Prime minister launches appeal for Aust bushfires

By DALE LUMA
PRIME Minister James Marape has launched the PNG Hearts for Australia Fire Appeal 2020, a Government-recognised fundraising drive to raise money for the Australian bushfire recovery.
The fundraising will go on for about eight weeks with the expectation on individuals and corporate organisations to donate funds. Marape is expected to deliver the funds to Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison.
Speaking during the launch yesterday in Port Moresby, Marape, who is also the patron for the appeal, said PNG would focus its attention towards its neighbour in its recovery stage.
“Fire is one thing but rebuilding from the fire is the most important thing that we are targeting,” Marape said.
“The rebuilding will take place and it is where we will get involved and whatever heart to heart donations will go towards making intervention in an identified affected area.
“There will be a submission that will be done to embrace from government to government as to how we will deliver our assistance to the Australians, what is the conduit and manner in which the delivery will take place.”
Marape said there were a lot of individual donation efforts going across the country and as a government decision: “We recognise that this will be the core body of fundraising that is going on.
“We will register this as the main driver for private sector donations and we will go one step and I have signalled Treasury to look into for those giving tax concessions to those that are giving donations through this conduit, more especially at the corporate level.
“Many times when we are in need, Australia is the first to step in. They have had many needs but the magnitude and severity of this one is right in our face and I want to thank the private citizens for the combined relief effort.”
The appeal has already gained momentum with a total of K450,000 raised at the launch which saw a K400,000 coming from the National Gaming Control Board and K50,000 from Trans Wonderland Ltd.
Digicel PNG Ltd also announced that it has opened a donation line for its users to use to contribute by sending a text message to 16705 which will cost K2 which will go directly to the appeal, according to senior vice-president Lorna McPherson.
McPherson said that Digicel would also be doing awareness through its SMS service and also called on all corporate to contribute to the appeal.
Kumul Telikom Holdings Ltd also announced that Telikom PNG Ltd would be presenting a donation through its shareholder Kumul Consolidated Holdings which would then present it to Government.
Telikom PNG is also providing a month’s free data and voice services to appeal organisers.
Meanwhile Marape said 100 soldiers sent to Australia to help in the bushfire recovery efforts had settled in well. He said the soldiers were currently stationed at the Engineering Battalion facility in Townsville.