The usual broad range of topics was covered in June, starting with the recent AFP raids on journalists houses and offices, and the resultant blow back. Press freedom is going to be an issue for weeks if not months. This led to the possible need for a Bill of Rights, but as this had already been discussed, without conclusion, last year in Hot Topics, it was left for another day.
Next followed the extra election being called in Israel, because the recent election had failed to result in a Government being formed. The political situation in Israel is massively complicated, and any outcome is unpredictable.
The recent election for the EU parliament was anything but uniform, with some countries going Green [Germany and friends] and other moving right [France and many to the South]. The centralist coalition is no longer dominant. The UK vote was another surprise, and makes the Brexit dilemma even trickier, with a no deal outcome looking more likely.
To finish off the first session, a summary of the recent change of Prime Minister in PNG was given. Unrest in our nearest neighbour has been building for 2 or 3 years, as more and more development has been occurring in Port Moresby, with little elsewhere, where over 90% of the population live, largely a subsistence life. The few developments that have occurred have often been grand, but totally inappropriate. This came to a head last year with APEC and the Maserarties, and then this March, with PM O’Neil centre stage with 31 other world leaders at the Belt and Road extravagance in Beijing.
On 1st April James Malartae, the deputy PM and Treasurer, resigned and joined the opposition party. Over the next 3 weeks 19 other Government Ministers and members followed. O’Neil closed Parliament for 3 weeks, and put forward various compromises without success, and before Parliament returned he resigned from office. Parliament resumed and James Malartae was elected unanimously by all members of both parties, except for 8 members of the old guard. The change took 7 weeks, but was almost without demonstrations, and the PNG army stayed in their barracks. That afternoon there was dancing in the streets.
PM Malartae was a toddler at the time of independence, is University trained and has business experience. He has wasted no time in setting out his vision for PNG. He wants the undoubted wealth of their country, to be shared by all people, and within 10 years he wants PNG to be the richest Black Christian Country in the World. Time will tell.
After the break Brexit was again the issue, and the Border difficulties that a hard Brexit would lead to in Ireland and perhaps Scotland.
Finally we contemplated whether a recession is probable as some economists predict, or less certain according to others. Back in the 1950s there were only 6 or 7 economists employed in Australia. The bigger banks had one, Canberra had another and perhaps NSW. In those times if you locked them in a room for long enough maybe they would reach consensus.
Brian Vial
Next followed the extra election being called in Israel, because the recent election had failed to result in a Government being formed. The political situation in Israel is massively complicated, and any outcome is unpredictable.
The recent election for the EU parliament was anything but uniform, with some countries going Green [Germany and friends] and other moving right [France and many to the South]. The centralist coalition is no longer dominant. The UK vote was another surprise, and makes the Brexit dilemma even trickier, with a no deal outcome looking more likely.
To finish off the first session, a summary of the recent change of Prime Minister in PNG was given. Unrest in our nearest neighbour has been building for 2 or 3 years, as more and more development has been occurring in Port Moresby, with little elsewhere, where over 90% of the population live, largely a subsistence life. The few developments that have occurred have often been grand, but totally inappropriate. This came to a head last year with APEC and the Maserarties, and then this March, with PM O’Neil centre stage with 31 other world leaders at the Belt and Road extravagance in Beijing.
On 1st April James Malartae, the deputy PM and Treasurer, resigned and joined the opposition party. Over the next 3 weeks 19 other Government Ministers and members followed. O’Neil closed Parliament for 3 weeks, and put forward various compromises without success, and before Parliament returned he resigned from office. Parliament resumed and James Malartae was elected unanimously by all members of both parties, except for 8 members of the old guard. The change took 7 weeks, but was almost without demonstrations, and the PNG army stayed in their barracks. That afternoon there was dancing in the streets.
PM Malartae was a toddler at the time of independence, is University trained and has business experience. He has wasted no time in setting out his vision for PNG. He wants the undoubted wealth of their country, to be shared by all people, and within 10 years he wants PNG to be the richest Black Christian Country in the World. Time will tell.
After the break Brexit was again the issue, and the Border difficulties that a hard Brexit would lead to in Ireland and perhaps Scotland.
Finally we contemplated whether a recession is probable as some economists predict, or less certain according to others. Back in the 1950s there were only 6 or 7 economists employed in Australia. The bigger banks had one, Canberra had another and perhaps NSW. In those times if you locked them in a room for long enough maybe they would reach consensus.
Brian Vial
