiers and/or Health Ministers front the media daily with Covid news, good and bad, neither the PNG Prime Minister nor his Health Minister, do so. Increasingly, political comment on the pandemic has declined – and the stark reality of the position is probably why.

As of 21 September, just 184,000 Covid tests have been undertaken, in a population of 8.5 million, and an adult population (over 16 year olds) of around 6 million.

Even more alarmingly, just 173,000 people have been vaccinated – with probably no more than 50,000 double vaccinated. The vaccination rate among health/hospital workers is believed to be well under 50%!

Scott Morrison simply must ask his PNG counterpart what steps are being taken to overcome not just massive vaccine hesitation, but arguably even more aggressive vaccine resistance.

The immediate answer is NOT to offer PNG more vaccines – and most certainly not more cash!!

Australia should surely offer to supply more oxygen, ventilators, and if possible, more skilled health care workers to address not just the Covid crisis, but the overall crisis facing the whole health system. And that support needs to address the areas of Papua New Guinea closest to Australia, but it needs to go nationwide because it's a nationwide crisis.

Australia's "national interest" surely demands that our closest neighbour be encouraged to address both the Covid crisis, and the failed health system. Both a Covid and health crisis on our doorstep is surely directly harmful to our national interest, and of course the very health, and stability, of our closest neighbour.

The position on both counts - Covid and the health/hospitals system - is at least as serious as I have been outlining for months.

The Prime Minister has an opportunity to make a real difference, drawing on his friendship with his Papua New Guinea counterpart to really add new and important dimensions to our relationship with our closest neighbour, and importantly, with its eight million men women and children.

And when he specifically addresses the justifiable concerns of the people of the Torres Strait, and Far North Queensland one hopes he consults, and involves, Warren Entsch MP.

  1. Pages:
  2. 1
  3. 2
  4. 3
  5. 4
  6. All


Discuss in our Forums

See what other readers are saying about this article!

Click here to read & post comments.

2 posts so far.

Share this:
reddit this reddit thisbookmark with del.icio.us Del.icio.usdigg thisseed newsvineSeed NewsvineStumbleUpon StumbleUponsubmit to propellerkwoff it

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.

Article Tools
Comment 2 comments
Print Printable version
Subscribe Subscribe
Email Email a friend
Advertisement

About Us Search Discuss Feedback Legals Privacy