A chance to do things differently

 AND so Abott wins.

And Labor’s hold on politics in Australia comes to an end. 

Labor’s demise has been brought about more by the machinations of its own internal party strife and government policies, rather than from without but there is a nagging suspicion that perhaps, just perhaps, that last- minute handshake by Prime Ministers Peter O’Neill and Kevin Rudd over the Manus Island deal might have had something to do with Labour’s decisive routing.

And if that nagging suspicion is also shared by members of the incoming administration, it might also mean some uncomfortable questions which might see reviews of existing arrangements, particularly to do with the Manus asylum processing and resettlement agreement.

The coalition has already expressed its intention to cap Australia’s aid off at about $4 billion a year and since PNG is one of the largest recipients of Australian aid, warning bells could already be sounding in Waigani.

Ms Julie Bishop, then as the Opposition Coalition’s spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and the most likely candidate for that ministry today, has also expressed grave concerns about corruption allegations in Papua New Guinea. 

She would no doubt be linking corruptive influences having a bearing on use or abuse of Australian aid to Papua New Guinea.

Bishop has also indicated that the Coalition will take a hard stance on the funneling of billions of dollars into unaccountable global bodies such as United Nations agencies and pledged it would freeze aid at about $4 billion a year and divert money towards major infrastructure projects.

That is a substantial slash back from the current $5.7 billion a year foreign aid programme. 

“There is a problem with AusAID,” Bishop said before the elections. 

She said the coalition would redirect said away from international organisations to the region and to “practical” projects such as infrastructure.

This has attracted criticism from some sectors as it might deter Australia reaching its millennium goal target of foreign aid at 0.5% of GNI.

“To meet 0.5% any sooner now, you would have to tip billions of dollars in one year. That would be reckless, so we will review it when we get into government to see how long it would take,” Bishop said.

Now that they are in government, this might be exactly what they will do.

The Abbott government will also restore, if they stick by their campaign promises, Foreign Affairs and Trade to its former powerhouse department and that can be both beneficial and sticky for PNG and the region.

It will be beneficial if there is indeed much “greater focus on our region – more Jakarta, less Geneva” as Abbott put it.

Bishop said: “Our foreign policy assets – military, defence, economic, trade, diplomatic and foreign aid will be focused not exclusively but unambiguously on our region and our focus will be on economic diplomacy. 

“Our diplomats will be required to understand our commercial interests – and as the head ambassador, if you like, I would make trade a centre piece of my work.”

The political assurance is comforting but the bureaucratic reality might be different. A foreign affairs and trade driven policy can become sticky for PNG in that most of the old guard have left the department and the new breed view the relationship with, at best, disdain, disinterest and suspicion.

Of course, this is very early days yet. Australia will always remain PNG’s strongest ally and friend whichever party is in government.

But it is always a good thing when there is a chance of guard, to move the relationship along a further step because there is all the opportunity and will power to do things a little differently.

This might be just the opportunity for Australia and PNG to do things a little differently. 

The Manus deal, for instance, has attracted criticism on both sides of the Torres Strait. 

If it were to come up for review, here might be a chance to do it a little differently as well.