Howard Bullies Pacific Island Countries

Australia’s John Howard’s government as continuously, purposely and tactically downgraded and undermining the growth of the Pacific Island Nations (PIN). The Howard government has featured one of the most selfish governments ever among Melanesian, Polynesian and Micronesian cultures that mainly focus on sharing, genuineness and truth as the foundations of their respective groups. The attitude put forward by the Howard government (in fact the opposition seems to support to some length) is one that of a colonial master.

Unfair Economics

It is rumoured that the Howard government sends highly qualified experts to the PINs, purposely to give ill-advice on products that PINs would produce at a competitive advantage. For instance, PNG would have developed its own rice industry ages ago but due to ill-advice by so-called Australian experts, the possibilities were never ventured. Now, experts from China and Thailand in conjunction with PNG National Research Institute (NARI) have reaped highly successful results from their test runs. PNG being Australia’s one of top rice exporters, Australia purposely downplayed possibilities of even developing in PNG both a commercial and domestic rice productions that would have been successfully established long time ago. While Australia continues to compete with the rest of the world in terms of sports and other manufacturing and service industries, the PINs are left struggling along while raw materials from the PINs are traded at cheaper prices to feed Australian production lines.

Boomerang Tactics

Most of what Australia is seen and said to be giving to the PINs have strings attached, having a greater boomerang effect. To the rest of the outside world, Australia is seen to be assisting PINs. It should also be noted that Australia’s heavy involvement in East Timor is directly related to the vast gas reserves underwater on controversial sea boarders between the two countries. While Australia is not helping in solving real problems in the PINs, it also is adding more salt to the wounds by offering quick fixes that do not seem to have any tangible long term effects on the economies. Australia has never encouraged the development of any type of industry in the region. Most of its so called aid projects are directed towards disasters and areas that need urgent attention where Australia can get the most media coverage through out the rest of the world in its friendly and helpful neighbour to the region. The tactics of the government are simply old tricks being re-enforced in different shapes. During the times of colonialism, white Australia policy was implemented to keep away PIN’s from coming near white facilities. Although Howard has all the excuses to cover up his true discontent, even today, sessional labour cannot be granted because of the same reasons. Take one example at his own playing field: the new labour law in Australia – Workchoices, is simply sweet revenge on nightmares he went through while under a tough labour government.