BY EFFREY DADEMO

RECENT ATTACKS on Australian aid workers are a shame for a country that relies on aid money from Australia.

While condemning the attacks, ACT NOW! a PNG advocacy group, says the Australian government has been for a very long time been confused on how to manage its relationship with PNG.

Australian citizens are suffering the consequences of their government’s own short-sightedness.

There are serious governance and security issues with political connections in this country.

Corruption is the biggest single problem facing PNG as it takes vital funds away from the health sector, education and infrastructure maintenance.

Why has Australia always shied away from these issues, calling them “internal issues”.

The Police have a shortage of manpower in the capital city because they are off to protect the LNG site – a project in which Australia has put large sums of money.

It is time Australia stopped the bureaucratic nonsense, faced up to the truth that this country is a big problem waiting to erupt in civil unrest, and stepped up real efforts to help bring about positive change.