The O’Neill Government’s recent decision to cease visas on arrival for Australian citizens entering Papua New Guinea will have an impact on business, according to a Business Advantage PNG poll.
The live poll (below) asks readers to state if the abolition of visas on arrival will affect their business. As of today, 64% of respondents say it will, while just 36% say it will not have an effect.
Furthermore, 40% state the effect will be ‘significant’.
According to the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), around 19,000 visas on arrival were issued to Australians entering Papua New Guinea for business and tourism purposes during 2013.
The PNG Government’s decision, which excludes Australian tourists, is being seen as an attempt to encourage the Australian Government to provide reciprocal visa on arrival arrangements to PNG citizens visiting Australia.
‘Such polls are not meant to be scientific,’ notes Andrew Wilkins, Publishing Director at Business Advantage International. ‘But given Business Advantage PNG‘s readership is overwhelmingly business people with an interest in PNG, the poll at the very least indicates a significant level of concern.’
[yop_poll id=”2″]
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It’s a documented fact that, the best way to sort any problem is to graduate from the fear of bruising one’s ego and talk frankly face-to-face.
It cuts down on all the mountain of bullshit and saves everyone’s time, energy and effort.
The Australian Foreign Affairs Minister has just delivered the verdict. It’s a no. We have to move on.
And we must make our decisions accordingly as promised to kick into effect in March 2014.
I have to applaud the Prime Minister, Peter O’Neill and his government for banning “visa on arrival” for Australians in PNG. We will be silly and insane to be wasting more time talking about the same thing for “kangaroo years”.
One thing our good friends, Australians, must realize is that, some Papua New Guineans have been to the same schools that they have been to, are reading the same stuff online (thanks to internet) – and from non-traditional sources mind you, so they must get off the idea that Papua New Guineans are still to be lectured to in all facets of life.
The culture of accountability and established process management systems may not have been documented and stored in our cultural archives, but they were practiced by our great-great-grand parents in the simplest ways that they carried themselves in discharge of responsibilities.
Virtues like honesty, respect for others, equity and what have you. Just because the failings and abuses of our leaders are glossed over and broadcast widely by Australian media, we should never be conveniently categorized as a failed state.
Yes, that is not to say we don’t need assistance and support from “real Australian consultants” (unfortunately not fresh graduates) to train and institutionalize processes.
I applaud what the Queensland Parliamentary Speaker and her staff are doing to bring some sense into the processes and systems in our National Parliament.
There are numerous areas Australia is and rightly credited for in PNG’s progress as a nation. We appreciate those assistance and support. But, hello, one needs to adopt a matured approach in dealing with a 39 year-old kid who has a mind of her own, albeit with slippages along the path.
Despite the so-called diplomatic rhetoric’s on Australia’s stance with Indonesia on the West Papuan issue, we are optimistic that she will pull an “East Timor” on Indonesia very soon. Former Prime Minister, John Howard, is still alive in the political elite cycles. With a Hillary Clinton Presidential looming (2016) in the US, we feel the time is ripe for another Clinton magic in this part of the world.
I personally feel strongly that, Australia should seriously consider withdrawing her boomerang aid to PNG in 2015 as her 40th independence anniversary gift. This will help us adopt a “President Paul Kagame spirit and boldness” in growing up and becoming an adult. One has to look at the phenomenal legacy of this Rwandan leader to appreciate and lead a nation to self-sufficiency and economic independence.
PNG is Australia’s special and important economic partner. This partnership was in existence even before Australia was colonised. The Toress Trait Islanders are part of Western Province community of people in essence. PNG rearches Australia in 45 minutes by air ( nearest airport Cairns).
PNG and Australia should remove visa restrictions and apply the same relationship established between Australia/New Zealand or other Pacific Islanders.
The Prime Minister of PNG should rather insist on Australia to freeing up Visa restrictions for both country’s so our citizens can travel to each other country anytime.
K. P. Komea