Unions urge Australia to buy life-saving machines for PNG hospitals

THE PNG Trade Union Congress has called on the Australian government to pump some of its aid directly into buying life-saving machines for hospitals.
The union also called on Canberra to cut down on advisers and consultants engaged in Australian aid programmes to save cost and have maximum value for money.
These were some issues raised by PNGTUC in a meeting with Australian parliamentary secretary for Pacific Island affairs Richard Marles in Port Moresby yesterday.
PNGTUC president Michael Malabag, general-secretary John Paska and Maritime Workers representative Reg Maclister met with Marles in a meeting that was arranged by Australian High Commissioner to PNG Ian Kemish.
Malabag said after the meeting that the PNG unions had a strong link with the Australian Labor Party led by prime minister Julia Gillard.
“We discussed with Marles on a number of issues including quality public service, unions, governance, political, social and regional issues.”
He said the union, especially the Public Employees Association, had stressed the need for quality public service that could deliver quality service.
“We touched a bit on Australian aid to PNG where we raised the issue of whether some of the aid can be channelled straight into the key sectors of education and health for the purchase of life-saving machines for hospitals.
“We also pointed out that much of the aid are being taken up by consultants and advisers which the union feel should be reduced for maximum value,” Malabag said.
He said the union, as an important stakeholder, was promoting governance issues and had been involved in the creation of PNG Vision 2050.
He said the union also supported the 20-year national strategic plan in improving the living standards of the rural population.
He said the union also raised concerns with the Australian leader about the LNG and its implications on the skilled workforce.
“The contractors involved in the project are hiring skilled workers from outside the country, which is of great concern to the unions.”
Malabag also extended his appreciation for Australia’s continued support in capacity building, especially in building facilities that would train young people to work on the LNG project.
On the regional front, the PNGTUC raised the issue of Pacific agreement on closer economic relations (Pacer) that there must be wider consultations with all stakeholders including the unions, civil society organisations, churches and women groups.
Malabag said the union had, in the past, raised concerns that Australia and New Zealand were clearly using their economic power base to steamroll Pacific Island countries and bully them into signing on the start of negotiations.
“We call for an adequate structure for trade negotiations to be established before new trade negotiations with Australia and New Zealand begin.”
Malabag said future discussions on trade relations between Pacific countries and Australia and New Zealand should be directed towards reducing poverty, keeping in mind the millennium development goals.
He said Australia and New Zealand should not use aid and labour mobility schemes as leverage for negotiations.