1) Australia's new aid minister refuses to
comment on previous support for groups in West Papuan independence movement
2) OPM Condemns Morning Star Flag
Raisers
3) Action needed
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http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-07-02/an-australia27s-new-aid-minister-refuses-to-comment-on-previou/4795358?section=australianetworknews
1) Australia's new aid minister refuses to comment on previous support for groups in West Papuan independence movement
Updated
Australia's new Minister for International Development Melissa Parke says she won't canvass her previous support for groups involved in the West Papuan independence movement nor would she comment on how her appointment would be viewed in Indonesia.
Ms Parke is now the minister responsible for the nation's aid budget and Indonesia is the biggest recipient of bilateral aid from Australia.
In an interview with the ABC, Ms Parke was asked if she was surprised at her appointment given sensitivity of the West Papuan issue for Indonesia.
"That is not an issue I am going to canvass," she said.
Last year, Ms Parke was one of the Labor MPs who defied a request from then trade minister Craig Emerson to boycott a meeting on the disputed province of West Papua.
The Australian Government supports Indonesia's territorial integrity and its continued rule in the disputed province of West Papua.
Foreign minister Bob Carr has said there is little international support for West Papuan independence, and that separatist forces shouldn't be encouraged.
At the National Press Club last week, Senator Carr said "independence for West Papua just won't happen."
Ms Parke says her focus is instead on delivering Australian assistance to the region.
"My background in human rights is well-known," Ms Parke said.
"My focus is on the aid programme and we are doing fantastic things together with the Indonesian Government in education.
"We are building and renovating 2,000 junior secondary schools and training 300,000 principals."
She says thousands of young Indonesians will be able to receive a mainstream, secular education and contribute to the economic capacity and governance of the region.
Ms Parke is a previous United Nation human rights lawyer with a long record of involvement in human rights issues including concern for the treatment of asylum seekers.
On the current debate over asylum seekers, Ms Parke says she will be working with the government as a member of the frontbench.
"What I think is the appropriate way forward is the one set forward by the Houston Panel that we really need to work on the basis of the regional framework," she said.
"It is a regional problem, we are not going to solve it on our own.
"We have to solve it in cooperation with countries in our region."
Ms Parke says Papua New Guinea is a priority for Australian aid, as none of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are being met in the country.
"We know PNG is facing issues when it comes to gender inequality, domestic violence, when it comes to literacy and health," she said.
"We know that a women in PNG are more than 200 times more likely to die from pregnancy related conditions or childbirth and that just isn't good enough."
Midwife training is one aspect of Australia's aid policy in PNG.
Ms Parke believes there is much to do in the region.
"18 of Australia's 20 closest neighbours are developing countries," she said.
"Our whole region is a priority region."
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