Smart Traveller also states that other travel restrictions, including restriction of movement or checkpoints, may occur at short notice. Visitors are advised to follow the guidance of local authorities and to exercise a high degree of caution in Papua New Guinea overall due to high levels of serious crime.

PNG IS PRIME TARGET IN BIG POWER RIVALRY

PNG is poor and its weak institutions make it vulnerable to exploitation, writes Michael Kabuni in his blog, Academia Nomad (link to it here), and in recent weeks the leaders of India, Australia, Indonesia, France, the Pacific Islands and senior ministers from the USA and China have descended on Port Moresby.

Kabuni, one of PNG’s sharpest political minds, writes: “Due to the extractive and enclave nature of the resource companies, most of the proceeds of these mines and LNG companies are siphoned out of the country, leaving the populace to fight over fragments (and) to gain regional influence, every country that is interested in the Pacific is courting PNG.”

40% OF AUSTRALIA’S AID IS RATED UNSATISFACTORY

The average completed aid project has been rated as less than satisfactory for both effectiveness and efficiency, states a recent article in the online blog, DevPolicy. In 2019 the foreign affairs department moved to a more independent system of ratings but further reforms are necessary. Read the full article here.