Author Archives: Devpolicy-PiPP

Pacific Buzz (July 25): Political round up | Fiji plots, arrests and decrees | Family planning boost | Unrealistic energy targets | Search for missing millions… and more

Posted on Wednesday 25 July 25 2012 by Devpolicy-PiPP

A roundup of development policy issues in the Pacific by the Pacific Institute of Public Policy and the Development Policy Centre. Political roundup Electoral issues around the region continue to surface following a brief return to violence in Timor Leste after the Fretilin party was excluded from the new government. Votes are still being counted in PNG. In an upset Arthur Somare lost his seat. Two women have so far been confirmed to have won seats, as have […] Continue reading →

Posted in (aggregator), ANU PI, Devpolicy | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Pacific Buzz (July 25): Political round up | Fiji plots, arrests and decrees | Family planning boost | Unrealistic energy targets | Search for missing millions… and more

Pacific Buzz (July 11): Voting in Timor and PNG | Growing Pacific economies | Pacific arts showcased | Unrealistic energy targets | Flags of convenience … and more

Posted on Wednesday 11 July 11 2012 by Devpolicy-PiPP

A roundup of development policy issues in the Pacific by the Pacific Institute of Public Policy and the Development Policy Centre. Vote counting underway in Timor Leste… Timor Leste went to the polls on 7 July in an election the UN reports as being peaceful and well-run. Provisional results suggest the National Council of Timorese Resistance (CNRT), the party of caretaker prime minister, Xanana Gusmao, will hold 31 of the 65 seats in […] Continue reading →

Posted in (aggregator), Devpolicy | Tagged , | Comments Off on Pacific Buzz (July 11): Voting in Timor and PNG | Growing Pacific economies | Pacific arts showcased | Unrealistic energy targets | Flags of convenience … and more

Pacific Buzz (June 27): Voting in PNG | Rio wrap | Tongan democracy | Media concerns… and more

Posted on Wednesday 27 June 27 2012 by Devpolicy-PiPP

A roundup of development policy issues in the Pacific by the Pacific Institute of Public Policy and the Development Policy Centre. Our thoughts are with all those affected by recent disasters at sea in Australia, Tonga and Vanuatu. PNG elections … stage one Voting commenced in Papua New Guinea on 23rd June. The elections are expected to provide something of a circuit breaker to the recent political turmoil. Voting will last for approximately […] Continue reading →

Posted in (aggregator), ANU PI, Devpolicy, News | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Pacific Buzz (June 27): Voting in PNG | Rio wrap | Tongan democracy | Media concerns… and more

Pacific Buzz (June 13): Intensifying geopolitics | Peering into space | Mining the Pacific | Heading to Rio … and more

Posted on Wednesday 13 June 13 2012 by Devpolicy-PiPP

A roundup of development policy issues in the Pacific by the Pacific Institute of Public Policy and the Development Policy Centre. Regional geopolitics intensifying Announcements by the US Secretary of Defence that the navy will soon have 60 per cent of its fleet in the Pacific have underscored intensifying regional geopolitics. China has called the move ‘untimely’ and asked the US to respect its interests in the region too. Adding his voice, Samoa’s […] Continue reading →

Posted in (aggregator), Devpolicy | Comments Off on Pacific Buzz (June 13): Intensifying geopolitics | Peering into space | Mining the Pacific | Heading to Rio … and more

Pacific Buzz (May 30): PNG election countdown | Japan strengthens Pacific ties | NZ aid cuts | Economic round up | Shifting geopolitics | Political manoeuvrings … and more

Posted on Wednesday 30 May 30 2012 by Devpolicy-PiPP

A roundup of development policy issues in the Pacific by the Pacific Institute of Public Policy and the Development Policy Centre. Countdown to PNG election mired in more constitutional drama Parliament was dissolved on 16 May and writs issued for a general election to be held on 23 June, leading to hopes of a resolution following months of political and legal wrangling. Within days yet more turmoil ensued as the Supreme Court handed […] Continue reading →

Posted in (aggregator), ANU PI, Devpolicy | Comments Off on Pacific Buzz (May 30): PNG election countdown | Japan strengthens Pacific ties | NZ aid cuts | Economic round up | Shifting geopolitics | Political manoeuvrings … and more

Pacific Buzz (May 16): Vanuatu expels AFP | Australia defers aid target | Solomon Islands debt management | Latest from Fiji and PNG | ICT developments …and more

Posted on Wednesday 16 May 16 2012 by Devpolicy-PiPP

A roundup of development policy issues in the Pacific by the Pacific Institute of Public Policy and the Development Policy Centre. We offer our condolences to the people of Cook Islands on the passing of former Prime Minister, Sir Geoffrey Henry. Vanuatu Government expels the Australian Federal Police A diplomatic stand off continues after the Vanuatu Government expelled the Australian Federal Police on 10 May in retaliation for embarrassment caused to Prime Minister […] Continue reading →

Posted in (aggregator), ANU PI, Devpolicy | Tagged , | Comments Off on Pacific Buzz (May 16): Vanuatu expels AFP | Australia defers aid target | Solomon Islands debt management | Latest from Fiji and PNG | ICT developments …and more

Pacific Buzz (May 2): Contact in Fiji | Growing Chinese influence | Honiara security issues | Ongoing flood effects…

Posted on Wednesday 2 May 2 2012 by Devpolicy-PiPP

A roundup of development policy issues in the Pacific by the Pacific Institute of Public Policy and the Development Policy Centre.  Ministerial contact in Fiji The high-level Pacific Islands Forum Ministerial Contact Group meeting commenced in Fiji (for the first time in four years) on Monday April 30th, with consultations beginning May 1st. The delegation comprised a number of officials from the region, including Australian and New Zealand foreign ministers Bob Carr and […] Continue reading →

Posted in (aggregator), ANU PI, Devpolicy | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Pacific Buzz (May 2): Contact in Fiji | Growing Chinese influence | Honiara security issues | Ongoing flood effects…

Pacific Buzz (April 18): Latest from PNG | Internet benefits | Labour mobility | Managing tuna…and more

Posted on Wednesday 18 April 18 2012 by Devpolicy-PiPP

A roundup of development policy issues in the Pacific by the Pacific Institute of Public Policy and the Development Policy Centre. Papua New Guinea update There is no sign that the levels of political intensity will decline any time soon in Papua New Guinea. Conflicts and tensions, both new and old, are evident at institutional and individual levels, with the results playing out on the floor of Parliament (the Speaker […] Continue reading →

Posted in (aggregator), ANU PI, Devpolicy | Tagged | Comments Off on Pacific Buzz (April 18): Latest from PNG | Internet benefits | Labour mobility | Managing tuna…and more

Pacific Buzz (April 3): PNG protests | New Tongan king | Samoan economy | Sub regional meetings | Fish…and more

Posted on Tuesday 3 April 3 2012 by Devpolicy-PiPP

A roundup of development policy issues in the Pacific by the Pacific Institute of Public Policy and the Development Policy Centre. PNG protests The Judicial Conduct Bill that was rushed through the PNG Parliament on March 21 has resulted in yet another vigorous constitutional debate. Criticisms of the bill came from numerous quarters, including leader of the opposition Dame Carol Kidu, NGOs and the PNG Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The most visible […] Continue reading →

Posted in (aggregator), ANU PI, Devpolicy, News | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Pacific Buzz (April 3): PNG protests | New Tongan king | Samoan economy | Sub regional meetings | Fish…and more

Pacific Buzz (March 20): ADB criticizes PNG sovereign wealth fund | MPs face the people | Fiji constitution | Slow down projected …and more

Posted on Tuesday 20 March 20 2012 by Devpolicy-PiPP

A roundup of development policy issues in the Pacific by the Pacific Institute of Public Policy and the Development Policy Centre. Our sincere condolences to the people of Tonga on the passing of King George Tupou V. ADB criticizes PNG sovereign wealth fund The ADB has criticized the design of the PNG Sovereign Wealth Fund, saying that more funds from the resources boom should be saved and less spent “until […] Continue reading →

Posted in (aggregator), ANU PI, Devpolicy | Tagged | Comments Off on Pacific Buzz (March 20): ADB criticizes PNG sovereign wealth fund | MPs face the people | Fiji constitution | Slow down projected …and more

Pacific Buzz: Fiji and PNG budgets | PNG court challenge | Vanuatu joins WTO | Urban issues | Global conferences

Posted on Tuesday 6 December 6 2011 by Devpolicy-PiPP

A roundup of development policy issues in the Pacific by the Pacific Institute of Public Policy and the Development Policy Centre. Fiji and PNG budgets Fiji passed its budget at the end of November, and it has been cautiously welcomed by the international business community and excitedly embraced by the country’s Chamber of Commerce. The budget includes radical taxation cuts — some 99 percent of the population will see their taxes reduced or cut entirely.  The government will instead raise revenue from a hike in its airport […] Continue reading →

Posted in ANU PI, Devpolicy | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Pacific Buzz: Fiji and PNG budgets | PNG court challenge | Vanuatu joins WTO | Urban issues | Global conferences

Pacific Buzz: Pacific and the Asia-Pacific | Leadership changes | Papuan protests

Posted on Monday 21 November 21 2011 by Devpolicy-PiPP

A round up of current development policy issues in the Pacific, by the Pacific Institute of Public Policy and the Development Policy Centre. The Pacific and the Asia-Pacific century? After cancelling two previous trips to Australia, US President Barack Obama finally touched down in Canberra and addressed the Australian Parliament, outlining his vision for a stronger US military presence in the Pacific. The visit hailed the 60th anniversary of the Australia-US alliance, and was marked by an agreement by Australia to host a full US […] Continue reading →

Posted in (aggregator), ANU PI, Devpolicy | Tagged | Comments Off on Pacific Buzz: Pacific and the Asia-Pacific | Leadership changes | Papuan protests

Pacific Buzz: Fiji elections | Reducing remittance costs | Domestic violence costing billions

Posted on Monday 7 November 7 2011 by Devpolicy-PiPP

A round up of current development policy issues in the Pacific, by the Pacific Institute of Public Policy and the Development Policy Centre. Fiji to start work on voter registration and a new constitution The military government in Fiji has signaled its intention to hold to its 2014 ‘democracy roadmap’, with reports suggesting voter registration in the country will commence in January 2012, to be completed in July. Speaking at an event hosted by the Citizens’ Constitutional Forum, interim attorney general Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum has promised […] Continue reading →

Posted in (aggregator), ANU PI, Devpolicy | Tagged | Comments Off on Pacific Buzz: Fiji elections | Reducing remittance costs | Domestic violence costing billions