Pacific Institute of Public Policy

Honestly, we need to talk about tax

The Government of Vanuatu is undertaking a revenue review, and some in the business community are concerned this may lead to the introduction of personal and corporate income tax. As we await the report of the government's revenue task force, and in the absence of rigorous independent analysis, the conversation remains steeped in hearsay and the advocacy positions of various interest groups. In this piece, Derek Brien and Nikunj Soni highlight some of the issues that need further consideration so that there can be an informed national conversation about tax.

28 January, 2016

The final motion

Riyad Mucadam reflects on several so called historic moments that took place in the Marshall Islands' Nitijela (parliament) during the past few weeks, one of them the placated, polite and procedural election of Dr. Hilda C. Heine as the new President.

17 December, 2015

Derek Brien

A year in review

PiPP will be taking a short break to recover from a tumultuous year, and get ready for 2016. This article reflects on the highs and lows of the year just past (and there is loads more content to look back on throughout the site). We will be back on deck in mid January. To all our readers we wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Melanesian School Debate, Port Vila 2015

15 December, 2015

PiPP Staff

Melanesian School Debate, Port Vila 2015

From 23-27 November 2015, secondary students from Vanuatu, Fiji and Solomon Islands came together in Port Vila to vie for the title of Melanesian school debating champions. Topics included governing systems, climate change, poverty, peacekeeping, and international diplomacy.

Melanesian School Debate 2015 in pictures

14 December, 2015

PiPP Staff

Melanesian School Debate 2015 in pictures

Throughout the week students impressed the audience and adjudicators with their eloquence and understanding of key regional and international issues. Faced with some of the same themes debated in parliaments around the Pacific, the students demonstrated great potential as future leaders.

7 December, 2015

PiPP Staff

Must Melanesia globalise to succeed?

This is a transcript of Jonathan Guyant's statement at the grand final of the Melanesian School Debate competition, staged last week in Port Vila. Jonathan was the first speaker of the Vanuatu team arguing against the motion that Melanesia must globalise to succeed. He was awarded Best Speaker for the debate final.

27 November, 2015

PiPP Staff

Revitalising the Commonwealth

This week Commonwealth leaders are meeting in Malta for their biennial heads of government meeting. One of the first items of business will be the selection of the next Secretary General and with the field wide open, Pacific islands countries could be the king (or queen) maker.

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A deeper look at the Vanuatu election

On 22 January 2016 the people of Vanuatu went to the polls to elect the eleventh and most diverse national Parliament. In this post we look more closely at the results, which reveals democracy in Vanuatu is seemingly delivering a kind of micro federalisation. While this is reflective of the reality on the ground, it does not bode well for nation building, and presents a significant challenge for political parties to consolidate or grow their share of the popular vote.
YOUR SAY: The new Global Goals

This short survey, undertaken in partnership with RMIT University, explains the new ‎Global Goals and gives people across the Pacific the chance to rate their relevance and help track progress. The more we know about the goals, the more we can hold our leaders to account to implement them.
Coalition builder

Frustrated with the status quo? Think you can do better? Have you always wanted to build your own parliamentary coalition government? Now you can with our new coalition builder web app!

AID, TRADE, CHARADE?

DP14 – Rethinking the language and assumptions of the aid-centric approach to development in the Pacific.
THE ART OF NEGOTIATION

DP08 – Negotiating a Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations (PACER) between the Pacific island countries, Australia and New Zealand. Who benefits?
BETTER TRADE FOR THE PACIFIC

DP05 – An update on emerging trade agreements being negotiated by Pacific Island countries and the pressures they face.

Honestly, we need to talk about tax