TOP STORIES

PNG-Australia asylum deal sparks debate

Kevin Rudd’s policy of transferring all asylum seekers arriving by boat to Papua New Guinea for processing and resettlement may prove to be an election winner in Australia. In PNG it has sparked widespread social media condemnation of the O’Neill government, and raised concerns about how the country could manage an influx of asylum seekers, and where they would be resettled. The policy bombshell was announced in the same week serious concerns were exposed about the outsourced security and management arrangements at the Manus island detention centre. Other countries in the region may be asked to sign up, despite views that the policy treats the Pacific as Australia’s dumping ground. Fiji’s foreign minister, Ratu Inoke Kubuabola, has criticised the policy and its implications for all Melanesian countries.

Airport deal completes Vanuatu’s infrastructure strategy

Monday’s announcement of an agreement with a Singapore-based conglomerate to build a privately funded airport capable of handling long-haul, wide-body aircraft is only the latest of a series of ambitious infrastructure projects in Vanuatu. In addition to ongoing public works projects, Australia has committed a further AUD 20 million to improve roads and sanitation in the capital, Port Vila. Japan is building a new hospital and providing a USD 70 million loan for a wharf rehabilitation project that is expected to reduce import costs and double throughput following its completion in 2017. A USD 100 million loan from China is being negotiated for the construction of outer island roads. A USD 30m fibre-optic submarine cable should make landfall in November and be ready for service in January 2014. As far back as 2008, air transport, shipping and communications were identified as key factors in the country’s development.

POLITICS

Asylum seekers riot in Nauru

Recent rioting on Nauru by asylum seekers caused a security scare for the entire island nation of about 10,000 people, with claims that the government’s response was panicked, and led to volunteers being called up to help quell the riot. An example of the risks posed by the scheme, the riot also highlights the extra ‘administrative and legal headaches’ for hosting countries. Australian immigration minister, Tony Burke, has promised to review both the Nauru riot and the Manus rape claims to prevent future incidents, and tighten loopholes. Nauruans have reportedly resented the asylum seekers not appreciating their hospitality. Up to 150 asylum seekers have since been arrested and charged while the island nation’s Australian police boss remains suspended.

New partnership deal for Solomon Islands

As Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd was inking asylum seeker deals with PNG, his foreign minister, Senator Bob Carr, was in Solomon Islands to mark the 10^th anniversary of the RAMSI intervention, and to also forge an enhanced partnership with the Solomons. There was also talk about processing asylum seekers in the Solomons.

Prime Minster Gordon Darcy Lilo thanked RAMSI and said it was up to ordinary people to make sure the country does not slide back to civil war. As if emphasizing his point, reports emerged of tension around the Goldridge mine.

RAMSI’s military component has wound down but the new partnership will add new aid support for sectors such as justice services and public sector management as well as traditional sectors like health and education.

The Solomons’ prime minister also spoke of the importance of the MSG when hosting the Vanuatu prime minister during a bilateral visit.

Concerns over media freedom

A Nauru MP has raised concerns about government restrictions on media in a letter addressed to the acting president, David Adeang. Mathew Batsiua accuses Mr Adeang of directing Media Nauru to refrain from airing an interview with him. In Samoa, meanwhile, the prime minister scoffed at accusations that he intended to exert influence over the media through the creation of a government-dominated media council. Opposition politicians had characterised Samoa’s media environment as ‘getting closer to what’s happening in Fiji.’

ECONOMICS

New trade deal with US

As negotiations on trade deals between Pacific island countries and Europe, Australia and New Zealand remain deadlocked, a new deal is to be discussed with the United States. Reports of the latest meeting of Pacific trade ministers in Samoa suggest that the US is keen on accessing the region’s tuna stocks, whilst it is less clear what the island countries would benefit from most. It was also reported that Australia’s new trade minister, Richard Marles, is keen to revive discussions on the much maligned next phase of the Pacific Agreement Closer Economic Relations (known as PACER Plus). As the former parliamentary secretary for Pacific island affairs, Marles will know too well the challenges of concluding a deal that focuses solely on free trade arrangements without careful consideration of the ‘plus’ elements of a deal that would enhance regional economic integration.

Fiji sugar industry threatened

A looming strike action by members of the Fiji Sugar and General Workers Union remains although a 5.3% pay increase for mill workers has been announced. According to Fiji sugar expert Dr Padma Lal, any future industrial action could cripple the industry— the source of livelihood for more than 200,000 Fijians. Last week, in fulfillment of the legal requirement for staging an industrial action, 65.7% of union members voted to go on strike if their working conditions were not improved. Despite this threat the government is adamant that the mills will operate one way or another because of the significance of the industry to the Fijian economy.

BRIEFS

• Fiji won’t accept Australian High Commissioner
• Russia has conducted its largest military exercises since the Soviet era
• Fiji’s Labor party temporarily suspended
• Vanuatu Opposition fails in latest motion challenge and election petition
• Former Bougainville Commanders reconcile
• Protestors confront New Zealand spy agency allegations
• Vanuatu commemorates 150 years since the blackbirding era

Editorial content is the responsibility of Derek Brien, PiPP Executive Director.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, July 31st, 2013 at 6:00 am and is filed under Pacific Buzz. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.