Michael McCormack (Riverina, National Party, Shadow Minister for International Development and the Pacific) Share this | Hansard source

I'm going to put partisan politics aside and put on record that the first person I called when I was given the role of shadow minister for international development and the Pacific was the minister at the table, the member for Shortland. We've worked together well on some initiatives; we've disagreed on others. I would appreciate, if not an answer in person tonight, an answer in writing to a couple of very important questions I have.

I read from the 'Building a vibrant future for Papua New Guinea and Australia: working together to achieve better health outcomes'. I note that Papua New Guinea is one of the most underdeveloped countries in the world, ranked 154 of 193 in the 2022 Human Development Index. There are some alarming statistics. Sixty-five per cent of children aged 12 to 23 months have not received necessary vaccinations. One in 20 children in PNG do not survive to their fifth birthday. Twenty-one per cent of deaths in PNG are a result of infectious disease. There is one dentist to everyone 100,000 people. There are 27,000 cases of tuberculosis each year, and of these 3.4 per cent of cases are drug resistant. The proportion of deaths from injuries is 19.1 per cent—more than double global estimates, which is eight per cent.

The minister would have met, as I did, in recent days with Papua New Guinea's first lady, Mrs Rachael Marape. There were others with the Youth With A Mission medical ships, including former PNG deputy prime minister Charles Abel, a good friend of our country—they're both patrons of this wonderful organisation—YWAM Townsville managing director, Ken Mulligan, and the general manager of this community development program, Dr Sarah Dunn, who I'm sure you would agree gave compelling evidence.

This ship operates in PNG, with a focus on the remote western province, providing critical health services including immunisation programs, health education, eye and dental care, medical training, antenatal services and family planning amongst other services. Critically, they're providing vital services for women and children. I, like the minister, appreciate that the future for PNG belongs in making sure we get women and children the proper health care they need, they expect and they deserve. PNG is our closest neighbour; it is a stone's throw from our northern shores.

The delegation told the shadow minister for foreign affairs, Senator Simon Birmingham, and I that through the vessel's 130 volunteers—volunteers; just consider that—that immunisation rates have gone from less than five per cent to above 50 per cent. How good is that? But there's so much more we can do; there is so much more we should do. In the meeting, the delegation outlined its need for $7.5 million in capital to provide life extension of the vessel, MV YWAM PNG. The funding would ensure upgrades to allow the vessel to meet maritime requirements when it reaches 25 years of age mid next year.

Australia has a longstanding connection with our closest neighbour. No-one knows that more than the minister and I. We've spent time there in recent years. We've visited the capital, Port Moresby; we've visited highland villages; we've seen in remote provinces what can be done with Australian funding. Minister, I ask you tonight, from the bottom of my heart, will you make a commitment to fully fund this worthwhile project to continue to strengthen our wonderful relationship with PNG? If you want to give me an answer, I'm happy to sit down and you can use the last minute for that.

I'm happy to give up my one minute.

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