By Emmanuel Narokobi

I got the title above from one of their activity flyers, and so a week of Australiana is set to kick start today with Kevin Rudd’s arrival to Port Moresby. Mr. Rudd is set to be here till Saturday which is quite a feat considering no other Australian PM or high ranking politician has stayed that long for a visit to PNG. Our government has been in a frenzy scrubbing plants and erecting flag poles for the visit so might be an indication of our governments high hopes of this new administration listening to them and being real neighbours instead of the lecturing older brother. One might expect to see Rudd having a swing with the Chief at the PM’s Cup at the Golf Club tomorrow afternoon or maybe even Rudd having a swig of some SP too if we’re lucky.

So for Australia Week, Masalai will be minor co-sponsoring the Ernie Dingo breakfast at the Crowne Plaza on Tuesday morning. The whole Australia Week thing is different and it’s the first time I’ve seen the Australian government come out so open about events etc so hoping it’s a sign of things to come. As an example the Breakfast with Ernie Dingo has been completely run and setup by Leadership PNG (LPNG) which is a group of young Papua New Guineans. LPNG also collects all the revenue from the breakfast and all the Australian government is doing is providing Ernie Dingo for the event.

And later on Tuesday afternoon I’m going to want to have a listen to what Sean Dorney has to say about this new Rudd administration and it’s role in the pacific.  See details below.

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As part of Australia Week 2008, the Institute of National Affairs
is pleased to host A Public Address by Sean Dorney
The well-known broadcaster, long term PNG and Pacific foreign correspondent with the ABC, and former PNG Kumul rugby league captain
will speak on the topic;
Australia in the Rudd Era - will Australia engage more with
PNG and the Pacific?
To be held at the Kumul Room - Holiday Inn, Port Moresby,
6 PM Wednesday 12th March
Attendance is free of charge, but you are requested to register with Ms. Moale Sabadi at the Institute of National Affairs, tel. 321 1044
or email: moale.sabadi@cimcpng.org
Light refreshments will be provided
The Institute acknowledges the support of the Australian High Commission in staging this event.