Is he aware of a report by the Australian Conservation Foundation and Papua New Guinea’s Centre for Environmental Law and Community Rights titled Bulldozing Progress: Human Rights Abuses in PNG’s Large Scale Logging Industry; if so, (a) has he sought advice in respect of the contents of the report and (b) what is the Government’s response to the issues raised in the report.

I am aware of the report.

(a)

Yes. The information in (b) below reflects advice from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and AusAID.

(b)

The Government is concerned by the allegations of human rights abuses contained in the report, many of which involve police intimidation and assault on communities in logging areas. Australia has been seeking to encourage and assist the PNG Government to reform the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary (RPNGC), in order to improve the law and order situation in the country and address a range of problems within the RPNGC, including indiscipline, violence and corruption.

Assistance to the RPNGC was a key focus of the Enhanced Cooperation Program established by the two governments in 2004, until the PNG Supreme Court ruled in May 2005 that aspects of the program were unconstitutional. The Australian Government has since offered to provide a number of Australian police as advisers to the RPNGC to assist its reform.

The ACF report also refers to the abuse of women in logging areas. The Government is concerned about violence against women in Papua New Guinea, which extends well beyond the forestry sector. The Australian Government, through programs conducted by AusAID, has provided support for the justice system, including village courts, to deal with family and sexual violence, and funded community initiatives to raise awareness and support victims of sexual violence. We have also supported local organisations, such as the Family and Sexual Violence Action Committee, which played an important role in encouraging legislative changes in Papua New Guinea to protect women from sexual violence.

The ACF report raises allegations of poor governance and unsustainable practices in PNG’s forestry sector. The Australian Government takes these allegations seriously and has called for the Papua New Guinea Government to ensure that relevant legislation and procedures are enforced, including those pertaining to environmental and landowner protection. Australia is strongly committed to sustainable forest management. We have sought to improve the capacity of the Papua New Guinea Government to tackle these problems by funding four advisers in Papua New Guinea’s National Forest Authority to strengthen the agency’s corporate governance and financial accountability functions. The Australian Government is also supporting the development of a sustainable forest industry in Papua New Guinea by providing funding for forestry projects sponsored by the International Tropical Timber Organization. Discussions are continuing between PNG and Australia on possible further support to the National Forest Authority.