DPA Research Reports
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Item Open Access 2017 Papua New Guinea General Elections : Election Observation Report(Canberra, ACT: Dept. of Pacific Affairs, Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies, The Australian National University, 2018-11) Haley, Nicole; Zubrinich, KerryDelivering a national election “is the largest and most complex logistical operation a country ever faces in peacetime… It involves putting the entire adult population of the country through a proscribed process, under tight timeframes, sometimes as short as one day” (Maley 2014). In PNG the exercise is further complicated by difficult terrain, punishing weather conditions, poor transport infrastructure, extreme linguistic and cultural diversity which manifests as highly variable voter behaviour, inconsistent administrative performance at the subnational level, markedly diverse security environments and severe fiscal constraints, including significantly reduced funding in non-election years and the late and piecemeal release of funds in election years. All of these factors contribute to PNG’s elections being amongst the world’s most challenging and most expensive (per capita) to deliver (DFAT 2013). In mid-2017, PNG conducted its 9th general elections since independence. This report provides an independent research-based assessment of those elections, undertaken by Australian- and PNG-based researchers, under the auspices of the ANU. The ANU was one of several groups, including the Commonwealth Secretariat, the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, the Melanesian Spearhead Group, the European Union, and Transparency International PNG (TIPNG), who were invited to observe the elections.1 The 2017 election observation was the third such observation undertaken by the ANU in PNG, and is the most comprehensive observation we have undertaken to date anywhere in the region. Funded in partnership by the ANU and the Australian Aid Program, the 258-person observation team, led by Nicole Haley, head of DPA,2 comprised 32 PNG academics/researchers in team leader roles, 21 ANU-based academics in mentoring roles, 10 ANU undergraduate students, 192 PNG observers recruited from civil society and the tertiary sector, and three ANU support staff. The observation differed from those of other groups in that it employed a mixed-methods approach, involving detailed observation by domestic and international observers from the issue of writs through to the formation of government, key informant interviews and two cross-sectional citizen surveys designed to explore attitudes, perceptions and the ways citizens engaged with and experienced the election.3 In total, over 7500 citizens were surveyed. Their views, experiences and insights inform this report and supplement the observations made by the ANU teamItem Open Access 2019 Solomon Islands National General Elections : Observation Report(Canberra, ACT: Dept. of Pacific Affairs, Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies, The Australian National University, 2019) Wiltshire, Colin; Batley, James; Ridolfi, Joanne; Rogers, AthenaThe ANU, through the Department of Pacific Affairs (DPA), conducted a large-scale observation of the election comprising 90 observers, 77 of whom were Solomon Islanders. The observation covered almost a third of the country (15 of Solomon Islands’ 50 national constituencies). Fieldwork was carried out from 23 March to 10 April 2019 in order to comprehensively cover the pre-polling, polling and post-polling periods. The research comprised direct election observations and citizen surveys. In total, almost 5000 citizens were interviewed either before or after the election, and nearly 600 observation reports were completed. In terms of the breath and scope of the data collected, this study represents one of the largest and most comprehensive research exercises to have been undertaken in Solomon Islands.Item Open Access Building a Pathway for successful land reform in the Solomon Islands(The Australian National University, 2015) McDonnell, Siobhan; Foukona, Joseph D.; Pollard, AlisonThis Report highlights the need for a step by step development process for land reform efforts. Based on land reform experience in other Melanesian countries, it shows that a successful land reform process requires clear policy direction. The amending or writing of new land laws should be the final step of this land reform process, rather than the beginning. This report is a useful discussion document that we can draw on as we constructively engage in dialogue to create our own unique pathway for a successful land reform in Solomon Islands.Item Open Access Chega! Ten Years On: A Neglected National Resource : The Fate of the CAVR Final Report in Timor-Leste(Canberra, ACT: Dept. of Pacific Affairs, Coral Bell School of Asia Pacific Affairs, The Australian National University, 2016) Kent, Lia; Kinsella, Naomi; Tchailoro, Nuno RodriguesIt is now 10 years since the publication of Chega! (the final report of the Commission for Reception, Truth and Reconciliation, known by its Portuguese acronym, ‘CAVR’). The CAVR was tasked with documenting human rights violations committed throughout Timor-Leste’s 24-year-long armed conflict and making recommendations on how to address the negative impact of the conflict, including measures to prevent its recurrence. This report presents the key findings of a project that assesses some dimensions of Chega!’s impact in Timor-Leste.1 The project consisted of two components. The first component examined how ‘key actors’ — defined as prominent figures in the government, parliament, education sector, Catholic Church, media and civil society organisations — perceive and utilise Chega! The second component assessed different programs designed to disseminate and ‘socialise’ Chega! amongst Timorese. The methodology involved a desk review of publicly available speeches and documents, interviews with 28 key actors, interviews with students exposed to Chega!-socialisation programs and an analysis of students’ written responses to such programs.Item Open Access Do No Harm Research: Bougainville(Canberra, ACT : Coral Bell School of Asia Pacific Affairs, College of Asia and the Pacific, The Australian National University, 2018) Eves, Richard; Kouro, Genevieve; Simiha, Steven; Subalik, IreneThis report covers the research undertaken in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville as part of the much larger project, Do No Harm: Understanding the Relationship between Women’s Economic Empowerment and Violence against Women in Melanesia. The Do No Harm research addresses the question of how to improve women’s economic agency and the security of their livelihoods without compromising their safety. It sought to capture the diversity of ways that women endeavour to overcome economic disadvantage in contemporary Melanesia. Fieldwork for the Do No Harm research was undertaken in Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea, with a total of 485 interviews conducted, including 238 with women.1 The interviews generated a large body of rich qualitative data on women’s lives and the difficulties and challenges they confront as they seek to earn income in order to improve their lives and those of their children.Item Open Access Do No Harm Research: Papua New Guinea(Canberra, ACT : Coral Bell School of Asia Pacific Affairs, College of Asia and the Pacific, The Australian National University, 2018) Eves, Richard; Kouro, Genevieve; Simiha, Steven; Subalik, IreneThis report covers the research undertaken in the Papua New Guinea highlands as part of the much larger project, Do No Harm: Understanding the Relationship between Women’s Economic Empowerment and Violence against Women in Melanesia. The Do No Harm (DNH) research addresses the question of how to improve women’s economic agency and the security of their livelihoods without compromising their safety. It sought to capture the diversity of ways that women endeavour to overcome economic disadvantage in contemporary Melanesia. Fieldwork for the Do No Harm research was undertaken in Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea, with a total of 485 interviews conducted, including 238 with women.1 The interviews generated a large body of rich qualitative data on women’s lives and the difficulties and challenges they confront as they seek to earn income in order to improve their lives and those of their children.Item Open Access Do No Harm Research: Solomon Islands(Canberra, ACT : Coral Bell School of Asia Pacific Affairs, College of Asia and the Pacific, The Australian National University, 2018) Eves, Richard; Lusby, Stephanie; Araia, Thomson; Maeni, Mary-Fay; Martin, RoseThis report covers the research undertaken in Solomon Islands as part of the much larger project, Do No Harm: Understanding the Relationship between Women’s Economic Empowerment and Violence against Women in Melanesia. The Do No Harm research addresses the question of how to improve women’s economic agency and the security of their livelihoods without compromising their safety. It sought to capture the diversity of ways that women endeavour to overcome economic disadvantage in contemporary Melanesia. Fieldwork for the Do No Harm research was undertaken in Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea, where a total of 485 interviews were conducted, including 238 with women.1 The interviews generated a large body of rich qualitative data on women lives and the difficulties and challenges they confront as they seek to earn income in order to improve their lives and those of their children.Item Open Access Domestic Violence and Family Law in Papua New Guinea(Canberra, ACT: Dept. of Pacific Affairs, Coral Bell School of Asia Pacific Affairs, The Australian National University, 2021) Kanan, Lindy; Putt, JudyThis paper arose from a research project on family protection orders (FPOs) in Papua New Guinea (PNG), during which it became apparent that many matters being brought to the police and courts involved both domestic violence and family law issues. It also became clear that there was a lack of current information available regarding family law in PNG, with the only comprehensive textbook on the subject last updated over 25 years ago. This paper seeks to provide an overview of PNG’s family law architecture, explain how it is administered by PNG courts and discuss the interaction between family law and domestic violence matters. It concludes with some suggestions that could make the system easier to navigate for PNG citizens.Item Open Access Domestic violence, the law and related services in Papua New Guinea: A survey of young adults in Port Moresby and Lae(Canberra, ACT: Dept. of Pacific Affairs, Coral Bell School of Asia Pacific Affairs, The Australian National University, 2021) Putt, Judy; Milli, Geejay; Essacu, FrancisA survey of young adults was conducted in Port Moresby and Lae towards the end of 2019 and in early 2020 as part of a larger study on the use and efficacy of family protection orders (FPOs) as a key response to domestic and family violence (DFV) in Papua New Guinea (PNG). This report presents the results from all 180 participants in the survey, of whom 95 were interviewed face to face in Port Moresby, 27 completed the survey online and 58 were interviewed face to face in Lae. The results are presented under the headings found in the questionnaire: characteristics of participants, perceptions of domestic violence, attitudes to gender and violence, knowledge of PNG family violence law and FPOs and recommended sources of help for victims. As this was an exploratory survey rather than a representative sample, a final section on the findings examines a limited number of independent variables — gender and place of residence — for the significance of their impact on key dependent variables.Item Open Access Experiencing the Public Sector: Pacific Women's Perspective(Canberra, ACT: Dept. of Pacific Affairs, Coral Bell School of Asia Pacific Affairs, The Australian National University, 2009) Haley, Nicole; Zubrinich, KerryThis report contains the findings arising from a short study undertaken to examine the experiences of women in the public sector across the Pacific. It is part of a much larger initiative aimed at improving the public sector capacity of Pacific Islands’ countries. One hundred women from six Pacific Island counties: Kiribati, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu were invited to participate, 40 responded. All were senior or middle level public sector employees. Each respondent completed a short questionnaire concerning their: educational background; work history/career path; experiences in the workplace; domestic responsibilities and work/life balance; factors related to success; and leadership aspirations. Of the 40 respondents, 19 worked in central agencies (Treasury, Finance and Planning, Prime Minister and Cabinet, National Executive Council, and Justice) while 21 worked in line agencies. The youngest respondent was 26 years and the oldest was 59, with an even spread in between. Twenty three of the respondents were currently married, nine were divorced or separated, four were widowed and four were single. All but four (36/40) had children, and all but one (39/40) said they had additional dependents, with three quarters of the women surveyed (29/40) having more than 5 dependents. Every woman who participated was well educated and well qualified. They were all at least bi-lingual (often multi-lingual), well travelled and have attended international workshops, conferences, and short courses in order to enhance their skills and knowledge base. Some have travelled to Europe, Asia and the sub-continent in their capacities as senior public servants. In short they are bright, articulate and have a good understanding of what is happening around them (at work and at home). The real value of this study lies in the insight it provides into the working and home lives of female public sector employees across the Pacific. It provides a solid starting point in understanding just how women experience their workplaces and domestic situations and the challenges they face on a day to day basis. It paints a fairly grim picture of life in the public sector. For example the study reveals that female public sector employees are exposed to a range of abuses in the workplace, including verbal abuse, threats of violence and sexual harassment, as well as harassment from the wives and girlfriends of male colleagues. Many also grapple with political interference. The study also revealed women experience day to day difficulty at the interface of home and work. Travelling to and from work safely is an issue, and most find they are working two jobs – doing their paid work and maintaining their households with little domestic assistance. Many women reported that they are closely scrutinised by husbands and boyfriends and that they have experienced domestic violence because of the difficulties involved in balancing work and domestic responsibilities. Certainly being well educated and having good jobs had not protected this cohort of women from domestic violence. On a more positive note the study identifies factors that have contributed towards women’s success in the public sector. When asked about the most significant factors in their success, women listed: education, hard work, persistence and perseverance, supportive bosses and families, and Christian faith. In view of this and the other findings contained within this report we offer suggestions for further research. Entry points for donor engagement also emerge out of the key findings. These are outlined in the recommendations that follow.Item Open Access Family Protection Orders in Papua New Guinea - Main Report(Canberra, ACT: Dept. of Pacific Affairs, Coral Bell School of Asia Pacific Affairs, The Australian National University, 2021) Putt, Judy; Kanan, LindyThe aim of the research project on which this report is based, was to investigate whether the family protection orders (FPOs) introduced under the Family Protection Act 2013 (FPA) were being accessed by, and improving the safety of, domestic and family violence1 (DFV) survivors. The Act, as well as the introduction of civil restraining orders specifically targeted at preventing and reducing DFV, represented a significant milestone in efforts to address in DFV in Papua New Guinea (PNG). The project was undertaken from late 2019 to August 2020. It was a collaborative project that involved researchers based in Australia and PNG, local researchers in various communities and several non-government organisations (NGOs). More than 25 people assisted with the research activities, which occurred in seven locations across PNG — Minj, Mount Hagen, Lae, Port Moresby, Popondetta, Buka and Arawa. The findings from the research are synthesised and summarised under the headings implementation and impact.Item Open Access Family Protection Orders in Papua New Guinea: Summary Report(Canberra, ACT: Dept. of Pacific Affairs, Coral Bell School of Asia Pacific Affairs, The Australian National University, 2021) Putt, Judy; Kanan, LindyThe aim of the research project on which this summary report is based, was to investigate whether the family protection orders (FPOs) introduced under the Family Protection Act 2013 (FPA) were being accessed by, and improving the safety of, domestic and family violence1 (DFV) survivors. The Act, as well as the introduction of civil restraining orders specifically targeted at preventing and reducing DFV, represented a significant milestone in efforts to address in DFV in Papua New Guinea (PNG). The project was undertaken from late 2019 to August 2020. It was a collaborative project that involved researchers based in Australia and PNG, local researchers in various communities and several non-government organisations (NGOs). More than 25 people assisted with the research activities, which occurred in seven locations across PNG — Minj, Mount Hagen, Lae, Port Moresby, Popondetta, Buka and Arawa. This is a summary of the the larger and more comprehensive report which can be found here.Item Open Access Family protection orders in the Pacific region - Report from a symposium held in December 2021(Canberra, ACT: Dept. of Pacific Affairs, Coral Bell School of Asia Pacific Affairs, The Australian National University, 2023-01-05) Putt, Judy; Kanan, LindyOn 9 December 2021, the Pacific Community (SPC) and The Australian National University (ANU) co-convened a virtual ‘Symposium on family protection orders in the Pacific region’. The symposium brought together expertise from across the region, including from the Cook Islands, Fiji, Samoa, Palau, Papua New Guinea (PNG), Solomon Islands, Timor Leste, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu. The chapters of this publication are based on the presentations that were given at the event, and provide insightful accounts of how family protection orders and domestic and family violence (DFV) response systems are working across the Pacific. The speakers contributed a rich array of expert perspectives and included lawyers, judicial officers, academics, police officers, government officials, and representatives from specialist DFV services, regional bodies and aid projects.Item Open Access Family Protection Orders: A Key Response to Domestic and Family Violence. A Pilot Study in Lae, Papua New Guinea(Canberra, ACT: Dept. of Pacific Affairs, Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies, The Australian National University, 2019-02) Putt, Judy; Phillips, Theresa; Thomas, Davida; Kanan, LindyThe pilot study was conducted primarily from March to August 2018 in the urban centre of Lae in Papua New Guinea (PNG), with the support and advice of members of the Morobe Family and Sexual Violence Action Committee. Drawing on consultations and interviews with more than 50 stakeholders and interviews with 14 women survivors, the research aimed to determine the use and efficacy of family protection orders. The study drew on de-identified client data for a period of more than three years from Femili PNG (FPNG), a non-government organisation (NGO) that provides case management and support for survivors of family and sexual violence. In addition, the district court provided statistics on orders for 2017 and 2018, a sample of police prosecution files were reviewed and the research team observed proceedings at the district court.Item Open Access Family Protection Orders: Court Processes in Papua New Guinea(Canberra, ACT: Dept. of Pacific Affairs, Coral Bell School of Asia Pacific Affairs, The Australian National University, 2021) Kanan, Lindy; Putt, Judy; Opur, PhilemonThis report outlines some findings and observations about how courts in Papua New Guinea (PNG) handle the family protection orders (FPOs) introduced under the Family Protection Act 2013. It is based on direct observations of 33 court hearings in Port Moresby and Lae conducted between 28 January and 24 March 2020. These findings and interpretations of the court observations are informed by a larger study on FPOs that included interviews with stakeholders across seven locations: Port Moresby, Lae, Popondetta, Buka, Arawa, Mount Hagen and Minj.Item Open Access Improving the Electoral Chances of Pacific Women through an Evidence-based Approach(Canberra, ACT: Dept. of Pacific Affairs, Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies, The Australian National University, 2016) Barbara, Julien; Baker, KerrynThis report draws on discussions that occurred at a three-day workshop hosted by the Centre for Democratic Institutions (CDI) and State, Society and Governance in Melanesia Program (SSGM) at the Australian National University in Canberra in June 2016. The purpose of the workshop was to review the evidence base regarding lessons learned about successful campaigning, how women are positioned to run successful campaigns, and how development partners might enhance the effectiveness of support provided to women candidates by drawing on and responding to this evidence base. While the workshop focused on the Melanesian context — and Papua New Guinea (PNG), Solomon Islands and Vanuatu, in particular — it drew on lessons from other parts of the Pacific islands region and the findings of this synthesis report may be applicable more widely. The workshop was attended by a broad range of stakeholders, including campaign activists, women candidates, former and current sitting members of legislatures, development partners, NGOs, policymakers and academics from Melanesia and Australia. An annotated copy of the three-day workshop program is provided at Appendix A, with speaker names excluded. Discussions at the workshop were held on a Chatham House basis to encourage frank discussion. While the synthesis provided in this report draws on those discussions, this report reflects the analysis of the authors and should not be taken to reflect the views of attendees at the workshop. This report is supplemented by a series of framing papers which were presented at that workshop to inform focused workshop discussions and have been published as SSGM In Briefs in tandem with this report.Item Open Access Mapping Security Cooperation in the Pacific Islands - Research Report(Canberra, ACT: Dept. of Pacific Affairs, Coral Bell School of Asia Pacific Affairs, The Australian National University, 2021) Wallis, Joanne; McNeill, Henrietta; Batley, James; Powles, AnnaIn the 2018 Boe Declaration on Regional Security, Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) leaders recognised that the Pacific Islands region is facing ‘an increasingly complex regional security environment driven by multifaceted security challenges’. This raises the question of how Pacific Island states and territories will respond to these wide-ranging, but frequently interconnected, challenges, including what role regional security cooperation can play. The purpose of this paper is to identify and map the various cooperative security agreements, arrangements and institutions between and among states and territories in the Pacific Islands region, and their partners.Item Open Access New Zealand's Recognised Employer Scheme (RSE): 10 Year Longitudinal Case Study(Department of Pacific Affairs, Australian National University, 2019) Bailey, Rochelle-LeeThis research stems from a 10-year longitudinal study of 22 ni-Vanuatu temporary migrant labourers participating in New Zealand’s Recognised Seasonal Employer Scheme (RSE) established on 30 April 2007. The RSE scheme was a grower-initiated policy and the objectives were two-fold: to fill the chronic shortfall of available labour in the horticulture and viticulture sectors and at the same time, New Zealand (NZ) government officials promoted the RSE as a way forward for economic development in the Pacific region, via remittances sent home. With a lack of waged employment opportunities in their home countries, many families in the Pacific region perceive labour mobility opportunities as an additional source of income that can meet individual and community needs. The positive economic and social outcomes from the RSE makes it attractive for governments, industries and Pacific workers alike, and is the reason why the scheme has seen continued expansion. The study has focused on three main areas: »» Identifying the various social and economic impacts for employers, RSE workers, their families, workers’ communities, as well as New Zealand communities in which workers reside. »» Knowing more about the interactions between seasonal workers, their employers and local NZ communities. »» Tracking how the program has changed and expanded over time, monitoring the challenges and strengthening the positive impacts while mitigating negative unintended consequences.Item Open Access Pacific Attitudes Survey: Samoa(Canberra, ACT: Dept. of Pacific Affairs, Coral Bell School of Asia Pacific Affairs, The Australian National University, 2022-04) Leach, Michael; Barbara, Julien; Mow, Loana Chan; Vaai, Sina; Mudaliar, Christopher; Amosa, Patila; Milo, Louise Mataia; Tauaa, Susana; Imo-Seuoti, Taema; Heem, VernettaThe Pacific Attitudes Survey: Samoa is the first large scale popular political attitudes survey conducted in the Pacific region. Comprising 181 questions set out in 26 thematic modules, it covers a broad range of topics including attitudes to democracy, national identity, tradition, leadership, governance, development and international relations. The survey took place in late December 2020 and January 2021, and was conducted in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and in the lead up to what would prove an historic election.Item Open Access Pacific Attitudes Survey: Vanuatu(Canberra, ACT: Dept. of Pacific Affairs, Coral Bell School of Asia Pacific Affairs, The Australian National University, 2024-04-04) Mudaliar, Christopher; Leach, Michael; Baker, Kerryn; Barbara, Julien; Vaha, Milla; Kotra, Krishna Kumar; Leodoro, TrevorThe Pacific Attitudes Survey: Vanuatu is the second large-scale popular political attitudes survey conducted in the Pacific region, following the first survey in Samoa conducted in late 2020 and early 2021 (Leach et al. 2022). Comprising 191 questions set out in 21 thematic modules, it covers a broad range of topics including attitudes to democracy, national identity, tradition, leadership, governance, development, climate change and international relations. The survey was nationally representative and conducted between August and October 2023, coinciding with a period of political instability for Vanuatu in which two successful votes of no confidence took place.