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Pacific Island links: Mining and sexual violence, Vanuatu water shortages, PNG attitudes to Australian aid and more

Pacific Island links: Mining and sexual violence, Vanuatu water shortages, PNG attitudes to Australian aid and more
Published 15 Apr 2015 

By Sally Andrews, an intern in the Lowy Institute's Melanesia program.

  • Barrick Gold will compensate 137 PNG women after allegations of rife sexual violence from guards and police at Porgera mine. 
  • PNG’s opposition reopens the debate on extending autonomy for regional governments. 
  • Fears grow in Vanuatu over dire water shortages in the aftermath of Cyclone Pam.
  • Australian volunteer Zoe Marshall was based on Vanuatu’s Pentecost island when Cyclone Pam hit. Here she recounts the story of that night.  
  • Denise Fisher discusses the ramifications of the French election results for New Caledonia.
  • Fiji has signed an historic MOU with China that will help improve the Fijian health sector.
  • The Governor of Port Moresby granted 1.1 million kina in order to establish a new sexual violence centre.
  • Mark Evenhuis commented on the growing cynicism in PNG towards Australian aid and asylum seeker programs.
  • The League Bilong Life program is being rolled out throughout PNG, capitalising on the country’s love of NRL to help achieve education outcomes in primary schools:



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