In March 2018, I was invited by the University of Melbourne to present a paper on Uneven Capital Flows at the Conference on New Geographies of Global Inequalities and Social Justice. It was an inter-disciplinary conference aimed at generating new knowledge about enduring and emerging forms of inequality and injustice, and contribute to public debate…
Investments in future costs fueling provincial inequality
The O’Neill Government’s spending on “awe and envy” NCD infrastructure with poor net returns whilst allowing our rural people to languish in hardship from drying funds for much needed goods and services betrays the deficit of the O’Neill government not only in public finances but also in its morals. The cost of the very large new NCD roads exceeds the annual revenue for all those provinces outside NCD and Morobe. This gives perspective to the gross inequity and misallocation of resources.
Quality education for all
The O’Neill government has been quick to spruik it’s free education or TFF policy whilst failing to acknowledge the decline in quality of education as a result. The O’Neill Government’s own 2017 National Budget points out the failure as well as other independent agencies and commentators.
Bridging the gender gap
As a nation we have a moral duty to address the deficit of opportunities that Papua New Guinean girls and women have and to empower them to realize their potential. Most of our girls and women live in a world they don’t want or deserve – it is time to be bold for change.
The Peril for Provincial Service
Not only is the fall in nominal national revenue concerning as it indicates weak economic performance but it will lead to a greater decline in the real per person level of grants provinces receive for fiscal equalization.
Protecting the front line of public service delivery
Whilst the significant increase in access to basic education is commendable this seems to have come at the cost of quality of education. The surge in enrollments has not been matched by a commensurate funding increase to support additional school infrastructure, materials and teacher development training. Now the Government expects teachers to suffer a real cut to their wages despite their teaching burden doubling. An erosion in the quality education will have profound effects at a personal and national level.
Challenges of remote schools in Rai Coast District
Delivering basic education is a challenge for Government and for small remote communities in Papua New Guinea. Here I share some of these challenges faced by the people of Rai Coast District in Madang Province.
Who actually pays for the PNG LNG royalty and project development levy benefits?
Whilst significant benefits will flow from the PNG LNG project the costs of some of these large cash streams will actually be paid for by the people of Papua New Guinea and not the gas project itself.