THERE HAVE been more articles about PNG published in the Australian press in recent times, including two significant articles in The Australian.

It seems that our media is taking a greater interest in PNG affairs, with The Australian leading the charge.

In the Weekend Australian magazine there was a detailed and insightful feature about the murders of patrol officers Szarka and Harris near Telefolmin in 1952.

The story was linked with calls for greater recognition of the kiaps and their legacy, and included comment from former district commissioner and PNGAA president, Harry West.

In addition, former PNG-based journalist Rowan Callick, now The Australian’s Asia-Pacific Affairs editor, identified PNG as one of four places where Australian interests are in potential danger, the others being Yemen, North Korea and London. You can read the article here.

In the article, Callick repeatedly makes the point that PNG is a country whose interests are bound up more closely with Australia’s than any other.

He mentions Torres Strait health, Bougainville, living standards, the LNG deals, law and order, political succession, unemployment and poverty; and finishes by saying “If trouble takes hold in PNG, Australia can’t walk away.”

It’s another wake-up call to the politicians about the shared interests of our countries and peoples.