Michael Johnson (Ryan, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I am getting to that, Mr Deputy Speaker. I am going to the topic of the amount of financial support which the Australian government is providing to our Pacific friends. Our bilateral relationships with countries such as the Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea are very extensive and diverse. On behalf of the electorate of Ryan, I am very keen to hear from the foreign minister about the nature of our support for those countries. Also, from the budget delivered by the Treasurer last month, what sorts of aid measures are we putting in place to assist the countries of the Pacific, particularly the Solomon Islands and PNG, where I grew up and in which I have a very strong interest? How are we playing a role? How are the taxpayers of Australia strengthening the corporate governance of countries like PNG and the Solomon Islands? How are we helping their young people through mechanisms such as scholarships? How are we helping disadvantaged people in those countries through aid in health and education? We all know that HIV-AIDS is a tremendous issue for Papua New Guinea. Our own nation has an obligation, I feel, to help as much as we can. I am keen to hear from the foreign minister about the measures that the government is putting in place to promote some of the issues I outlined. The people of Ryan are very keen to hear how Australian taxpayers’ dollars are spent in strengthening the countries of the Pacific.

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