PNG at 40 Symposium Learning from the Past and Engaging with the Future Alotau 1 – 3 March 2016 Institute of National Affairs PNG at 40 Symposium Published by: Institute of National Affairs PO Box 1530, Port Moresby NCD Papua New Guinea Copyright © 2016 Institute of National Affairs ISBN 9980-77-185-2 National Library Service – Papua New Guinea Cover Photos: Above: 16 September 1975, Independence celebrations: courtesy of the Marsh Family Collection and the Papua New Guinea Association of Australia Inc. Below: Independence Day Celebrations ©Rocky Roe PNG at 40 Symposium Acknowledgements: The Institute of National Affairs would like to acknowledge the contributions made by all the participants who generously gave the best part of a week, in travelling to and actively contributing their ideas and experience to the dialogue and outcomes of this historic three day Symposium held in Alotau in March 2016, on lessons learned over the 40 years of Independence and engaging with the future. The organisers would particularly like to thank all those that prepared and presented their thought- provoking discussion papers, both as background material, but particularly to stimulate the discussion in the Symposium. Preparation for the Symposium occurred over roughly one year and the Institute would like to recognise the hard work put in over that period by the Planning Committee, and especially the symposium Advisory Committee, chaired by Sir Brown Bai and comprising also Mayambo Peipul, Josepha Kiris and Ila Geno. The hard work by the INA Deputy Director, Marjorie Andrew, must be applauded in the seamless organisation of the event, together with invaluable inputs from the project coordinator, Anthony Hughes, and from Cedric Saldana and Daisy Taylor. We’d like to acknowledge the valuable contributions of the EPSP program, managed by Coffey International, ExxonMobil and the Lamana Group in providing funding for the INA to be able to host this event. Finally, the Institute and all the participants would to thank the Alotau hotels, where the Symposium was held over the three days and where the guests stayed and were entertained at the symposium dinner on the final night, and we express our appreciation to the town of Alotau and Milne Bay province for providing a superb venue for this unique event. The Symposium covered the challenging issues and options facing Papua New Guinea into the future, learning from lessons and some mistakes made in the past and present, but the serene waterfront of Alotau, with its magnificent mountain backdrop across the bay, provided the perfect location to dwell upon these lessons, challenges and opportunities. Paul Barker Executive Director, INA ii PNG at 40 Symposium Table of Contents Summary of Discussions Symposium Overview Page 1 PNG as a Nation State Session 1.1 The Character of the Independent State of PNG Page 2 Session 1.2 Good Governance is crucial to building the nation state Page 3 Session 1.3 Effective and Accessible Legal and Institutional Processes Page 4 PNG as a Developing Economy Session 2.1 Economic Growth in PNG is commonly defined as an increase Page 5 in Monetary GDP Session 2.2 Sustainability of Economic Growth in PNG Page 6 PNG as an Ethnically Diverse Society Session 3.1 Recognising and Managing Diversity Page 7 Session 3.2 Preserving PNG’s Predominantly Melanesian Identity Page 8 PNG in the Pacific, Asia and the World Session 4.1 PNG and its Bigger Neighbours Page 9 Session 4.2 PNG and the Pacific Islands Page 10 The Five Strategic Priorities Calling for Action Strategic Area 1 Repair the Broken Political System Page 12 Strategic Area 2 Shift Focus from Monetary GDP to Broad Based Economic Page 13 Growth Strategic Area 3 Restore a Professional, Accountable, Public Service and Page 14 Institutions Strategic Area 4 Comprehensively and Effectively Apply the Rule of Law Page 15 Strategic Area 5 Recognise and Promote PNG Culture Page 16 Way Forward Way Forward – Potential Initiatives Evolving from the Page 17 Symposium - Initial Thoughts iii PNG at 40 Symposium Appendices Page 21 1. Names of Participants 2. Papers Sanctioned by the Symposium i. Session 1.1: The character of the independent State of PNG derives from the Page 22 history and nature of its land and people, and the international politics of the region - Dr Henry Okole ii. Session 1.2: Good Governance is crucial to building the nation state –Dr Page 46 Joseph Ketan iii. Session 1.3: Effective and Accessible Legal and Institutional Processes are Page 58 Essential – Sam Koim iv. Session 1.3: Effective and Accessible Land Related Legal and Institutional Page 66 Processes – Josepha Kiris v. Session 2.1: Economic Growth in PNG is commonly defined as increase in Monetary GDP – Sir Brown Bai Page 72 vi. Session 2.2: Sustainability of Economic Growth – Dr Ron May Page 80 vii. Session 3.1: Recognising and Managing Diversity – Dr Michael Mel Page 87 viii. Session 3.2: PNG’s Predominantly Melanesian Identity is being diluted – Aivu Tauvasa Page 93 ix. Session 4.1: PNG and Its Bigger Neighbours – Hon Sam Abal Page 100 x. Session 4.2: PNG’s Engagement with Pacific Regionalism – Dame Meg Taylor Page 105 iv Symposium Overview The PNG at 40 Symposium was organised by the Institute of National Affairs (INA) over 1 to 3 March 2016 at Alotau. The aim was to develop a home-grown, constructively critical and useful analysis of PNG’s forty years of independence, and extract what can be learned from it so as to better manage current issues and prepare for what lies ahead. It is hoped the symposium’s output will make a significant and practical contribution to the challenging and continuing task of nation-building. The three-day, intensive, by-invitation symposium was attended by 40 men and women who have been, are and intend to be engaged in shaping PNG’s political and economic development. They came from all walks of life – political, governmental, non-governmental, private sector, academia and the churches. Nine papers were commissioned from participants for presentation, one for each of the nine discussion sessions. The subjects fell within four broad themes – (i) PNG as a nation-state, (ii) PNG as a developing economy, (iii) PNG as an ethnically diverse society, and (iv) PNG in the Pacific, Asia and the world. Participants debated the issues raised by the papers, shared observations and insights, analysed lessons from past experience, and collectively reached reasoned conclusions about what lies ahead, and how PNG can best manage and influence current and foreseeable problems and issues. A final session was devoted to Shaping and Building PNG’s future. Here, the participants built on the conclusions reached in the prior nine sessions and narrowed these down to Five Strategic Priorities for the nation. These are – 1. Repair the Broken Political System 2. Shift the Focus from Monetary GDP to Broad Based and Sustainable Economic Growth 3. Restore a Professional, Accountable, Public Service and Institutions 4. Comprehensively and Effectively Apply the Rule of Law 5. Recognise and Promote PNG Culture This Summary of Discussions document captures the essence of each of the nine papers and discussions. It then presents the Five Strategic Priorities, including the issues identified by participants and their suggested courses of action. The time available for discussion of these five priorities was inadequate. It is therefore intended, as a follow up to the Symposium, that informal, voluntary groups from among the participants, will take up each issue, depending on their interest, and follow through on a deeper analysis and developing concrete, practical action plans. In addition, there is a Symposium Statement which outlines how the conclusions of the Symposium will be carried forward for discussion with concerned citizens, institutions and the Government. PNG at 40 Symposium Summary of Discussions Session 1.1 The Character of the Independent State of PNG PNG inherited, at independence, a democratic political system which has had to cope with the pressures and influences of a deeply tribal-based culture. The ‘’sense of a nation’’ among PNG’s over 1000 tribal communities, has taken a while to seep into the PNG psyche. There is still a limited sense of common national identity. The political system still struggles with the influences of the tribal based culture and the prevalence of patron-client relationships. PNG continues to lack a strong political party system and structures. Parties are dominated by powerful individuals and built around personal allegiances and promises of political power and largesse. The first-past-the-post electoral system helped entrench the patron-client relationship. Members of Parliament can be elected with as little as 7% of the vote. The current Limited Preferential Voting System has helped to some extent. But the issue of too many candidates, each obtaining votes based on promises of returning to his/her voters government largesse if elected, remains. Over time, the Executive arm of government has taken over Parliament, since it controls the Government’s resources. The Voters-MPs Reciprocal Relationship forces MPs to align themselves with the Executive, acquiesce to questionable decisions, and tolerate corruption since MPs need access to government largesse to pass on to their voters. It has become the ‘politics of service delivery’. Debates on policy within Parliament are limited. The public service has also been increasingly politicised. Appointments, from senior posts at the national level down to the ward and district level, are increasingly influenced by MPs. This has affected the effectiveness of the public service and reduced public confidence in the service. Transparency and professionalism in government-decision making has collapsed. Executive commitments are made without knowing how much they will cost. The CACC, once the anchor of good, transparent policy making, does not function effectively, if at all.