The big squeeze: tax reform and economic diversification in PNG
PNG’s current fiscal squeeze has highlighted the country’s vulnerability to commodity price swings. In his public lecture at 12.30pm on Thursday 8 December, Unitech chancellor and Chair of PNG’s recent Tax Review Sir Nagora Bogan will review the current economic situation, and highlight tax and other reforms to promote economic diversification.
2017 AAC: program now available
We’re pleased to release the draft program for the 2017 Australasian Aid Conference today. With over 110 presentations spread over 4 plenary and 30 parallel sessions, it is our biggest and most interesting yet. This year we’ll be starting on the afternoon of Tuesday 14 February with two book launches and opening cocktails. The two main conference days are Wednesday and Thursday. On Friday 17 February, DFAT will be holding its inaugural Aid Supplier Conference also at the ANU. Peruse the conference program here, and then register for the conference here.
3MAP, the Three-Minute Aid Pitch
The AAC program may be out, but it’s not quite complete yet. For one of the plenaries, we’ll be holding an interactive session to present and debate ideas for improving Australian aid. We’re calling it 3MAP: the Three-Minute Aid Pitch. If you think you’ve got a stellar idea to improve Australian aid and international development policy, please read more here and submit your pitch no later than December 9.
2017 Mitchell Humanitarian Award and a new Aid Profile
Those attending the 2017 Australasian Aid Conference will also get to find out the winner of the inaugural Mitchell Humanitarian Award at the conference dinner on Wednesday 15 February.
Our Aid Profile series provides the shortlist for this prize.
The latest Aid Profile was published this week on pharmacist Phillip Passmore. He helped the swamped local health system deal with dodgy and unneeded drugs in post-tsunami Aceh and much, much more during his fascinating career.
We accept nominations for Aid Profiles and the Mitchell Award on a rolling basis – details are available here.
Excellence and emerging leaders
Ashlee Betteridge, Camilla Burkot, Husnia Hushang and Macarena Rojas were awarded the ANU College of Asia and the Pacific Dean’s Professional Staff Award in the category of Outstanding Team Performance for their stellar efforts over the last five years in running Devpolicy events and conferences, the blog and outreach. Rohan Fox participated in the fourth annual Australia-Papua New Guinea Emerging Leaders Dialogue. Congratulations to all!
15% backpacker tax
Good news for Pacific labour mobility. New Zealand has increased the cap for the number of seasonal workers in the Recognised Seasonal Employer program and the Australian Parliament has agreed to a new backpacker tax rate of 15 per cent, the same rate that Pacific seasonal workers pay, something we have been arguing for. For more information on labour mobility and migration, you can sign up to Devpolicy’s regular updates.
Upcoming events
Economic diversification and tax reform in Papua New Guinea
12.30-1.30pm, Thursday 8 December, Barton Theatre, Crawford School, ANU. Register here.
2017 Australasian Aid Conference
15–16 February, Crawford School, ANU. Event details here
Blog highlights
People power in PNG at the 2017 elections
Incentivising for budget transparency in Afghanistan
Latest podcasts
Robin Davies interviews Phillip Passmore – Part 2
Robin Davies interviews Phillip Passmore – Part 1
From managing disasters to managing disaster risk: an interview with Robert Glasser
On the blog
How not to address maternal mortality by Camilla Burkot
‘TB anywhere is TB everywhere’: Australia and the global burden of tuberculosis by Kerri Viney and Michelle Imison
Seeing each other for what we are: Ben Rawlence’s City of Thorns by Cleo Fleming
Open aid: Australian aid transparency and the Open Government Partnership
by Robin Davies
From managing disasters to managing disaster risk: an interview with Robert Glasser by Robert Glasser and Camilla Burkot
Trump and the PNG 2017 elections by Bal Kama
China’s disruptive entrance on the global aid stage by Kris Hartley
Does aid dependency hinder budget transparency? By Nematullah Bizhan
Can standard migration programs better facilitate migration from small developing countries? By Henry Sherrell
Imagining the Other: its contemporary significance by Michelle Nayahamui Rooney
In brief
Big developments in ANZ seasonal work schemes
Fortnightly links: Trump, education, tons of aid, donated shoes, and more
Philip Passmore: not your ordinary pharmacist
Got an idea for Australian aid? 3MAP
2025 and Beyond: a future international development agenda for Australia
This is the fortnightly newsletter of the Development Policy Centre at Crawford School of Public Policy, The Australian National University, published every second Friday.
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