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

More documents

Recommendations

Info

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..
Page 1 and 2: AUSTRALIA PAPUA NEW GUINEA BUSINESS
Page 3: WORK PROGRAM 2011. A. 27th AUSTRALI
Page 11 and 12: its visa issuing responsibilities i
Page 13: AUSTRALIA PAPUA NEW GUINEA BUSINESS

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

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?