On the sudden death of Mathias Toliman, it fell to Michael Somare to lead PNG to independence and, in partnership with Sir Julius Chan he did a very credible job but during the last two decades, Sir Michael came close to ruining a well earned reputation as ‘Father of the Nation’. It is a disgrace that Australian governments of both political persuasions continued funding successive Somare governments without successfully demanding that serious and persistent corruption be effectively dealt with.

It appears that Sir Michael has, at long last, done the right thing and left the office of Prime Minister to Peter O’Neill, a man with the energy and determination to stamp-out corruption and set his country on the path of equitable socio-economic development.

A more difficult though pressing task is the need to review and, if appropriate, amend the PNG Constitution. That document contains many culturally idealistic provisions deemed entirely appropriate when it was framed 40 years ago but doing little to strengthen institutions essential to open and transparent democracy and political stability.

There is a limit to which one can support the existing Constitution with legislation such as establishment an ICAC. There are limits to what any Prime Minister can do when confronted with wantokism at all (too many) levels of government.

Sir Michael will be remembered as the Chief Minister (The Chief) who led PNG to independence and with Sir Julius guided it through its first difficult years. Let us hope that Peter O’Neill will have equal success in reforming government and public administration, delivering economic growth and ensuring equitable development for the benefit of all. No easy task and an impossible one without wide support both within and outside Parliament.

Agnostic,
Anyone can be successful with the amount of funding that PNG received just from Australia alone.

Australia's relations with PNG can be upgraded, widened and made more meaningful by working in partnership with key institutions, NGO's and other key stakeholders including international donors like the EU, China and others. We need to aim for collective impact and focus on areas where we can add optimal social, economic and environmental value to the citizens of PNG. A stable, prosperous and sustainable PNG is good for its citizens and Australia and the region.

There's only one solution for PNG: invite the U.S. to engage in Shock and Awe 2. They could use the N.T. to launch the bombers.

We all know what a great job they did bringing democracy to Iraq and Afghanistan so they are the ideal folk to repeat their hell-raising performances.

P.S. Of course they didn't do such a good job in Vietnam but everyone makes mistakes!