Opinion: Improving Pacific island worker access to Australia is better than foreign aid

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Permitting easier labour movement between Australia and the Pacific Islands would have a more beneficial effect that foreign aid, claim Lowy Institute researchers Leon Berkelman and Jonathan Pryke. They consider two models for how it might work.

In brief: Court refuses to hear Ok Tedi claim, and other business stories

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International court refuses to hear claim about government takeover of Ok Tedi mine, five percent aid cut to PNG and trial export of fresh vegetables to Fiji. Your weekly digest of the latest business news.   The International Court for the Settlement of Investment Disputes has declined to hear PNG Sustainable Development Program’s claims against the Government […]

Papua New Guinea and Pacific to benefit from Australia’s foreign aid budget cuts

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Despite cuts to foreign aid spending in this year’s Australian Federal budget, released this week, Papua New Guinea will gain an extra A$59 million (K155 million) and regional programmes also stand out as the beneficiaries from this year’s budget, according to analysts.

Australia’s relations with Papua New Guinea and the Pacific under the Abbott Government

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There’s a new Liberal-National Coalition government in Canberra, led by Tony Abbott. Jenny Hayward-Jones considers the implications for Papua New Guinea and the Pacific.

Promoting Papua New Guineans is good for business, says Cardno’s Cooper

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Putting Papua New Guineans into key roles will be a priority for Andrew Cooper, recently appointed to head the PNG operations of international consultancy group, Cardno.

Opinion: why Papua New Guinea and Fiji are expanding their friendship

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A curious thing has been happening in the Pacific. Instead of running trade and investment road-shows in Australia, New Zealand or China, two Pacific Island countries have been courting investment from each other, observes Jenny Hayward-Jones.

Australian aid to Asia-Pacific region increases

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Australia’s aid program will increase by 10 per cent or about A$500 million in the 2013-14 budget to a record AUD$5.7 billion—the equivalent of 0.37 per cent of gross national income (GNI).