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IT’S the small gestures that count. He didn’t clasp shrieking babies to his political bosom, but he did wander around the Goroka market and find himself a bilum or two, and he was clearly unconcerned about his personal safety. Well done, Mr Rudd – the people were watching.
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GOOD morning. The jury’s in – the Rudd Voyage of Discovery was clearly a success. Of course that’s just the beginning; we now look forward to seeing our own parliamentarians, some of whom have savagely and unreasonably attacked Australia in recent years, hauling new sails and changing direction.
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AND we could afford to spare a thought for John Howard. It’s become fashionable to deride a man who led Australia to unparalleled economic wealth during his tenure of office; it’s hard to be The Little Aussie Battler and wear a sarong and lei at the same time.
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MR Howard’s recognition of the terrible danger PNG faces as a result of HIV and AIDS was expressed in substantial aid – and it helped galvanise our own Government into action. His view of the South Pacific may have been autocratic and at times arrogant; we think his failing lay in seeing our island nations through spectacles that would have been appropriate 30 years earlier.
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BOTH PNG and Australia have changed dramatically in that time – and both sides need to recognise those changes. Some of us still privately see Oz as the source of all goodies, a sort of wealthy benevolent uncle conveniently floating a little to the south of our borders.
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THE reality is that just as PNG is not symbolised by the errant wokboi who can be forced to perform by a sharp clip over the ears, neither is Australia populated by millions of easy going Akubra-topped blokes whose motto is “she’ll be right mate”.
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IN fact, the southern island continent hovers on the brink of being a major player in our world, one with new and exciting challenges. So both sides need to engage with each other on new and mutually agreeable terms. We very much hope that the good beginning brought about by the Rudd visit signals just such a move. Cheers!
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– Dee Nesenolis
Editorial