Launch statement by PNG NRI Acting Director Dr. Osborne Sanida
LAUNCH OF TWO REPORTS ON POST-BOUGAINVILLE REFERENDUM ERA
Launch Statement by PNG NRI Acting Director Dr. Osborne Sanida
Thursday 21 January 2021
In a Referendum conducted in December 2019, as provided for in the Bougainville Peace Agreement (BPA) of 2001, ninety eight percent (98%) of the people who voted, chose ‘Independence’ over ‘Greater Autonomy’ for Bougainville. As required by the BPA, the outcome of the Referendum is subject to ratification by the National Parliament following consultation with the Bougainville Government.
The Bougainville Referendum Research Project at the PNG NRI commissioned two independent research reports to inform critical developments in the Post Referendum era. One report discusses possible institutional arrangements to assist negotiations on Bougainville’s political future whilst the other looks at ideas on raising adequate revenues for the Bougainville Government to achieve fiscal independence.
We are now pleased to launch these reports and have them available for public discourse.
Research Report 8: Institution Building in Post Referendum Bougainville
This report was undertaken by Professor Cheryl Saunders and Dr. Anna Dziedzic from the Constitutional Transformation Network of the Melbourne Law School, University of Melbourne, Australia. The report looks at the possible institutional requirements for governance in post-referendum Bougainville. The primary target audience for this report is those engaged in the consultations between the Bougainville and PNG Governments following the referendum.
Research Report 9: Increasing Revenues for the Bougainville Government
This report was undertaken by a team of economists from Canberra: Professor Satish Chand, Professor Ronald Duncan and Dr. Theodore Levantis. The report looks at how the Bougainville Government can increase its revenues so that Bougainville can increase revenues for its budget and achieve economic independence.
The contents of the reports have been presented to key stakeholders in a Zoom Conference in October of 2020. This was to allow feedback for the research teams to refine their reports. Videos of the presentations made by the research teams can be accessed via links provided on the PNG NRI website (https://pngnri.org) and on the PNG NRI Social Media platforms.
Additionally, two Commentaries, one on each of the reports outlining the contents of the reports and the main focus and messages from the reports have been posted on the PNG NRI website and on its social media pages. Furthermore, the Executive Summary of the two reports have been extracted and posted for reference.
Thank you the media for the important role you play in the dissemination of the reports. Should you require any further information, the BRRP team can also be contacted on email: referendum.research@pngnri.org or on phone: +675 326 0061/ +675 326 0300 for any other information.
Finally, on behalf of the NRI Council and Management, I would like to thank everyone involved in producing these reports. In particular, the authors of the reports; the BRRP team led by Dr. Thomas Webster; all persons involved in the logistics and administrative work at PNG NRI and external partners; and the Government of PNG and Bougainville Government.
Establishment and Mandate
The Papua New Guinea National Research Institute (PNG NRI) was established as the New Guinea Research Unit (NGRU) of the Australian National University in 1961. When PNG gained independence in 1975, the NGRU became the Institute for Applied Social and Economic Research (IASER), and in 1993 was officially recognised as the National Research Institute. The PNG NRI is an independent statutory authority established by an Act of Parliament in 1988 and confirmed by the IASER (Amendment) Act 1993 to conduct independent policy research into economic and social development issues affecting PNG.
The Act states that the functions of the PNG NRI are:“(a) the promotion of research into Papua New Guinea society and the economy”, and in particular “(b), the undertaking of research into social, political and economic problems of Papua New Guinea in order to enable practical solutions to such problems to be formulated.”
Vision and Mission
- The Papua New Guinea National Research Institute (PNG NRI) is recognised among the leading public policy think tanks in the Asia – Pacific region.
- The Papua New Guinea National Research Institute will provide quality research which contributes to evidence – based public policies and decision – making processes that improve service delivery, leading to better quality of life for all Papua New Guineans.
Motto
PNG NRI is committed to inquiring, informing and influencing Papua New Guinea’s future through conducting cutting-edge policy research, the facilitation of public dialogue, and influencing decision making.
We inquire, to better understand problems.
We inform, to help others understand those problems.
We influence, advocating for effective public policies based on research and evidence.
