Australian aid in PNG is enabling corruption says academic
26 September 2015
RADIO NEW ZEALAND INTERNATIONAL
AUSTRALIA'S aid program in Papua New Guinea has been described as having enabled rather than remedied state fraud and market distortions in PNG
The damning indictment came in a submission by the International State Crime Initiative at an Australian senate inquiry into the aid program in PNG.
ISCI’s Kristian Lasslett says Canberra's approach to aid in PNG centres on the idea that the best way to foster development is through making the country more business-friendly.
But he says that this approach is incongruent with the reality on the ground, where business has too much liberty.
"And when I say liberty, they have the liberty to set prices that are far in excess of the market value of the services and goods they provide; they have the liberty to misappropriate landowner assets, state assets with impunity; they have the liberty to develop completely superfluous projects that are often inflated in price and are not delivered at all or to inadequate quality; they have the liberty, as we've seen in the legal industry, to steal state funds en masse."
The Australian government's strategy for delivering aid in PNG is reportedly based on "extensive consultation with a wide range of stakeholders from PNG and Australia including government, business, civil society and international donors".
However Dr Lasslett contests this claim, saying input is heavily slanted in favour of companies and players in sectors such as mining, oil, gas and oil palm.
Among the State Crime Initiative's recommendations are for Australia's aid program to provide more support to civil society projects which empower and mobilise PNG grassroots communities.
It also recommends that support be given to develop a free and independent media in PNG.
Here's a transcript and audio version of the interview with Kristian Lasslett:
http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/programmes/datelinepacific/audio/201772168/australia-urged-to-support-civil-society-and-reform-in-png
Posted by: Johnny Blades | 28 September 2015 at 06:49 AM
The 'extensive consultation' bit is laughable if it is intended to imply that Australia will fund anything other than what the 'kiddycrats' in Canberra think is best for PNG and consistent with Australia's objectives, written or unwritten.
I am reminded of a time when the high commission official responsible for education was charged with presenting one of Canberra's nuttier ideas to the Secretary for Education.
When the official reported back to Canberra that the Secretary was not interested he was told that he was not consulting properly and to go and talk to the Secretary again. In other words, talk him into it. So much for 'extensive consultation'.
When engaged in a feasibility study regarding the possible inclusion of five provinces in a particular project, we were told that no matter what we came up with province X would be included. Extensive consultation?
Posted by: Daniel Doyle | 26 September 2015 at 02:30 PM
I totally agree with this summary.
Take the money away from the fat cats and redirect it to the rural areas.
Bolster the police force.
And do something to help the free press - the situation at the moment is very worrying. Reinstating the ABC broadcasts would be a good beginning.
Posted by: Phil Fitzpatrick | 26 September 2015 at 09:02 AM