Distinguished Speaker Series: Sir Michael Somare presentation
On 7 November 2008, as part of our Distinguished Speaker Series, the Lowy Institute hosted The Grand Chief, Rt. Hon Sir Michael Somare GCMG CH, Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea. The title of Sir Michael Somare's lecture was 'Pacific Regional Challenges'. He discussed the urgency with which the Pacific and the world must tackle the challenge of climate change, calling for a global paradigm shift to transform the way the world values a healthy and functioning natural environment.
A transcript of Sir Michael's speech is available for download here:
Pacific regional challenges - PDF (154KB)
Sir Michael's speech can be heard here:
Pacific regional challenges - MP3 (15MB
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Engineering political stability in Solomon Islands The Lowy Institute and the Solomon Islands Working Committee on Political Party Integrity Reform held a conference in Honiara on 24 and 25 September 2008 to explore the potential for reforms to engineer greater political stability in Solomon Islands. The...
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| Lowy Institute Policy Brief |
Beyond good governance Australian aid has not been effective in helping the Pacific Islands region make significant progress in meeting the Millennium Development Goals. The focus of aid on improving public sector capacity and governance has not stimulated sufficient private sector...
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Pacific off target despite support
In an opinion piece in The Canberra Times, Jenny Hayward-Jones, Director of The Myer Foundation Melanesia Program at the Lowy Institute, argues for bold initiatives in the delivery of Australian aid to the Pacific region.
Canberra Times, 25 September 2008, p. 19
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Wednesday Lunch at Lowy - Michael Morgan presentation
At the Wednesday Lunch at Lowy on 17 September, Michael Morgan, Director of International Projects, Australian Labor, looked at the results of the September 2008 elections in Vanuatu in a regional context. Michael addressed reasons for the rise in minor political parties and independents and looked at current debates about strengthening political parties in the region.
His presentation, entitled 'Campaigns and democracy in Melanesia: the 2008 Vanuatu elections', can be heard here:
Campaigns and democracy in Melanesia - MP3 (15MB)
A transcript of his presentation is available for download.
Download item (222KB)
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Labour mobility: an Australian seasonal work visa scheme for Pacific Islands labour
On 12-13 June 2008, the Lowy Institute hosted a conference to examine the questions associated with the possible introduction of a seasonal work visa scheme for Pacific Islanders in the Australian horticulture sector. The conference focused on the horticultural industry’s requirements for a stable and reliable workforce, the strong interest and capacity of Pacific Island countries suffering from high unemployment to take up seasonal employment in Australia, the importance of appropriate design of pilot programs and the likelihood that the benefits of establishing a seasonal labour scheme for Pacific Islanders would outweigh the social and economic costs of administering a scheme. For more information on this conference, please read the outcomes report.
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The Myer Foundation Melanesia Program at the Lowy Institute
His Excellency Major General Michael Jeffery, AC, CVO, MC, Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, was the guest of honour at the Canberra launch of the Myer Foundation Melanesia Program at the Lowy Institute on Tuesday 13 May. The Governor-General spoke to a distinguished Canberra audience about his experiences as an officer in the Australian army in Papua New Guinea and his enduring connections with the people of Papua New Guinea. He outlined his hopes for the stable future of Solomon Islands and East Timor with Australian support and his interest in governance in the Pacific region. He called for renewal and expansion of people-to-people links between Australia and the Pacific Islands, including through the two-way exchanges of people working in the public service, policing, education, and business.
The Governor-General's speech can be found at:
http://www.gg.gov.au/spdf/2008/s20080513423.pdf
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Wednesday Lunch at Lowy - Dame Carol Kidu presentation
On 7 May 2008 at the Wednesday Lunch at Lowy, The Hon. Dame Carol Kidu discussed the policy and capacity challenges Papua New Guinea faces in advancing social development and how partnerships with the private sector can support government efforts.
Her presentation is available here in PowerPoint:
The power of partnerships - PPT (13MB)
Her presentation, 'The power of partnerships in addressing Papua New Guinea's social challenges', can be heard here:
The power of partnerships - MP3 (18MB)
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Launch of The Myer Foundation Melanesia Program at the Lowy Institute
Parliamentary Secretary for Pacific Island Affairs, the Hon Duncan Kerr SC MP and Parliamentary Secretary for International Development Assistance, The Hon Bob McMullan MP, were guest speakers at the launch of The Myer Foundation Melanesia Program at the Lowy Institute on 27 March.
Mr Kerr outlined Australia's commitment to re-engagement with the Pacific through the Pacific Development Partnerships. Mr McMullan highlighted the successes of the Australian aid program, the Government's intention to increase overseas development assistance to 0.5 per cent of GNI by 2015 and improve the effectiveness of aid to assist Pacific Island countries to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.
Their speeches can be heard here:
Melanesia Program Launch - MP3 (27MB)
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Everybody needs good neighbours
In this opinion piece in The Australian Financial Review, Jenny Hayward-Jones, The Myer Foundation Melanesia Program Director, argues that Australia needs to accept its regional identity and engage with its Pacific Island neighbours as sovereign partners rather than simply as recipients of aid in order to mend damaged diplomatic relations in the region.
Australian Financial Review, 23 January 2008, p. 63
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Re-imagining PNG: culture, democracy and Australia's role
Australia has, perhaps, no closer or more complicated a bilateral relationship than that with Papua New Guinea. Australia is deeply entwined with its nearest neighbour and has a major stake in its future. Drawing on the success of Bougainville, Ben Scott in this Lowy Institute Paper calls for a new political system in Papua New Guinea and a new focus for Australian engagement.
To order a hard copy of this publication click here.
Download item (514KB)
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China and Taiwan in the South Pacific: diplomatic chess versus Pacific political rugby
In this Lowy Institute Policy Brief, entitled China and Taiwan in the South Pacific: diplomatic chess versus Pacific political rugby, Graeme Dobell looks at how the competition for diplomatic recognition between China and Taiwan is destabilising Island states and undermining Australia's interests in the region. Graeme Dobell is one of the ABC's most experienced reporters of Asia Pacific affairs. He is now the Foreign Affairs & Defence Correspondent for Radio Australia.
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East Asia and China; The Pacific Islands
The Lowy Institute Voters' Guide to International Policy addresses the sort of questions we should be putting to our political leaders.
Section 8 of the Guide, 'East Asia and China', and Section 10, 'The Pacific Islands' by Malcolm Cook, Program Director Asia & the Pacific, are available here.
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Pacific minister can help region
In an opinion piece in the Canberra Times, Lowy Institute Research Associate Fergus Hanson argues the merits of establishing a Minister for Pacific Cooperation.
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Alone in battle against volatility
In an opinion piece for the Australian Financial Review, Dr Malcolm Cook looks at the huge international policy challenges facing Australia in Melanesia. Australia has committed itself, with bi-partisan support, to providing regional stability and taking the lead in strengthening the region's states and societies. In 2006, the Australian Government committed to doubling its aid budget by 2010 with a particular focus on state rebuilding and the Pacific. However, there are very few examples of successful state rebuilding. Will Australia fare any better?
Australian Financial Review, 15 January 2007, p. 55
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Beyond Post-colonialism and the Pacific Way
On 13 May 2005, the Lowy Institute, with the support of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, hosted a roundtable that brought together Australia’s Pacific Heads of Mission and representatives from the business community, not-for-profit sector, academia and media. After discussing the new assertiveness in Australia-Pacific relations, the discussion focused on three firm policy recommendations for the Pacific and for Australia-Pacific relations: 1) increase labour mobility between Pacific countries and Australia and New Zealand; 2) enhance the understanding of the role of the private sector in economic development in the Pacific; and 3) encourage Pacific states to adopt a “look North” policy to leverage East Asia’s economic dynamism and balance their strong ties with Australia and New Zealand.
The conference outcomes report can be downloaded via the link below.
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Lowy Institute Conference: Overcoming Constraints in Papua New Guinea
Discussion about Papua New Guinea is too often dominated by fatalistic negativism or impractical calls for far-reaching reform. The Lowy Institute Conference "Overcoming Constraints in Papua New Guinea" took a different approach. We looked at how individuals, groups, corporations and governments are making progress in PNG - despite the obstacles. We aimed to draw out some of the success stories to see what might be learned. The conference identified some ingredients of success and discussed how PNG could best build on, and replicate, positive developments.
"Overcoming Constraints in Papua New Guinea" was held on 18 February 2005.
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Wednesday Lunch at Lowy - Dr Abby McLeod presentation
On 27 June, at the Wednesday Lunch at Lowy, Dr Abby McLeod discussed how, on 30 June, Papua New Guinea goes to the polls after the Sir Michael Somare government became the first government in PNG history to serve its first term. Australia, as PNG's largest source of aid and its former colonial power, is a keen observer of PNG elections, and electoral reform has been a key focus of Australia's good governance program in PNG. However, elections work very differently in PNG than in Australia. Local values and practices mean that PNG's political system continues to produce results that surprise, and often worry, many in Australia and complicate Australia-PNG relations. This election is likely to be no different.
Her presentation can be heard here:
Elections: Papua New Guinea Style! - MP3 (18MB)
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PNG must take bitter pill to secure its future
In this opinion piece, Ben Scott, Diplomatic Fellow at the Lowy Institute, writes that Papua New Guinea should compromise its sovereignty in the short term in order to strengthen it in the long term.
Australian Financial Review, 23 May 2005, p. 63
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China and Taiwan in the South Pacific
On Thursday 18 January, Graeme Dobell gave a presentation at the Lowy Institute to launch his Lowy Institute Policy Brief, entitled China and Taiwan in the South Pacific: diplomatic chess versus Pacific political rugby.
His presentation can be heard here:
China and Taiwan in the South Pacific - MP3 (23MB)
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Moti affair offers a lesson for a short-sighted neighbour
In this opinion piece, Lowy Institute Visiting Fellow Professor Hugh White examines the significance of the Moti affair.
Sydney Morning Herald, 19 October 2006, p. 19
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PNG: time to start again
Papua New Guinea's failing experiment with democracy needs to be rebuilt from the ground up, writes Ben Scott.
The Age, 3 January 2006, p. 9
A Lowy Institute Paper by Ben Scott, entitled Re-imagining PNG: Culture, Democracy and Australia's Role, is available for download at:
http://www.lowyinstitute.org/Publication.asp?pid=319
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Pacific Plan puts Howard to the test
In an opinion piece, Hugh White writes on the Pacific Plan for closer co-operation and integration between South Pacific countries.
The Age, 10 October 2005
A version of this opinion piece was published in the Sydney Morning Herald, 10 0ct0ber 2005, p. 11
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PNG aid more order than law
Australia must try again with Port Moresby, writes Lowy Institute Visiting Fellow Hugh White. But it should offer help, not impose it.
Sydney Morning Herald, 18 May 2005, p. 17
A version of this opinion piece was published in The Age, 18 May, 2005, p. 19
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The deep mess of PNG demands long-term action
The Government is on the right track but must go much further to help our neighbours, writes Lowy Institute Visiting Fellow Professor Hugh White.
Sydney Morning Herald, 15 December 2004, p. 15
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How Australia might save PNG from collapse
Professor Hugh White, Visiting Fellow at the Lowy Institute, writes that aid alone is not the solution to PNG's long, slow decline.
The Age, 15 December 2004, p. 17
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The Melanesia Program encompasses Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Fiji, Vanuatu and East Timor and focuses on political, economic and social challenges affecting these countries, the impact of aid, and the role of Australia in Melanesia and the wider Pacific Islands region.
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