Good neighbour helps out at time of need
14 January 2011
PNG’s PLEDGE of K10 million ($4 million) in support of flood relief in Australia has been reported widely in the Australian media.
The PNG government has also offered military and logistical help.
PNG's Acting Prime Minister, Sam Abal, wrote to Australian Prime Minister Gillard expressing sympathy and condolences to victims of the tragedy.
Mr Abal said the donation was the least PNG could do for a neighbour and close friend who had helped PNG in numerous natural disasters.
The money would benefit people suffering severe flooding in Queensland and parts of NSW, he said.
"We are truly sorry and our hearts are with you at this time of great tragedy.
"For up to three weeks now, we in PNG have observed and learnt from the media devastating reports of the flood-induced tragedy including the bushfires our southern neighbours have being experiencing.
"Australia's steadfast generosity and charity must and should be returned whenever the need arises.
"This monetary token is our response to the need our Australian friends face," Mr Abal said.
Queensland rather peremptorily annexed the southern part of New Guinea in 1883 against the wishes of the UK who already had enough colonies to administer and were rather teed off.
The early days were rather stormy, with the buck being passed between Qld, UK and later the newly-formed Australia.
Sir Thomas McIlwraith, the Premier of Queensland, ordered Henry Chester, the Police Magistrate on Thursday Island, to formally annex the south-eastern section of Papua New Guinea and adjacent islands. The annexation was proclaimed, in the name of the British Government, on 4 April 1883.
The British Government strongly rebuked McIlwraith for his actions and repudiated the claim. A year later, Germany took possession of north-east New Guinea. This spurred the British Government into declaring the southern half of eastern New Guinea a British protectorate, with Australian colonies promising to provide financial support.
On 4 September 1888, Britain formally annexed the protectorate, along with adjacent islands, naming the region British New Guinea. In 1902, in the aftermath of Federation, the protectorate was placed under the authority of Australia although formal Australian administration did not commence until 1906.
Any Papuans over 108 could thus rightly claim UK citizenship!
Posted by: Peter Kranz | 15 January 2011 at 06:30 AM
And we should not forget that it was the colony of Queensland that first claimed and administered Papua as an "Australian" territory because Britain was not interested until Germany entered the scene.
The PNG government appears to be recognising ties to its historical beginnings.
Posted by: Ross Wilkinson | 14 January 2011 at 08:11 PM