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Newsletter JULY 2016 FINAL

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Newsletter JULY 2016 FINAL JULY 2016 Volume 2, Issue 7 Events Calendar: 3rd Quarter Meeting Executive Committee 2016 31 August 2016 3pm PWC BOARD ROOM 4th Quarter Meeting Executive Committee 5 December 2016 Message from the President 3pm AUSTRADE RESIDENCE Dear Members Christmas drinks 5 December 2016 We have had a busy July, with responses to policy changes. Details are in- 5pm cluded in the following pages. AUSTRADE RESIDENCE Phil Franklin President—In Country 2016 ELECTED EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OFFICE BEARERS President-In Country : Phil Franklin Vice President: Richard Flynn Secretary: Jonathan Seeto Treasurer: David Guinn Contents EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBERS James Kruse : Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Mark Baker: ANZ Bank Presidents Report 2 Steve Patrick: Gadens Lawyers Bruce Avenell: American Insurance Group Geoff Toone: Westpac Bank Work Programe: 2 Mark Hitchcock : Rio Tinto Greg Worthington-Eyre: Trukai Industries Business and Develop- 2 Andrew Barry : Exxon Mobil PNG ment Round Table Geoff Scahill: Abt JTA TVET Matt Lewis: Hornibrook NGI Ltd TB AID FOR TRADE EX OFFICIOS EXTERNAL MEETINGS 3 Ex Officio : David Knapton Austrade Ex Officio : Bruce Davis Australian High Commissioner Media Summary 4-7 Sponsors 8-9 SECRETARIAT Corporate Services Manager: Nalini Nandanhallt Contacts 10 Accounts Administrator: Naomi Stanley JULY 2016 Volume 2, Issue 7 PRESIDENTS REPORT The AGM and Half Yearly Meeting were deferred to Thursday 14 July 2016 as a result of student unrest in Port Moresby on 6- 9 June 2016 WORK PROGRAM 2016 24th Australia PNG Ministerial Forum - Canberra 2 March 2016 The APNGBC has The APNGBC has sent a follow up letter to both Hon Julie Bishop and Hon Rimbink Pato MP to place on record issues that are critical to the business community and identifies points of action. Foreign exchange Market Access Visa and Work arrangements Economic Co-operation treaty Apec 2018 Public Service Reform Business and Development round table. Business and Officials Working Group Enhanced links between Northern Australia and Papua New Guinea PNG Small Business Development RECENT AMENDMENTS TO THE LAND ACT and RECENTLY LAUNCHED SME POLICY We have noted the concern of members with regards to the impact on business the recently launched SME Policy and draft Lands Re- form Bill may have on your operations. The APNGBC in consultation many national peak bodies is signatory to a jointly drafted and signed letter to the PM outlining our concerns with these reforms. Further to this letter a consultation amongst the private was held on 3/6/2016 and as a result another submission has been prepared - A request to extend the deadline to 14 June was made.. The AP- NGBC has made its own response to the Government of Papua New Guinea on this issue. All copies are attached. For your infor- mation on pages 3-7. BUSINESS AND DEVELOPMENT ROUND TABLE Next meeting scheduled for 20 July 2016 TECHNICAL AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING Subcommittee Update Phil Franklin; Scott Roberts; Gayle Iramu; Suzanne Edgecombe; Jayne Racancoj; Johney Lo Yep; Angela Gizoria; Christopher Prince ; Craig Fergusson; Matt Lewis (Hornibrooks) and Andree James (Hastings Deering); Nalini Nandanhallt; * Mainland Holdings ; Harness Energy PNG; Manufacturers Council; PNG Chamber Mines and Petroleum; Coral Seas Hotels. Next meeting date to be advised. Mapping questionnaire circulated to members 16 Feb 2016 TUBERCULOSIS Subcommittee Update Anna Madgewick; Andrew Candelet; Guy Barnard; Lewis West; Nalini Nandanhallt; John leahy; Mark Baker. Working Group Meeting— 14 June 2016— Ravalian Hause - 12-2pm - Invitation to all members. AID FOR TRADE Subcommittee Update— at the meeting held 15 May 2016—cairns CO CHARED BY THE President of the AP- NGBC Greg Pawson; Rod Hilton AHC and Phil Franklin, APNGBC (PNG) circulated agenda points for the next Aid for Trade meeting. QUARTERLY MEETING SCHEDULE—APNGBC (PNG) Quarter 3 Wednesday 31 August 2016 3pm PWC BOARD ROOM, LEVEL 6, PWC HAUS Quarter 4 Monday 5 December 2016 3PM AUSTRADE RESIDENCE Phil Franklin President -In Country Page 2 JULY 2016 Volume 2, Issue 7 External Meetings mid June CIMC (COMMERCE AND SERVICES ) Nalini Nandanhallt and all Peak Minutes of meeting highlighting current issues circulat- Bodies / sector departments & ed to membership base agencies / Development Partners 1-8 June 2016 DRAFT AMENDMENTS TO THE LAND ACT The Draft Bill will be of particular interest to all non- citizens, both individual and corporate, that currently hold State Leases. Interested parties should attend consultation workshops run from 3 May 2016 to 6 May 2016 and, make written submissions to the DLPP in respect of the Draft Bill. The Bill has not yet been pre- sented to the NEC for approval but we are seeking confirmation of its current status. Amendments to the Papua New Guinea Land Act have been proposed which, among other things, will restrict ownership of land by non-citizens, including PNG incorporated com- panies that are wholly or partly owned by non-citizen individuals or companies. The DLPP has also prepared the draft Land (Amendment) Bill (the Draft Bill) to amend the Land Act 1996 (PNG). Restriction on foreign ownership Among other proposed changes, under the Draft Bill: • PNG incorporated companies, which are wholly or partially owned by a foreign national or entity, will not be eligible to be granted state leases under the Land Act2; • Non-citizens will not be eligible to be granted a state lease under the Land Act;3 and • at the end of 30 years from the date of commence- ment of the Draft Bill, all existing titles to state leases held by non-citizens, will be extinguished and the Minis- ter for Lands will advertise such title for tender.4 Other amendments Other changes to be introduced by the Draft Bill, in- clude: • Repeal of lease-lease back and Special Agricultural and Business Leases (SABLs) provisions • Repeal of Urban Development Lease (UDL) provisions • Creation of Underwater leases – to be advised CIMC (LAW AND ORDER) Nalini Nandanhallt and all Peak Minutes of meeting highlighting current issues circulat- Bodies / sector departments & ed to membership base agencies / Development Partners to be advised DATA RESEARCH - VISAS ON ARRIVAL DEREK BROWN / NNH 3/06/2016 consultations private sector Land Act Amendments crowne plaza 30/05/2016 BUSINESS COALITION FOR WOMEN Nalini Nandanhallt BOARD MEETING 30/5/2016 Business for Development Nalini Nandanhallt / David Supply Chain linkages—aug 2016 - BUSINESS FOR Campbell DEVELOPMENT— Hela province delegation Invita- tion circulated to members 6/06/2016 consultations private sector Land Act Amendments letter to be working party (R Flynn/ Chey Scovell / Nalini completed Nandanhallt/ Douveri) 14/6/2016 14/06/2016 AHC / PRIVATE SECTOR PARTNERSHIP 14 June 2016 9-12 Nalini Nandanhallt TO FIGHT TB WORKSHOP - Curt V Boguslawski 12/07/2016 Pacer Plus Committee Meeting at INA Report due in August Board room, IPA Building OCTOBER DAVID CAMPBELL - BUSINESS FOR MISSION SCHEDULED FOR DEVELPMENT OCTOBER 2017 - HELA PROV- INCE 14/07/2016 Draft National Trade Policy - Nation- Nalini NandanHalt Holiday Inn Presentation by Dr Preville al Validation Workshop 19/07/2016 CONSULTATIONS—SME POLICY BC/PNG STEAMSHIPS P Franklin 19/07/2016 Business and Development AHC / PEAK BODIES—APNGBC RAVALIAN P Franklin / Nalini Nandanhallt Roundtable HAUS, NALINI NANDAHALLT AND PHIL FRANK- LIN Page 3 JULY 2016 Volume 2, Issue 7 Source: PC, p2, 15/7/16 Page 4 JULY 2016 Volume 2, Issue 7 MEDIA SUMMARY Each month the APNGBC NEWSLETTER provides a summary of local media and issues that we consider relevant news to our members . These Media Reports do not necessarily reflect the views of members. THE 33RD AUSTRALIA PNG BUSINESS FORUM & TRADE EXPO MAY 2017 Preliminary assessments of sites are being conducted, a decision will be announced soon. GOVERNANCE About 350 police personnel have been deployed to the University of Papua New Guinea to enforce the dusk to dawn curfew which comes into effect today. The advisory council recommended to the National Executive council on Tuesday to impose the 30 day curfew at UPNG and the University of Technology in Lae effective today from 8pm to 5am. Source: PC, p1, 30/6/16 The 2016 academic year for the country’s premier university, University of Papua New Guinea has been terminated. Acting Chancellor Nicholas Mann made the announcement to staff and students at the Waigani campus yesterday afternoon. Dr Mann said the UPNG council re-iterated the desire to concentrate provision of academic studies however, because of continuing intimidation and harassment of students and staff through criminal activities, the decision was made to terminate the 2016 teaching and learning activities only at the university with immediate effect. Source: PC, p1-3, 6/7/16 Australia‘s Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has declared victory for his conservative coalition in last weeks general election. Source: PC, P29, 11/7/16 MAJOR REGIONAL MEETINGS: ACP / APEC / PNGCCI / PACER PLUS While Papua New Guinea has taken a hard stance on the Pacer Plus agreement, Paul Barker of Institute of National Affairs said that the country should not close its door entirely on the negotiations and be ready to walk out if there are still no tangible benefits. Mr Barker said from the outset that the Pacer Plus is meant to be more than a trade agreement and that PNG and other Pacific Island countries need to know whether it will enable more open access to the Australian markets for their products. PNG in particular should find out what the Pacer Plus will entail in terms of funding, logistical support to improve market chains within and to Australia for its products. Source: PC, p19, 20/6/16 China’s President Xi Jinping has confirmed he will attend the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Leaders’ Summit in Port Moresby in 2018. President Xi confirmed his attendance during bilateral talks with visiting Prime Minister Peter O’Neill in Beijing. Source: PC, p2, 11/7/16 HEALTH Angau Memorial Hospital in Lae has received a new generator to improve power supply for critical services provided by the hospital.
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