https://www.michaelsmithnews.com/2016/08/warning-signs-for-australia-that-bill-clinton-was-way-off-the-straight-and-narrow-in-png.html
Warning signs for Australia that Bill Clinton was way off the straight and narrow in PNG
Friday, 26 August 2016
Part One of this train-wreck is here.
It's worth looking at Papua New Guinea through Australian eyes.
[PDF]Report: The Torres Strait: Bridge and Border - Parliament of Australia
In parts of the Torres Strait at low tide, it's possible to wade from island to island to leave PNG and enter Australia. The two countries are within easy gazing distance of each other and there's significant fishing, transport and other trade interactions between the neighbours.
By the mid-2000s PNG had a raging HIV/Aids epidemic, with TB outbreaks closely following. The proximity of our two countries made PNG's problem Australia's problem too. And Australia budgeted hundreds of millions of dollars to fight it.
When he launched Australia's partnership with the Clinton Foundation in February 2006, Australia's Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said:
I would like to talk briefly now about what the Government is currently doing to reverse the spread of HIV/AIDS. Eighteen months ago, I announced a significant increase in Australia's contribution to the fight against HIV/AIDS in the region: through the aid program, the Australian Government is committing $600 million in assistance to HIV/AIDS activities in the decade to 2010: most of this support is directed to activities in the Asia Pacific by way of bilateral assistance. Clearly, the Australian Government is already investing heavily in the battle against HIV. But if we are to deepen and strengthen the Australian response, we must look for new opportunities and partnerships to build on what has been achieved. Our partnership with the Clinton Foundation will build on the Foundation's impressive track record to provide practical assistance with procurement, supply chains and health system strengthening.
For Australia, finding the money to help our neighbours wasn't the problem. The bad press arose from the lax systems and processes in the way our money had been spent prior to Downer's discovery of the ArchAngel Bill.
Alexander Downer turned to the Clinton Foundation HIV/Aids Initiative Inc apparently because he believed their PR. The "Foundation's impressive track record providing practical assistance with health system strengthening" turned out to exist only in marketing brochures.
As at February 2006, the Clinton Foundation's climate change, global initiative, carbon-accounting and HIV/Aids operation in the Asia Pacific region had a total staff of one - Ruby Shang.