Papua New Guinea’s (PNG) budget, presented earlier this week by Treasurer Ian Ling-Stuckey, has raised questions about Australia’s aid.
Australia’s financial assistance will total $707 million ($458 million) in the current financial year, and support for a PNG NRL franchise will run to another $600 million over 10 years.
With the two countries having recently signed a historic defence pact, it’s possible that Australia’s commitment may have to increase if it is to meet its treaty commitment of modernising PNG’s defence force.
Ling-Stuckey told his parliament that “record” spending totalling $11.1 billion would mean a deficit of $545 million and was still “just not enough” to provide sufficient essential services….
PNG Can’t Fund Basic Services Despite Australian Aid, Announces $2 Billion Infrastructure Spend
