australia papua new guinea business council one hundred and fifty ...

AUSTRALIA PAPUA NEW GUINEA BUSINESS COUNCIL
ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY FIRST EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING
THURSDAY 15 NOVEMBER 2012 AT 1.30 P.M..
Ashurst Lawyers, Level 38, Riverside Centre, 123 Eagle Street, Brisbane
1. Apologies.
AGENDA
2. Welcome to guests including Mr Robert Tranter, First Assistant Director-General, Pacific
Division, AusAID, who will make a short presentation.
3. Approval of Minutes of One Hundred and Fiftieth Executive Committee Meeting held on 16
August 2012.
4. Treasurer’s Report.
5 Executive Director’s Report.
- Matters Arising From The Minutes of Last Meeting.
- Matters Arising From Correspondence
- Membership Report.
- Resignations from Executive Committee.
- Annual General Meeting, Port Moresby, Tuesday 16 April 2012.
6. PNG Country Reports.
- including Papua New Guinea High Commissioner, Department of Foreign Affairs and
Trade, Austrade, AusAID, and Pacific Islands Trade and Invest.
7. Work Program 2011.
- 27 th Australia Papua New Guinea Business Forum, Madang, 15 to 17 May 2011.
Work Program 2012.
- Review of APEC Business Travel Card: Update.
- Relations with AusAID.
- Proposed Economic Co-operation Treaty: Update.
- Australia PNG Bilateral Officials and Business Committee: Update.
- Upgraded Relationship with APNGBC Members in Cairns.
- 28 th Australia Papua New Guinea Business Forum, Brisbane, 13 to 15 May 2012.
- Pacific Islands Forum: Private Sector Dialogue, Rarotonga, 27 to 29 August 2012.
- Meetings with Department of Immigration and Citizenship, Sydney, 31 August 2012,
and Port Moresby, 5 November 2012.
- Business Council Function in Perth, 4 September 2012.
- Australia Papua New Guinea Ministerial Forum, Port Moresby, 6 December 2012..
Work Program 2013.
- Market Ples Pasifiki, Sydney, 20 February to 11 March 2013..
- Australia Week Papua New Guinea, 10 to 16 April 2013.
- 29 th Australia Papua New Guinea Business Forum, Port Moresby, 14 to 16 April 2013.
- Executive Committee Meeting Dates.
Work Program 2014.
- 30th Australia Papua New Guinea Business Forum, Australia. .
8. Other Matters.
- Australian Business Volunteers.
- Pacific Islands Private Sector Organisation.
- Combined Business Councils Work Program 2013.
- Anything else.

AUSTRALIA PAPUA NEW GUINEA BUSINESS COUNCIL
ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY FIRST EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING
AGENDA ITEM 3: APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF THE ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTIETH
MEETING OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE HELD AT GADENS LAWYERS, SYDNEY, 16
AUGUST 2012.
ATTENDANCE: Peter Taylor (Chairman)(President)(Bougainville Copper Limited), Richard
Flynn (Vice-President)(Ashurst), Peter Maletz (Treasurer)(Hanrick Curran), Ian Clarke
(Immediate Past President)(Gadens Lawyers), Gary Clifford (Pacific Air Express), Peter Botten
(Oil Search Limited), Gayle Carrick (Australian Business Volunteers), Caleb Jarvis (PITIC),
David McNamara (Olex Australia), Dean Page (Origin Energy), Greg Pawson (Westpac Pacific
Banking), Michael Rowland (ANZ Banking Group), Geoff Scahill (JTAI), Craig Schulz (Santos),
Frank Yourn (Executive Director).
ATTENDANCE BY PROXY: Scott Roberts (Vice-President)(Cadden Crowe) by Alain
Etchegaray, Caleb Jarvis (Pacific Islands Trade and Invest) by Tim Martin.
APOLOGIES: Megan Morris (Qantas Airways), Nihal Shah (KPG Group).
GUESTS: John Brand (Austrade), Ben O’Reilly, (Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade),
Simon Starr (Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade).
MINUTES of the one hundred and forty-ninth meeting of the executive committee held on June
2012, which had been circulated, were taken as read and approved on the motion of Mr
Rowland seconded by Mr McNamara.
TREASURER’S REPORT: The Treasurer reported that at 31 March the net assets of the
Council stood at $435,454. This includes some outstanding subscriptions for 2012 for which
invoices were issued in late January and are being followed up. Amounts totalling $288,670 are
on interest bearing time deposits, and $196,201 in an at call account which is expected to meet
foreseeable expenses in the current financial year. Provision has been made for $80,000 in
Business Forum surplus distribution to the BCPNG and the APNGBC PNG. The council is in a
very strong financial position and can well fund its future work program. The Treasurer’s report
was accepted on the motion of Mr Botton seconded by Mr Clarke.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT.
MATTERS ARISING FROM CORRESPONDENCE
The committee noted the following correspondence:
• 9 July From Whitlam Institute invitation to opening of the exhibition Frank Hurley: Journeys
into Papua at University of Western Sydney on 10 August 2012. Mr Clarke is attending the
event, and will represent the Council.
• 30 July From Qantas Airways launching new Port Moresby to Asia via Australia fares.
• 3 August Media Release Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs welcoming the election of the
New Papua New Guinea Government.
• 3 August PNG Political Update from Norton Rose Lawyers.
• 4 August From Maliwai Sasingian regarding the Annual Dinner of The Voice.
• 7 August From Glenn Smith, Department of Transport and Infrastructure, seeking input in
relation to forthcoming air services negotiations with Papua New Guinea.
• 10 August From Buk Bilong Pikinini initiation to opening of its 9th library which is sponsored
by Monier.
• 10 August Listing of O’Neill Cabinet Portfolios.
MEMBERSHIP REPORT.
At 31 July 2012 the Council had 83 financial members. Twenty four members have not yet paid
their 2012 membership subscriptions.

WORK PROGRAM 2011.
A. 27th AUSTRALIA PAPUA NEW GUINEA BUSINESS FORUM, MADANG, SUNDAY 15
TO TUESDAY 17 MAY 2011.
The committee noted that the accounts for the Forum are still being finalised by the Council’s
PNG Branch and the Business Council of Papua New Guinea.
WORK PROGRAM 2012.
A. REVIEW OF APEC BUSINESS TRAVEL CARD.
On 28 June the Department of Immigration and Citizenship provided an update on Stage 2
implementation for changes to the APEC Business Travel Card. A copy of that advice, and a
response by the President, were tabled.
B. RELATIONS WITH AUSAID.
The President and Executive Director reported that on 21 August 2012 they will attend in
Canberra the launch by the Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator the Hon Bob Carr, of
AusAID’s new private sector engagement strategy.
C. ECONOMIC CO-OPERATION TREATY
A response in the negative to the President’s letter dated 12 June 2012 seeking inclusion of a
Council representative to observe negotiation sessions has been received. The letter offers the
opportunity of a briefing, but unfortunately a suitable time for all parties has not yet been found.
A further round of negotiations is expected to take place in October/November.
D. AUSTRALIA PAPUA NEW GUINEA BILATERAL BUSINESS AND OFFICIALS
COMMITTEE.
The committee noted that we have proposed to the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and
Trade, that the meeting deferred from early August be held in Port Moresby in the week
commencing 5 November. There has so far been no response.
F. POSSIBLE UPGRADED RELATIONSHIP WITH APNGBC MEMBERS IN CAIRNS.
At the initiative of Cam Charlton, who represents Kleinhardt, a member of the Council based in
Cairns and also Chairman of Advance Cairns, the President met with him on 9 August to
discuss interest in Cairns in expanding the relationship between APNGBC members based in
Cairns. The committee agreed this could be further explored provided it did not have the effect
of diluting membership or membership revenue. Further discussions will be held with Mr
Kleinhardt.
G. 28th AUSTRALIA PAPUA NEW GUINEA BUSINESS FORUM, BRISBANE, 13 TO 15
MAY 2012.
The Forum was held in Brisbane from 13 to 15 May 2012. Flash drives containing the Forum
presentations are in the process of being distributed. Accounts for the Forum are still being
finalised, including collection of outstanding registrations fees currently amounting to $8,800.
We expect to collect most of these funds. A further detailed account will be provided at the next
committee meeting.
H. JOINT EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING WITH BUSINESS COUNCIL OF PAPUA
NEW GUINEA, PORT MORESBY, 7 AUGUST 2012.
The Council was represented by the President and Executive Director, and several members of
the Council’s PNG Branch. The meeting reviewed progress on issues raised at the Forum in
Brisbane in May 2012, including visa matters on which work is being done in consulting with the
Australian Government both in Canberra and in Port Moresby. Our PNG colleagues are
confident they have an agreement with the Australian High Commission for changes in
procedures which will facilitate the issue of business visas. The meeting decided to hold the
2013 Forum in Port Moresby from 14 to 16 April 2013. This is a little earlier than usual but will
enable this Council to hold its AGM in April prior to the departure of the President for an
extended period. The Forum will be held at The Gateway Hotel. There was a strong wish for
the Forum theme to be around infrastructure, especially power, and the field is open for
members this committee to suggest an actual theme around this topic.

I. PACIFIC ISLANDS FORUM: PRIVATE SECTOR DIALOGUE, RAROTONGA, COOK
ISLANDS, 27 TO 29 AUGUST 2012.
Held in conjunction with the Pacific Islands Forum each year, the Private Sector Dialogue brings
together private sector representatives from the 16 Forum countries to identify and discuss
issues of concern to business and to put these issues to Forum Heads of Government at their
concurrent meeting. Two representatives attend from each country. The process is managed
by the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat and the Pacific Islands Private Sector Organisation
(PIF). The topic for this year’s Dialogue is “Clean and Green Industries: Promoting Sustainable
Businesses in the Pacific”. Peter Taylor, President of the Australia Papua New Guinea
Business Council, and Frank Yourn, Executive Director, will attend. A copy of the draft agenda
for the Dialogue was tabled.
J. MEETING WITH DEPARTMENT OF IMMIGRATION AND CITIZENSHIP SENIOR
OFFICIALS, SYDNEY, FRIDAY 31 AUGUST 2012
On Wednesday 27 June the President and Executive Director called on the Minister for
Immigration, the Hon Chris Bowen MP, Minister of Immigration and Citizenship, to make
representations on Australian visa issues which have been raised widely by members and at the
recent Australia Papua New Guinea Business Forum. The Minister was accompanied by Peter
Vardos, Deputy Secretary, and Todd Frew, First Assistant Secretary, Visas and Offshore
Services Division, of his Department. The presence of such senior departmental officials does
give encouragement that our representations are being treated seriously.
We presented the Minister an Aid Memoire regarding the issue, and a case study of a business
visa application provided by Scot Roberts.
The key elements from the discussion were:
• There is no prospect of obtaining a visa on arrival arrangement.
• The rate of visa breach (i.e. overstays) by Papua New Guinea passport holders is about
50% higher than the global average.
• They are willing to work to try to improve the issuing process and make appropriate
adjustments within the current policy framework.
• They are willing to meet with the Council’s executive committee to discuss issues of concern
on both sides.
• They are willing also to send senior representatives to Port Moresby to meet with our branch
members and the Business Council of Papua New Guinea for a similar discussion.
It has been agreed with the Department of Immigration and Citizenship that they will meet
representatives of the Executive Committee in Sydney on Friday 31 August at 9 a.m.. This
meeting is an important opportunity for executive committee members to engage in some detail
about this issue. We need to have a good representation of members who have an interest in
and experience of dealing with visa issues for Papua New Guineans. At this stage attendees
from the Executive Committee will be the President, Scott Roberts, Ian Clarke, Caleb Jarvis and
the Executive Director. Any other members who are able to attend should please advise the
Executive Director.
In the meantime, we need to develop some more case studies of business related cases and I
will welcome detailed information from members which will assist compile such case studies.
The Department of Immigration and Citizenship officials having indicated their willingness to
meet with business in Port Moresby, and we have proposed that a meeting take place during the
week commencing 5 November 2012. They are considering their availability for that timing.
K. FUNCTION IN PERTH IN 2012.
The Council will hold a function in Perth on Tuesday 4 September hosted by member Allens
Arthur Robinson (Gerard Woods). Invitations have been sent to the Australian Minister for
Defence, the Hon Stephen Smith, who has declined, and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition,
the Hon Julie Bishop MP, and the High Commissioner of Papua New Guinea, HE Mr Charles
Lepani, both of whom have accepted. Peter Botten will give an address on the work of Oil
Search in PNG including the LNG Project. Thanks to those members of the committee who

have indicated they will attend (President, Mr Maletz, Executive Director) and to those who have
provided a list of suggested invitees.
L. AUSTRALIA PAPUA NEW GUINEA MINISTERIAL FORUM (TO BE CONFIRMED)
It is expected that following the conclusion of the Papua New Guinea election and the formation
of a new government that a Ministerial Forum will be scheduled in the last quarter of 2012.
M. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE DATES 2012
The following is the agreed date for the remaining executive committee meeting in 2012:
Thursday 15 November Brisbane.
WORK PROGRAM 2013
A schedule of proposed business events and executive committee meeting dates was tabled
and agreed as follows:
Thursday 21 February Executive Committee Meeting, Sydney.
Monday 4 to Friday 8 March Australia Week, Port Moresby (arranged by Australian High
Commission, Port Moresby).
Sunday 14 to Tuesday 16 March 29 th Australia Papua New Guinea Business Forum, Port
Moresby.
Thursday 2 May Executive Committee Meetings, Melbourne.
Thursday 20 June Executive Committee Meetings, Brisbane.
Thursday 15 August Executive Committee Meetings, Sydney.
September (TBC) Possible APNGBC Networking Event, Perth.
Thursday 21 November Executive Committee Meetings, Brisbane.
The possibility of the Council being involved with Trade Queensland and Austrade in a Pacific
Infrastructure Conference in Brisbane in 2013 has had no further discussion and will be
removed from the work program until some specific proposal is forthcoming.
OTHER BUSINESS
A. AUSTRALIAN BUSINESS VOLUNTEERS (ABV).
Ms Carrick advised that a new CEO had been appointed. Ms Carrick noted that her board term
concludes this year, and the Council should consider nominating a replacement.
B. PACIFIC ISLANDS PRIVATE SECTOR ORGANISATION (PIPSO)
The committee noted that the donor funded Annual General Meeting of PIPSO was held in Nadi
on 27 June 2012 and an associated trade expo called Trade Pasifika was held from 25 to 29
June. The secretariat holds copies of the PIPSO Annual Report (60 pages) and various
voluminous related documents including financial statements for any members interested in
these documents.
C. COMBINED BUSINESS COUNCILS’ WORK PROGRAM 2012
A schedule was tabled of the dates of planned activities by the Australia Fiji Business Council,
the Australia Papua New Guinea Business Council and the Australia Pacific Islands Business
Council. Executive members were asked to record in their diaries events which may involve
them.
There being no further business the committee thanked Mr Clarke for the use of Gadens’
facilities and the provision of refreshments, and the Chairman closed the meeting at 2.20 p.m..

AUSTRALIA PAPUA NEW GUINEA BUSINESS COUNCIL
ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY FIRST EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING
AGENDA ITEM 4: TREASURER’S REPORT.
PROVISIONAL BALANCE SHEET AT 31 OCTOBER 2012.
Current Assets
ANZ Business Cheque Account Closing Balance 936.42
ANZ Cash Management Account Closing Balance (2.45%) at call 195,495.50
ANZ Term Deposit 9685-58946 due 6 Nov 2012 (5.30%) 6 months 52,841.35
ANZ Term Deposit 9685-58989 due 6 Nov 2012 (5.30%) 6 months 53,008.21
ANZ Term Deposit 9982-14327 due 13 Feb 2013 (4.5%) 6 months 76,729.10
ANZ Term Deposit 9967-36236 due 8 June 2013 (4.85%) 12 months 107,820.65
Subscriptions outstanding 11,085.00
Business Forum Debtors 0.00
Sundry Debtors 14,598.07
Total debtors 25,683.07
Gross Assets 512,514.30
Liabilities
Secretariat Fees and Expenses 0.00
Provision for subscriptions defaults & resignations 6,500.00
Business Forum Creditors 122,000.00
Sundry Creditors 104.41
Unpresented cheques 0.00
Total Liabilities 128,604.41
Net Assets 383,909.89

AUSTRALIA PAPUA NEW GUINEA BUSINESS COUNCIL
ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY FIRST EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING.
AGENDA ITEM 5: EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT.
MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES:
None.
MATTERS ARISING FROM CORRESPONDENCE:
14 August 2012 Letters from President to Prime Minister Peter O’Neill, Minister for
Foreign Affairs and Immigration Rimbink Pato and Trade Minister Richard Maru
congratulations on appointments.
29 August 2012 Letter PNG Prime Minister O’Neill to APNGBC President acknowledge
letter of congratulations.
19 September 2012 From Genevieve Nelson Kokoda Track Foundation thanks for
APNGBC support.
20 September 2012 Circular Open Letter from Cairns Chamber of Commerce to
Members regarding Queensland budget issues.
26 September 2012 Letter from Stephen Eagle, President, New Zealand PNG Business
Council proposing an MOU with APNGBC, and subsequent exchange of correspondence
with Executive Director.
10 October 2012 From Margaret Callan Australian National University regarding
Engaging With Business in Development Forum.
List of Participants in Engaging With Business in Development Forum on 17 October
2012.
19 October 2012 from Australian National University regarding Papua New Guinea
Conference Leadership for the Next Generation, Deakin University, Geelong, 4 and 5
Aprils 2013. This is Richard Marles’ annual conference on Papua New Guinea.
26 October 2012 from Australia Papua New Guinea Association regarding a dinner in
Brisbane on 30 January 2013. Speaker: The Honourable Justice Logan on the PNG
judiciary.
31 October 2012 From Adam Peverill Rugby League Against Violence seeking support
for the organisation’s work in Papua New Guinea.
MEMBERSHIP REPORT.
At 31 July 2012 the Council had 80 members. Six members have not yet paid their annual
subscriptions. These are:
Company
Member
Class
Invoice
Amount
Airlines PNG Full 2,250
Asia Pacific Surveys Ordinary 1,685
British American Tobacco Full 2,250
Business For Millennium Development Associate 400
DHL Global Forwarding Full 2,250
Hatch Ltd Full 2,250

Membership Analysis
At Jan
2012
Invoiced
Jan 12
Prior
Payments
Since
Jan 12
Full Ordinary Member 39 38 1 5 1 43
Australian Ordinary Member 22 22 0 1 1 22
Associate Member 17 17 0 1 3 15
78 77 0 7 5 80
Membership Revenue Analysis
Members
Invoiced Jan
12
Invoice Value
Paid
Membership
renewals
value
Resigned
New
members
since Jan 12
Current
members
New Member
Subscriptions
2012
Full Member 38 85,500 33 74,250 6 12,000
Ordinary Member 22 37,070 20 33,700 1 1,685
Associate Member 17 6,800 13 5,200 1 400
Total 77 129,370 66 113,150 8 14,085
Membership Application for Approval: Volvo Group Australia (Full, Michael Norman).
See attached.
Resignations from Membership:
Cummings Economics (Associate, Bill Cummings).
Roaming Adventures (Associate, Carla Ewin).
Skill360 Australia (Ordinary, Peter Langbein).
Southern Training Organisation (Associate, John Waites).
RESIGNATIONS FROM EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE:
15 October from Dean Page (Origin Energy).
29 October from Michael Rowland (ANZ Banking Group).
31 October from David McNamara (Olex Cables).
32 ND ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
It is proposed that the committee formally agree that the 32 nd Annual General Meeting of the
Council be held in Port Moresby on Tuesday 16 April 2013.

AUSTRALIA PAPUA NEW GUINEA BUSINESS COUNCIL
ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY FIRST EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING
AGENDA ITEM 7: WORK PROGRAM
WORK PROGRAM 2011.
A. 27th AUSTRALIA PAPUA NEW GUINEA BUSINESS FORUM, MADANG, SUNDAY 15
TO TUESDAY 17 MAY 2011.
We are still awaiting finalisation from our colleagues in Papua New Guinea of the accounts for
this Forum, and advice of any further distribution due to this Council.
WORK PROGRAM 2012.
A. REVIEW OF APEC BUSINESS TRAVEL CARD.
On 1 November 2012 the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship announced the new
arrangements for issue of APEC Business Travel Card. The arrangements appear to be in line
with the arrangements earlier advised by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship. We
have expressed misgivings about the system being put in place, but now it is operational we
will need to see how it operates.
Attached:
Statement by Minister for Immigration and Citizenship and related papers.
B. RELATIONS WITH AUSAID.
On Tuesday 21 August 2012 the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator the Hon Bob Carr,
launched AusAID’s Private Sector Engagement Strategy. The President and Executive
Director attended. Discussions have been held with AusAID about arranging a meeting to
discuss the detail of the implementation of the Strategy, which now seems likely to occur in
Sydney around the time of the next executive committee meeting scheduled for 21 February
2012. At the June meeting of the committee is was agreed to form a Working Group to drive
the business side of the engagement strategy. It is proposed that the Working Group be
activated. The membership of the Working Group will be open to all interested parties, but
those who indicated an initial interest were the Presidents of the three Councils, Ian Clarke
(Immediate Past President of the APNGBC), Caleb Jarvis and Sean Rooney (formerly of The
Foundation for Development Co-operation) who will be replaced by Stephen Taylor his
successor at FDC. Others are welcome to nominate.
C. ECONOMIC CO-OPERATION TREATY.
A further round of negotiations is scheduled to be held in Brisbane on Wednesday 14
November. Members will be aware we have been concerned at the lack of adequate
consultation by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. In January 2011, at DFAT’s
request, the Council made some suggestions about business related inclusions it would like to
see in the Treaty. It has been of continuing concern that at no stage since, despite requests
and reminders, has DFAT engaged with the Council on the proposals. A copy of the Council
proposals is attached. DFAT recently offered a briefing to the executive committee on Tuesday
13 November in Brisbane, but after consultation with the President and Vice-Presidents, none
of whom were available at the notice provided, the briefing was declined. A briefing will now be
provided at the executive committee meeting.
Attached:
Letter dated 17 January 2011 to Jeremy Bruer, Assistant Secretary, PNG and Fiji Branch,
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
D. AUSTRALIA PAPUA NEW GUINEA BILATERAL BUSINESS AND OFFICIALS
WORKING GROUP.
Following the cancelled (by DFAT) meeting agreed to be held in Port Moresby in early August
2012, and the failure of DFAT to respond to a proposal by the Council that a further meeting
take place in Port Moresby in the week commencing 5 November, there has not been a further
meeting. We need to push DFAT to schedule a meeting very early in 2013.
E. POSSIBLE UPGRADED RELATIONSHIP WITH APNGBC MEMBERS IN CAIRNS.
Some further preliminary discussions have taken place with Mr Kleinhardt, but proposals have
not yet been developed to the stage of bringing forward to the committee any concrete

proposals. The Executive Director attended, and spoke at, a monthly meeting of the
CairnsPNG Tradelinked Group in Cairns on Tuesday 30 October 2012. This group meets on
the last Tuesday of each month for a networking function. Members who wish to attend are
welcomed.
F. 28th AUSTRALIA PAPUA NEW GUINEA BUSINESS FORUM, BRISBANE, 13 TO 15
MAY 2012.
A provisional final account for the Forum is attached for review and comment by committee
members. In summary, there will be a distribution of slightly in excess of $60,000 to each of
the three partners in the Forum i.e. the Business Council of Papua New Guinea, this Council,
and the APNGBC PNG. It is proposed that the transfer of the distribution be held over until the
accounts for the 2011 Forum are finalised by them and agreed by the Treasurer.
Attached:
28 th Australia Papua New Guinea Business Forum Provisional Final Account.
G. PACIFIC ISLANDS FORUM: PRIVATE SECTOR DIALOGUE, RAROTONGA, COOK
ISLANDS, 27 TO 29 AUGUST 2012.
Held in conjunction with the Pacific Islands Forum each year, the Private Sector Dialogue
brings together private sector representatives from the 16 Forum countries to identify and
discuss issues of concern to business and to put these issues to Forum Heads of Government
at their concurrent meeting. Two representatives attend from each country. The process is
managed by the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat and the Pacific Islands Private Sector
Organisation (PIF). The topic for this year’s Dialogue is “Clean and Green Industries:
Promoting Sustainable Businesses in the Pacific”. The President and Executive Director
attended. The meeting was lacklustre, and there was considerable dissatisfaction amongst
Pacific islands business representatives that Leaders appeared completely disinterested in
engaging with business. For example at a Business Breakfast for Business Delegates with
Leaders arranged by the hardworking Cook Islands Chamber of Commerce and the Cook
Islands Government only the Prime Ministers of Cook Islands, Kiribati and Papua New Guinea
turned up. The Australian Prime Minister arrived in Cook Islands as the Business Council
representatives were leaving, literally. Documents from the Private Sector Dialogue and the
Forum Communiqué are attached.
Attachments:
Private Sector Dialogue Agenda.
Private Sector Dialogue Chair Statement to Leaders.
Private Sector Dialogue Outcomes Document.
43rd Pacific Islands Forum Communiqué.
H. MEETINGS WITH DEPARTMENT OF IMMIGRATION AND CITIZENSHIP SENIOR
OFFICIALS, SYDNEY, FRIDAY 31 AUGUST 2012, AND PORT MORESBY, MONDAY 5
NOVEMBER 2012.
Following the call by the President and Executive Director on Wednesday 27 June on the
Minister for Immigration, the Hon Chris Bowen MP, Minister of Immigration and Citizenship, a
meeting took place with very senior officials of the Department of Immigration and Citizenship
(DIAC) in Sydney on 31 August 2012 and in Port Moresby on 5 November 2012.
The Sydney meeting was chaired by the President and included executive committee members
Scott Roberts, Peter Maletz and Caleb Jarvis and the Executive Director. The DIAC
representatives were led by Peter Vardos, Deputy Secretary for Client Services.
The Port Moresby meeting was attended by the President, Vice-President Richard Flynn and
the Executive Director, from the Business Council of Papua New Guinea executive committee
members Kim Lee and Tamzin Wardley and Executive Officer Douveri Henau, and from the
APNGBC PNG President Philip Franklin and executive committee member Peter Deizman and
Corporate Services Manager Helena Wilson. The DIAC representatives were again led by
Peter Vardos with Todd Frew, First Assistant Secretary, Visas and Offshore Services, and
Adrian Kelson, Director, PNG Travel Facilitation.
Both meetings led to a very useful exchange of information from both sides, and improved the
understanding of business about the context and issues faced by the Department in managing

its visa issuing responsibilities including the high modified non-return rate of PNG passport
holders entering Australia. Much more can be achieved if Papua New Guinea improves the
use of technology including biometrics in managing the integrity of its passport database and
issuing arrangements. Also improving the processing of APEC Business Travel Cards for PNG
citizens will assist with entry to Australia. There are just 65 APEC Cards on issue from the
PNG Government, and PNG business representatives reported it takes as long as 2 years to
have an application processed. The DIAC data shows that 800 PNG citizens made four or
more business entries to Australia in a recent twelve month period, highlighting the scope for
use of APEC Cards.
We propose to continue the dialogue with DIAC senior officials to deal with various specific
visas issues such as review progress on streamlining processing of business visas for PNG
citizens, explore better co-ordination of the various components (medical, trade testing and
language testing) for PNG applicants for Class 457 visas, examine better timeliness in the
management of applications for medical visas for PNG citizens, discuss issues around visas for
education and training in Australia.
On 7 November 2012 the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship and the PNG Minister for
Foreign Affairs and Immigration announced jointly in Canberra and Port Moresby that
agreement had been reached to the introduction of electronic visas for PNG passport holders.
They also announced the establishment of a joint traveller facilitation taskforce comprising
officials from the Australia's Department of Immigration and Citizenship and the Papua New
Guinea Immigration and Citizenship Service Authority.
Attached:
7 November 2012 Media Statement by Minister for Immigration and Citizenship.
I. FUNCTION IN PERTH, TUESDAY 4 SEPTEMBER 2012.
The Council held a function in Perth on Tuesday 4 September hosted by member Allens Arthur
Robinson (Gerard Woods). The Deputy Leader of the Opposition, the Hon Julie Bishop MP,
and the High Commissioner of Papua New Guinea, HE Mr Charles Lepani, attended. Peter
Botten gave an address on the work of Oil Search in PNG including the LNG Project. Thanks
to those members of the committee who attended (President, Mr Maletz, Executive Director)
and to those who have provided a list of suggested invitees.
J. AUSTRALIA PAPUA NEW GUINEA MINISTERIAL FORUM
The 21st Australia Papua New Guinea Ministerial Forum will now be held in Papua New
Guinea on Thursday 6 December 2012. We have expressed to the Australian High
Commissioner and to the Papua New Guinea Minister for Foreign Affairs and Immigration, who
Vice-President Richard Flynn and the Executive Director called on in Port Moresby on Tuesday
6 November, the hope that the structure of the engagement with business at this year’s Forum
will be similar to last year’s Forum in Canberra where business had a separate meeting with
Ministers prior to the Forum itself. This is likely to be more difficult in Port Moresby than at
Parliament House in Canberra because Australian Ministers will likely be all over the place! We
will keep pushing. Preliminary advice is that the Australian Minister for Trade, the Hon Craig
Emerson MP, will be attending as well as the Foreign Minister, Senator the Hon Bob Carr.
WORK PROGRAM 2013
A. MARKETI PLES PASIFIKA, 20 FEBRUARY 2013 TO 11 MARCH 2103.
Mr Jarvis will speak about this event being arranged by Pacific Islands Trade and Invest.
Members of the executive committee will be invited to attend the opening of the event on
Wednesday 20 February 2013.
B. AUSTRALIA WEEK, PAPUA NEW GUINEA, WEDNESDAY 10 TO TUESDAY 16 APRIL
2012.
Australia Week has been scheduled by the Australian High Commission so the Australia Papua
New Guinea Business Forum becomes the culminating business event of Australia Week.
There will probably be some sort of business event in Lae during the early part of the week.
Possible speaker is Tim Costello. The Council will again be a sponsor of Australia Week.

C. 29 th AUSTRALIA PAPUA NEW GUINEA BUSINESS FORUM, PORT MORESBY, 14 TO
16 APRIL 2012
The 2013 Forum in Port Moresby from 14 to 16 April 2013. This is a little earlier than usual but
will enable this Council to hold its AGM in April prior to the departure of the President for an
extended period. The Forum will be held at The Gateway Hotel. The Forum theme will be
around infrastructure.
The President, Vice-President Richard Flynn, and Executive Director, attended a meeting of the
executive committee of APNGBC PNG on Monday 5 November. The program is at this stage
only in outline form and is nowhere near advanced as it should be at this time, especially as the
Forum is a month earlier than last year. We pressed for program and registration forms to be
realised no later than 1 December 2012. There is considerable doubt they will achieve this,
and even release before Christmas could be problematic. There doesn’t seem to eb any sense
of urgency, and decision making is slow and waits for committee meetings.
During his visit to Port Moresby from 4 to 8 November the Executive Director spent some time
with the Corporate Affairs Manager of APNGBC PNG. Mea Willie from the secretariat office
spent the week 29 October to 2 November working with the APNGBC PNG Secretariat
assisting them set up systems and so on.
D. POSSIBLE NETWORKING EVENT, PERTH.
The committee meeds to review whether it wishes to hold another event in Perth in 2013.
E. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING DATES 2013
The following is the agreed date for executive committee meeting in 2013:
Thursday 21 February Sydney. Thursday 15 August Sydney.
Thursday 2 May Melbourne. Thursday 21 November Brisbane.
Thursday 20 June Brisbane.
Thursday 15 August Sydney.
WORK PROGRAM 2014
A. 30 TH AUSTRALIA PAPUA NEW GUINEA BUSINESS FORUM, AUSTRALIA
Looking further ahead, we need to start preliminary planning for the 2014 Forum to be held in
Australia. It is proposed that a decision on venue and date be made at the February meeting of
the committee so it can be announced at the Forum in Port Moresby in April.
Forums in Australia have been held as follows:
2004-2008 Cairns.
2010 Townsville.
2012 Brisbane.
The secretariat will bring forward a recommendation to the February meeting about location
and timing, but any comments now about the views of members will be helpful in considering
issues and bringing forward that recommendation.

AUSTRALIA PAPUA NEW GUINEA BUSINESS COUNCIL
ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY FIRST EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING
AGENDA ITEM 8: OTHER MATTERS.
A. AUSTRALIAN BUSINESS VOLUNTEERS (ABV).
The Annual General Meeting of ABV will be held in Canberra on Monday 19 November 2012.
Copies are attached of the notice of AGM including proposed constitutional amendments.
There have been significant changes to the structure of ABV over recent years, and the
Councils’ role as members seems to have been significantly reduced from the days when
senior Business Council representatives were on the ABV Board including as Chairman and
Deputy Chairman. Gayle Carrick has been an APNGBC nominated member of the ABV Board
representing the Councils for the last four or six years, and will be standing down at this AGM.
Following Gayle’s retirement the Councils will not have any representation on the ABV Board
for the first time in at least a dozen years.
There is a proposed constitutional amendment to the Board up for consideration at the AGM
which will reduce the number of board members from nine to six. In itself, that is not
necessarily a bad thing. But under the proposal three of the board members will be elected by
members, and the other three will be appointed by the Board itself. The idea that there will be
an equal number of board members appointed by the board as are appointed by the members
does not seem to be good governance.
There appears to be no election of board members at this AGM, presumably because the
reduction of number of board members means that the number of six is reached as a result of
retirements. Again, is this good governance? Would it not be better governance to spill all the
board vacancies and elect all six.
The committee is invited to express any views on the proposals in the agenda papers, and
whether the Councils’ should exercise their voting rights at the AGM either by proxy or
attendance, and by whom. And if so, what voting instructions should be given to the proxy
holder or the attendee?
Also attached is an e-mail received, purportedly from ABV, seeking a country manager in
Papua New Guinea.
Attachment:
ABV Notice of AGM.
25 October 2012 E-mail from ABV.
B. PACIFIC ISLANDS PRIVATE SECTOR ORGANISATION (PIPSO)
The PIPSO newsletter “Pasifika Business Watch” Volume 1 Number 1 July to September 2012
is attached.
Attachment:
Pasifika Business Watch” Volume 1 Number 1 July to September 2012
C. COMBINED BUSINESS COUNCILS’ WORK PROGRAM 2013
A schedule is attached of the dates of planned activities by the Australia Fiji Business Council,
the Australia Papua New Guinea Business Council and the Australia Pacific Islands Business
Council. Executive members are asked to record in their diaries events which may involve
them. Executive committee support is crucial to ensuring events arranged by the Council are
successful.
Attachment:
Combined Business Councils Work Program 2013.