YOUR SAYDo you think Australia should give PNG more money to improve health care services in the Western Province? Or should Queensland Health's funding be boosted so Papuans can access its services in the Torres Strait Islands?
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I think sherilee should think a little before she comments. SHould we consider other Islands around Aus to support themselves such as Tasmania or even islands such at Tiwi, Palm group or mornington. such a comment would be outrageous and laughed at. There is a desperate need for improved health services in the Straits as with other indigenous area's in Aus and to imply that the straits should support themselves really begs the questions, who else in Aus falls into this category.....?!?
The people of the Torres Straigt islands would need to be consulted with before the PNG people started accessing their services
i don't thik either should get money,because that takes money away from the indigenous communities with is fightfully theirs. The torres strait only comes into the country becasuse the government has a 200km radius around the ocean, as for the money i think that the torres strait should support themselves.
I watched your program and I am compelled to say that Queensland Health Funding be boosted so Papuans can access its services in the Torres Strait Islands. Honestly, Torres Strait Island are Papua New Guineas who have migrated to live on that island from Western Province. Australia should see Western Province as part of Torres Strait and similar treatment should be given to the people of Western Province. Christopher Papiali Madang
I believe Australia should put funds into improving health services in Western Province PNG. It is natural to go where they can obtain the best services for their families and themselves and as a very wealthy neighbour, we should be assisting the PNG government to improve local services.
This is a tricky situation because if Australia gives PNG more money for health care services the money will end up in the PNG politician’s pockets, it has happened time again. So I feel the Queensland Health should boost funding and services in the Torres Strait Island. However what happens to the hundreds of Papuans suffering from AIDS, Hepatitis and other life threatening illnesses who helps them?
No! Australia should increase funding to Queensland health to help improve services in Torres Straits. Aid to PNG get diverted into corrupt development by the PNG Government and Western Province will not benefit.
More money should be allocated to Queensland Health, so that relations between the two societies aren't lost and to also ensure the money is directed towards the correct treatments. It seems that a system is in place whether it is wanted or not by locals and it is paramount to ensure safety and health for everyone.
Neither the Australian Government nor the Queemnsland Government should be responsible for the health of people from another country. The people from the Torres Strait Islands need to decide wheter they are citizens of PNG or Australia. Make the decision and live with it. You cant expect to have it all your own way
This problem has been around for years. Over 15 years ago it was suggested that Oz should set up a clinic on the PNG side but this was not backed by a number of Oz departments and so it went on...this was actually raised following 60 odd identified cases of syphilis following the visit of 2 men from PNG on a cultural visit...hmmm...the Boigu folk got treated but what about the PNG blokes...now we all know the increase in communicable diseases in PNG. I reckon, set up a main clinic on Boigu staffed by QLD health personnel and a partner clinic on the PNG side staffed by PNG health personnel financed by PNG. All else funded by Oz on both sides with joint planning and planning with some cleaver initiatives to put the PNG side as the primary referral site for Papuans. There are many good things I can think of that would benefit both sides but practically initial control and sophistication of services needs to be in QLD hands. This has never been rocket science and would be a drop in the ocean compared to the millions and millions spent on health in PNG as a whole by AusAID not to mention the money spent on governance that recently saw how much (Kina) escape from the reserve bank in POM. All one needs is customs, immigration and quarantine to agree to the health workers travelling to and fro. Oh, and someone like to me to do a feasibility!