Louise Markus (Macquarie, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

Today I have the pleasure of joining my colleagues the member for Ryan, the member for Herbert and members opposite to talk about a country that is very dear to my heart. Papua New Guinea, our nearest neighbour and a dear friend to Australia, is a country I visit often. I have a special bond with it. My husband was born there and, while he spends most of his time in Australia now and calls Australia home, we visit Papua New Guinea often to catch up with relatives and also to pursue Australia's relationship with it, which is significant to both nations.

Our close connection to PNG is evidenced by the visits Australia has made there this year to build even stronger relationships. Our relationship is not just a wonderful friendship, or one of foreign aid, but one we can shift to an economic and strategic partnership as well. I recently visited PNG for a week from 28 April to 4 May; most of that visit was personal but I did have the opportunity, which I will speak about in a few moments, of visiting some of our aid projects.

This visit followed our Prime Minister's visit on 20-23 March, which was the longest and most extensive visit by any Australian Prime Minister so far. In February this year, the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, Scott Morrison, visited PNG and in May visitors to PNG included our foreign minister, Julie Bishop. The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Brett Mason, also visited from 6-9 April. It is significant to note, and this point has been mentioned by others in this debate, that the bilateral leaders summit between the two nations, which takes place annually, will be important to maintain and build our relationship.

Australia's aid to PNG will deepen to ensure that aid is delivered where we have the expertise to do so and where our aid will best support PNG's economic growth objectives. PNG has experienced strong growth for a decade now. Our foreign minister, at the Australian Papua New Guinea Business Council forum in Cairns during May this year, proposed to increase infrastructure investment in PNG. I am delighted to see our aid money invested not just in infrastructure but often in infrastructure that benefits some other goal.

One project I recently visited also had an impact on health. During my recent visit to PNG on 30 April I had the great pleasure of seeing this first hand, when I opened the Kudjip Nazarene Hospital hydro project, together with senior representatives from the High Commission. The hospital, first built in 1967 with just 100 beds, provides much in responding to the health needs of that region; but after 40 years it had fallen into disrepair. Australian aid assisted with this and, in 2009, Nazarene health ministries dedicated a new hospital. In 1964, mission work built a minihydro plant to supply electricity to the hospital to improve patient care; however in March 2009 a devastating flood in the River Kayne washed away the dam, forcing the hospital to connect to the PNGPL. This power system meant fluctuations in power supply and left the hospital with much damage to equipment and, of even more concern, electrical blackouts during medical procedures—some of them involving surgery.

It was with much delight, then, I opened the Kudjip Nazarene Hospital hydro project in April just outside Mount Hagen. It is a wonderful Australian government funded aid project, allowing uninterrupted power to be available at the most critical times during hospitalisation and important medical procedures. The project, from the reservoir intake to the discharge into the turbine generator, has seen 1.4 kilometres of water raceway constructed and will generate 255 kilowatts of electricity. Additionally, the cost of electricity supply for the hospital will be dramatically reduced. Patient fees will not be raised for at least another two years—not to mention that equipment, much of it donated from overseas, will no longer be damaged. Patients will no longer be placed in the predicament of having an operation stopped midway due to power failure. The power system has been replaced with a new system that provides safe, reliable and affordable power for patient care. Australia contributed just under $10 million to this most worthy project. Assistance also came from the Church of Nazarene, which must also be thanked for its tireless efforts to this outcome. Members on both sides of this debate have talked about the significance of our relationship with PNG, and I am proud to be part of this government that is continuing to build and strengthen this relationship.

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