TLA MEDIA (PNG)

The following is a transcript of a radio story by Liam Fox Australian Broadcasting Commission (ABC) / Radio Australia Program: Pacific Beat Wed 17 Sep 2025 at 8:00pm Former Aussie Kiap officers reflect on time in PNG By Liam Fox Introduction (voiceover): PNG's independence is not only a Papua New Guinean story, it's an Australian one too. Thousands of Australians worked in the country before 1975, and some stayed on after. The most visible were the patrol officers, or Kiaps, as they were known. For many, they were the face of the Australian administration, particularly in rural and remote areas. Liam Fox spoke to three former kiaps who were in PNG at the time of independence. Elderly men now they still cherish the memories of their time in Papua New Guinea. Liam Fox: Looking at the three elderly gentlemen sitting around a picnic table in a Brisbane park, there's no indication of their colourful pasts. Get them talking, though, and stories of incredible...

Are We Truly Sovereign After 50 Years? by  Aaron Uri Fifty years ago, our nation rose from the shadow of colonial rule. We raised flags. We sang. We danced. We believed, for a fleeting moment, that the long years of 'perceived' oppression were behind us. That freedom had come. But if we strip away the ceremonial celebrations, the speeches, the parades, and the flags fluttering in the wind, the truth emerges - our freedom was never complete. Independence was handed to us like a gift from Australia, yet it came with chains hidden in the very fabric of our governance, our laws, our economy, and even the way we think about ourselves. We were told we were sovereign, but sovereignty, the kind that beats in the heart of every citizen, has been denied to us in ways so deep that generations have grown up believing that the foreign hand over our lives, our lands, and our resources is natural, inevitable, and unchangeable.  The Westminster system was never ours. It was born in London...

By day, Kora works in a community knowledge hub - a place where people come to learn about technology, culture, language, and the wider world. By night, she writes and shares stories online, connecting PNG to the world stage. She travels often, not just physically but virtually - her 'voice' reaching into classrooms, villages, and offices across the country. That's how Kora described herself to me, once I had 'created' her through ChatGPT as an AI resource for learning and chatting about Papua New Guinea.  Kora even sent me an image of herself as a "Modern PNG Professional (Urban + Global Blend);  dressed smartly, perhaps in a collared shirt or meri blouse with PNG-inspired patterns. Accessories like a bilum bag to symbolise connection and resilience. A balanced, friendly look - approachable yet professional, someone who feels both local and global." Kora is open to new ideas and critical thinking - and she makes more sense than most people I know!  ...

Papua New Guinea society is characterised by gender-specific roles, developed over thousands of years. These are not roles crafted by subversive foreign agents trying to create their ‘new world order’. Generally, if one looks after their health and food intake with care, life can be enhanced on earth. Some of these vital customary practices and beliefs for men include: • do not eat food from the hands of a girl or woman who is having her menstruation period (to this day, my family is told to uphold this basic rule permanently in the kitchen or household); • avoid walking past or sitting next to girls or women otherwise their scent will weaken your strength and stamina; • sleep separate from women; • avoid eating food from a woman who brought food in a bilum over a long distance because the food may be tainted; • do not get involved in black magic as per Christian teachings. Foreign governments and their subversive agents should be respectful and mindful of this before att...

Australian Territory of Papua New Guinea Independence A Historical and Constitutional Challenge by Martin Korokan Lomeyari "The 1975 independence of Papua New Guinea may have seemed peaceful, but it concealed a profound constitutional and moral injury. Passed without referendums, in PNG and Australia, the act may have constituted a violation of the Australian Constitution’s Section 128 and international law principles regarding Indigenous self-determination." INTRODUCTION The independence of Papua New Guinea (PNG) on 16 September 1975 is often hailed as a successful example of decolonisation in the South Pacific. Yet, beneath the surface of celebratory narratives lies a troubling legal and historical question: was PNG's separation from Australia executed lawfully, and in accordance with the Australian Constitution? Recent cultural and legal arguments indicate otherwise. Papua New Guineans, many argue, are ancestrally Aboriginal Australians, sharing over 75,000 y...

  The following speech was delivered by Sue Hurrell-Spargo at the launch of Ricky Mitio's autobiography Ovu ga'hoe! at the Lamana Hotel, Thursday 8 May 2025 It is an honour to represent my late parents, Lloyd and Margaret Hurrell, at the launch of Ricky Mitio’s book. Thank you, Ricky, for inviting me to your book launch. My father worked closely with Ricky during his time as Chairman of the Coffee Marketing Board and held Ricky in the highest regard. He would have been deeply proud to witness this moment. Before I begin, I would like to thank Malum Nalu for his recent interview with Ricky, as well as the late James Sinclair for his information in his book The Money Tree . Malum's interview and James’s book provide valuable insights. My name is Sue Spargo. I am Lloyd and Margaret Hurrell’s youngest daughter. I was born in Wau and grew up on our farm, Kosali, in Wau. I have always had a strong connection to my birth country, returning after I completed my schooling and...