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Eco-Health and Culture, PNG and Timor-Leste Strengthen Ties

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The shared Melanesian heritage between Papua New Guinea and Timor-Leste took center stage at Government House today. Governor General Grand Chief Sir Bob Dadae and President Dr. José Ramos-Horta moved beyond standard diplomacy, pivoting the bilateral conversation toward environmental protection, medical cooperation, and a vibrant cultural export, PNG music.

With both nations housing some of the most diverse ecosystems on Earth, the leaders discussed forming a unified front to protect natural rainforests and ocean biodiversity.

Dr. Ramos-Horta, a Nobel Peace Prize Laureate currently in Port Moresby for the Melanesian Ocean Summit, praised PNG’s role as a global environmental heavyweight.

“We have great respect for Papua New Guinea which along with Brazil and Indonesia, has the largest rainforest biodiversity in the world and it is also home to the largest Melanesian population in the world,” President Ramos-Horta said.

The President also proposed a practical, hands-on partnership to improve public health, suggesting a formal exchange of medical professionals. The goal is to share expertise on tropical diseases common to both regions. By collaborating on the elimination and control of Malaria and Rabies, the President believes both nations can fortify their healthcare systems through shared learning.

Highlighting PNG’s local music talent, President Ramos-Horta revealed that PNG’s cultural influence extends far across the sea. He stated that PNG musicians have a massive, dedicated following in Timor-Leste and expressed a desire to transform this popularity into a formal cultural exchange.

“I want to invite PNG musicians to Timor-Leste. We have quite a big following of PNG music fans in Timor-Leste,” President Ramos-Horta said.

The President also shared a personal wish to return to Papua New Guinea to visit the Highlands region, showing an interest in the PNG’s diverse cultural landscape.

Turning to geopolitics, the President addressed Timor-Leste’s 2025 entry into ASEAN, thanking PNG for its steadfast support of their membership bid. He affirmed that the two nations would continue to back one another in international forums as they navigate the mutual challenges of infrastructure development and human resource capacity.

“I want to assure you of my country’s support to PNG in international and regional forums,” Dr. Ramos-Horta said.

This important visit signifies a growing partnership between two “guardians” of the region’s natural wealth, concluding with a mutual shared vision for a healthier, greener, and more culturally connected Pacific.

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Kumuls Legend Alex Johnston Seals Deal with PNG Chiefs

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Alex Johnston has officially put pen to paper, confirming his move to the PNG Chiefs for their 2028 NRL debut.

The announcement, released from the Santos Football Stadium in Boroko, confirms Johnston as the first-ever Papua New Guinean player to join the expansion club’s roster.

For the veteran winger, this transition is a personal homecoming. Despite his long-standing success in Australia, Johnston stated that the opportunity to represent his bloodline in the NRL was a calling he could not ignore.

“Having my PNG heritage, it was almost like a duty or an obligation,” Johnston said.

“When the team got announced, I felt like I had to go over there and represent my family, my nan, as best I can.”

PNG Chiefs General Manager of Football, Michael Chammas, described the signing as a special moment, calling Johnston a Papua New Guinean icon who has carried the hopes of the nation throughout his career.

“And now he is coming home,” Chammas said.

Johnston arrives at the Chiefs as the most prolific finisher the game has ever seen. Just two months ago, he made history by surpassing the legendary Ken Irvine to become the all-time leading try-scorer in premiership history.

Club CEO, Lorna McPherson stated that while everyone knows he is a proven performer and a record holder, his value off the field is just as significant.

She stated that his humility and connection to the country make him the perfect ambassador for the club.

Johnston’s connection to the red, black, and gold is already well-established. As a 12-capped PNG Kumul, he has been a mainstay of the national side, representing the country with distinction on the international stage. This existing bond with the PNG fans is expected to form the heart of the Chiefs’ identity as they build toward 2028.

The 31-year-old has signed a one-year deal to lead the Chiefs into their first season under coach Willie Peters.

While he remains contracted to the South Sydney Rabbitohs for another 18 months, Johnston is already looking forward to the 2028 campaign in Port Moresby.

The Chiefs expressed their gratitude to the Rabbitohs for their professionalism in allowing Johnston the ability to secure this future move.

For now, the Try-Scoring King remains focused on finishing his tenure in Sydney with another premiership before officially “coming home”.

Source: Australian Associated Press

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Vanuatu Delegation Studies PNG Public Service Housing Plans

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Men and women in suits posing for a photo

A delegation from Vanuatu has visited the Department of Personnel Management (DPM) to see firsthand how Papua New Guinea manages its public service “engine room,” with a specific focus on new housing projects.

The team from Vanuatu was in Port Moresby for the 7th Pacific Urban Forum. They used the visit to talk about the housing challenges facing the region and to look for new ways to provide homes for their own government workers back home.

The main goal for the Vanuatu group was to find practical ways to improve living conditions. DPM Secretary, Taies Sansan welcomed the visitors, highlighting that working together is the only way for Pacific nations to grow.

“Together, we can explore practical strategies to improve public service housing and ensure public servants have access to quality and sustainable living conditions,” Sansan said.

During the meeting, DPM Executive Manager, Nancy Levi explained the current plans for modern and affordable homes. She made it clear that giving staff a decent place to live is about more than just buildings, it’s about making sure the workforce is happy and productive.

Vanuatu delegation at proposed housing plan site in PNG

To get a better idea of the work being done, the delegation visited the proposed housing site at Bomana in the National Capital District. The visit showed off plans that mix modern design with environmental care, highlighting PNG’s role in leading these kinds of developments.

The site visit offered the Vanuatu team a look at:

  • Modern and affordable housing for government workers.
  • New designs that focus on the needs of families.
  • Long-term planning for public service growth.

The Vanuatu delegation said the experience was an “eye-opening learning opportunity.” They expressed their thanks to the DPM for the presentations, saying that the visit has opened doors for PNG and Vanuatu to work together more closely in the future.

Sansan added that the initiative is an investment in people. The DPM remains focused on finding housing solutions that actually meet the needs of the people serving the country.

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Focus on deportations after killer’s High Court win

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Ankle monitor strapped around a single leg wearing running shoes.

More than 40 asylum seekers, most of whom have committed crimes in Australia, will have their ankle monitors removed and curfews scrapped after the nation’s top court once again threw government policy into chaos.

The High Court ruled in favour of Papua New Guinea-born man, who argued the conditions placed on him after his release from prison were unconstitutional.

In response, 43 foreigners will have their ankle monitors removed and curfews revoked and will instead be placed on conditions similar to being on bail, requiring them to check in regularly at a set location.

The government says it will now focus on deporting the group to Nauru, rather than redrafting immigration laws for a third time.

A sign in front of the Australian High Court Building.
The High Court’s latest decision is a fresh blow to government attempts to monitor ex-detainees. (Lukas Coch/AAP PHOTOS)

The 36-year-old who brought the case is known only by the pseudonym EGH19. He was convicted of murder as a child and domestic violence against his wife and her father as an adult.

While prosecuted for the domestic violence, his protection visa was cancelled. He served his prison sentence and the government tried to deport him once he was released.

The man was required to wear a monitoring device at all times and stay at a designated address between 10pm and 6am each day.

The government maintained the measures were necessary to protect the Australian community.

But the High Court, by majority, found the conditions were invalid, in yet another blow to the government’s attempts to monitor people released from indefinite immigration detention.

The monitoring regime was introduced after a landmark 2023 ruling by the same court that indefinite detention was illegal if there was no reasonable prospect of the person’s removal from Australia in the foreseeable future.

The decision led to the release of 150 immigration detainees with criminal records, some of whom had convictions for serious offences such as murder and rape.

A number were arrested for allegedly reoffending after their release, sparking fierce public and political backlash.

The government reacted by introducing laws requiring some of the former detainees to wear ankle monitors and abide by a curfew, but those measures were struck down in 2024. 

Labor was unlikely to redraft laws in response to the High Court’s decision but would instead focus on its plan to deport members of the cohort to Nauru under a secretive deal with the tiny Pacific nation, a senior government source said.

Twenty seven people have had Nauruan visas approved and a further six have travelled to the island country.

The electronic monitoring was never the government’s main focus, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said.

“While obviously the government would have preferred a different outcome, the government’s ambition was never about ankle bracelets. If someone has their visa cancelled they should leave,” he said in a statement.

Opposition Home Affairs spokesman Jonno Duniam called for new laws to respond to the High Court ruling to protect the community from the cohort.

“(These people) are some of the most dangerous that could possibly be in our community: convicted sex criminals, convicted murderers … we know what happens when these people are left unchecked,” he told reporters in Hobart.

Refugee advocates welcomed the court ruling, accusing the government of drafting laws on the run with no regard to fairness or the constitution.

“We work with people every day who are affected by these conditions – their lives have been turned upside down by these politicised punishments imposed on them simply because of where they were born,” Asylum Seeker Research Centre deputy chief executive Jana Favero said.

The cost of the High Court challenge will be paid by the federal government.

Copyright Australian Associated Press Ltd.

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PM Assures Fuel Security, Economist Warns Prolonged Price Pain

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Fuel pump and service station

Prime Minister James Marape has assured Papua New Guineans that the government is putting in place emergency standby fuel arrangements and relief measures to shield the country from soaring global oil prices triggered by escalating conflict in the Middle East.

In a statement released yesterday, PM Marape said the government was not taking any chances with fuel security, especially given threats to key shipping routes such as the Strait of Hormuz.

“We are putting in place standby facilities to guarantee fuel security for our nation going forward,” the Prime Minister said.

“In light of what is happening globally, especially in the Middle East, we are not taking any chances.”

Prime Minister James Marape
Prime Minister, James Marape.

He confirmed that economic and energy officials have been instructed to prepare relief measures, including possible targeted subsidies, to prevent international price spikes from hitting households and businesses too hard.

“Our goal is to ensure that the impact of global fuel price increases is not heavily felt here at home,” PM Marape said.

“We want to maintain fuel prices below the rate of inflation and ensure they remain at a realistic and affordable level for our people.”

The Prime Minister singled out State-owned Ok Tedi Mining Limited and its energy arm for early action, thanking the company for securing additional aviation fuel shipments and maintaining diesel stocks.

“Ok Tedi has moved early to secure additional aviation fuel shipments and, together with existing stocks and fuel already in transit, is helping to ensure continuity of Jet A1 supply for the aviation sector,” he said.

He also revealed ongoing talks with major importers Puma Energy and ExxonMobil to keep fuel flowing and examine cost-containment options.

The statement comes as global oil prices have surged dramatically. Before the latest Middle East flare-up, crude was trading around USD 64 per barrel. It rose to USD 100, then leapt above USD 150 this week, with some market forecasts now pointing towards USD 200.

Economist Paul Barker, responding directly to the Prime Minister’s statement, welcomed the government’s focus but warned that PNG faces serious longer-term challenges if the middle-east crisis drags on.

“It’s important that the PM, Treasurer and team give major focus and preparation on this, to ensure steady supply of needed fuel and to help restrain undue price impacts on consumers, especially lower income earners,” Mr Barker said.

Paul Barker, Economist.

He stressed the need to keep the public calm and avoid panic buying or hoarding, which could worsen shortages.

Barker noted that Ok Tedi has been keeping aviation fuel flowing for months during PNG’s foreign-exchange crunch and earlier disputes with Puma Energy. However, he raised concerns that the mining giant is being asked to step well outside its core expertise.

“There is invariably concern that this mining company may be being asked to diversify its activities well outside its core areas of expertise and focus, at some potential cost to its own functions and perhaps standards,” he said.

On the global picture, he explained that roughly 20 percent of the world’s oil normally passes through the Strait of Hormuz, which is now effectively closed to most shipping except Chinese vessels and some escorted Indian ships. This has thrown supply chains into chaos, with tankers stranded far from usual refineries.

“Prices have risen from about USD64/barrel before the attack was launched, up to USD100, before slightly dropping back… but that was soon shelved with Iran’s threat to close the straits,” Barker said.

“Oil prices this week have leapt above USD150/barrel with supplies offered well above that and forecasts rising over days to USD 200.”

While prices can fall quickly, as they did after the 2022 Ukraine invasion spike, Barker said this conflict shows “no clear path of resolution” and Iran could sustain the threat for a long time.

“PNG can help mitigate costs in the shorter run, but if high prices are sustained, which seems likely unless there’s some constructive breakthrough, it would be challenged to sustain strong counter-market pressure,” he said.

He added that the only silver lining for PNG would be higher revenues from the country’s own gas and oil projects, which could deliver a windfall to the State through taxes and equity stakes.

Darked skinned young man holding a fuel pump and putting petrol into a car.

Meanwhile, the Independent Consumer and Competition Commission confirms that the Middle East crisis has disrupted domestic price hikes. While petrol cost is up by K0.13 per litre and diesel by K0.22 per litre for the month of March, these increases are based on the benchmark prices from February.

ICCC says domestic prices for the next month (April) will see the impact of the current Middle East crisis, and further updates will be released next month given the one-month lag in price calculations.

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Vanuatu 2026: Stability Amidst Calls for Transparency

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After surviving its first year intact following the 2024 earthquake election, Prime Minister Jotham Napat’s coalition enters 2026 with rare momentum. Despite defeating a no-confidence motion and settling long-standing teacher pay disputes, the government faces mounting pressure to clean up state institutions.

The Year of Records

The Napat administration’s first year was marked by high-stakes wins and legislative activity:

  • Climate Leadership: Won a historic ICJ advisory opinion on climate justice.
  • Labor Peace: Signed a VT4.25 billion deal to resolve teacher salary grievances.
  • Judicial Rigor: Successfully applied the 2023 Electoral Act to replace a convicted MP without a by-election.

The Shadow of the “Golden Passport”

The primary threat to public trust remains the Commission of Inquiry report into the citizenship-by-investment scheme. Despite the report being finished, the government’s silence has fueled rumors of a political house of cards.

“The public remains in the dark… poor regulation produces internationally embarrassing headlines.”

Demands for Reform

As the 14th legislature moves forward, critics are calling for three specific shifts:

  1. Legislative Transparency: In 2025, nearly 300 new laws and regulations were passed, yet few reached the public or the Parliament website.
  2. Public Service Accountability: Leaders are calling for an end to “nepotism and inefficiency.” Despite orders to stay open, many offices still close for lunch, hindering revenue.
  3. Constitutional Consistency: High-level errors, such as a discriminatory by-law banning menstruating women from markets, highlight a need for better legal vetting at the State House.

The Road Ahead: 2026 and Beyond

While Vanuatu has avoided the democratic retreat seen in other parts of the world, its future depends on whether the Napat government chooses transparency over secrecy. With President Nikenike Vurobaravu’s term ending in 2027, the “mutual accountability” between the State House and the legislature will be tested.

As media veteran Moses Steven noted, the nation requires “a new mentality to serve the public.” If the government can release the citizenship report and overhaul the civil service, 2026 could mark the end of a decade-long decline in public trust. If not, the current stability may prove to be a temporary calm before the next political storm.

Source: Devpolicy Blog (devpolicy.org), from the Development Policy Centre at The Australian National University.

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Push to enshrine Pacific gender lens on COP31 agenda

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Woman in a green dress walking in front of a yellow building carrying groceries in Vanuatu.

Across the Pacific, rural women are bearing the brunt of a changing climate.

Floods devastating crops, disappearing resources for cultural weaving and economic hardship fuelling gender-based violence, human-driven global warming is taking a toll on women in the region.

Louisa Wall is a First Nations representative and former Aotearoa New Zealand MP who has long advocated for gender equality and human rights.

Funnelling more resources into projects to help Pacific women adapt to climate change is a priority for her as someone who has recently taken on the role of Oceanic Pacific Mobilisation Advisor at the upcoming Women Deliver gender equality conference to be held in Melbourne.

There are already funds available for climate adaptation, such as the recently-installed Pacific Resilience Facility, set up to ensure long-term, community-scale financing for flood-resilient roads and other projects.

But Ms Wall wants more going to women and girls directly.

“You already have a vulnerable population group, which are women and children, and then you add in this existential threat of climate,” she told AAP.

“It exacerbates the ability of women to live healthy, contributing, successful lives, where they have the autonomy to cultivate their own food or to use the raw materials around them to build crafts.”

Ms Wall will join like-minded advocates in pushing the issue ahead of the 2026 United Nations climate talks.

The annual talks are to be held in Turkey but with Australia in a “president of negotiations” role and a pre-COP meeting to be held in the Pacific islands.

Australia and the Pacific were bidding to co-host the conference in Adelaide but pulled out last-minute after a protracted stand-off with Turkey.

Ahead of COP31, Ms Wall will be helping have Pacific women’s voices heard at the flagship gender equality summit to be held in Melbourne in April next year.

Taking place in the Oceania Pacific region for the first time, the forum will provide an opportunity for women to share first-hand experiences of life under a changing climate and showcase female-led adaptation measures already taking place, Ms Wall said.

A common experience across the Pacific is the loss of raw materials used in weaving mats, baskets and other wares, crafts that can have cultural significance and provide a source of income for women.

Food security is another major problem, with crops knocked around by storms, pests and other conditions fuelled by climate change, and fishing stocks depleted by compromised coral reefs and marine habitats.

And, with worsening economic instability from failed crop yields and no goods to sell, the risk of physical and sexual violence is growing.

More competition for resources can prevent children going to school, Ms Wall said, forcing more women into early marriages and perpetuating cycles of inequality.

Ms Wall acknowledged her own privilege as someone spared from the horrors of sea level rise-forced migration and other extreme climate impacts, and stressed the importance of giving rural Pacific women the space to share their own stories.

“It’s incredibly important that women’s voices are part of any discussions related to climate change,” she said.

“The implications actually are about whether or not people can survive.”

Copyright @ AAP 2025

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Samoa-Taufua: The Family Pride Behind Payne Haas’s Rugby League World Cup Dream

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In a powerful display of cultural and family pride, Brisbane Broncos powerhouse Payne Haas has revealed the deeply personal reason behind his decision to represent Samoa on the international stage.

The 25-year-old, a four-time representative for the Australian Kangaroos, spoke at Suncorp Stadium about the moment that cemented his choice: the anthems played before a clash with Samoa during the 2023 Pacific Championships.

“There was a moment when I played for Australia when we versed Samoa, the anthems were playing and my mind started racing back to lots of memories with my mum and her making us sing the national anthem of Samoa a lot in the back of the car,” Haas said, a red Samoan ula resting on his shoulders.

“From that moment onwards I wanted to play for Samoa and represent my mum’s side, the Taufua side, and make them proud and my grandparents as well.”

The journey to don the blue of Samoa is a full-circle moment for Haas, who was inspired by his uncle, Mark Taufua, a former Samoan Test player and now a staff member with the team.

“He played for Toa Samoa as well. I remember watching him do the Siva Tau (war dance) and I always wanted to do it,” Haas said.

“We used to always do it in front of the TV. So I get my moment now to play for Samoa, something I always wanted to do. I’m just privileged and blessed.”

Haas, who also has Filipino and Swiss heritage, said his mother, Joan Taufua, gave him her full blessing for the switch.

“It was more my mum and having her blessing. I spoke to her on the phone and she was all for it,” he said.

“To have my mother’s blessing means the world. I just want to make her proud and do our Taufua name proud.”

His decision has been met with respect, even from his former Australian coach. Haas said he spoke with Kevin Walters, who “took the news ‘well’ and understood his reasoning.”

With other top players like Tino Fa’asuamaleaui and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow reportedly considering a similar move, Haas offered a simple message to them: “Follow their heart.”

“Hopefully we get a few more boys over,” he said.

Haas is set to make his debut for Toa Samoa in the Pacific Cup against Tonga at Suncorp Stadium on October 26. He acknowledged the trailblazing efforts of Jason Taumalolo, who switched from New Zealand to Tonga in 2017 and changed the international landscape.

“He is someone that inspired me to make this move as well,” Haas said.

“I feel like versing Tonga here is just fitting. It is going to be massive. I can’t wait.”

The Pacific Cup is just the beginning. The ultimate goal for Haas and the Samoan squad is the Rugby League World Cup, which will be co-hosted by Australia and Papua New Guinea in 2026.

“I feel like we can win it with the team we have got now,” Haas stated confidently.

“We have great players and it is our goal to win the World Cup.”

Source: Australian Associated Press

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FFA Receives US$60 Million from the US under Economic Assistance Agreement

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The Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) announced that it has received a US$60 million payment for 2024 from the United States government under the Economic Assistance Agreement (EAA) associated with the Treaty on Fisheries.

The payment, which was confirmed by U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau earlier in the week, will be allocated to the 16 Pacific Island Parties that comprise the FFA’s membership.

“This is a positive and welcome development, and a clear demonstration of the US Government’s commitment to the EAA, the Treaty, and its cordial relationship with Pacific Island States,” said FFA Director-General Noan David Pakop.

Pakop expressed confidence that the initial payment would be a positive sign for the future of the agreement.

“We are confident that this initial payment will pave the way for the approval of the 2025 payment and future payments under the EAA,” he said.

The Treaty on Fisheries, which allows U.S. purse seine fishing vessels to operate within the Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) of the Pacific Island Parties, has been in effect for 37 years since it came into force in 1988.

Its terms and conditions have been periodically renegotiated, with the latest extension concluded in June 2024, extending the agreement for the next 10 years (2023-2033) with revised terms and a new financial package.

The 16 Pacific Island Parties involved are: Australia, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu.

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