Mr HOLLIS (11:33 AM) —During the parliamentary recess I had the opportunity, with colleagues who are also members of the all-party group on population and development, to participate in a study tour of the Pacific on population and development issues. This was made possible through funding by the Packard Foundation and arranged by the Reproductive Health Alliance. Originally we had planned to visit the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and Fiji, but civil unrest in the Solomon Islands meant the cancellation of this leg. We did visit Vanuatu and Fiji.

During our time in Vanuatu we saw many projects around Port Vila; we also travelled to Espiritu Santo island, where we again saw many impressive projects being carried out at low cost. As well as meeting many of the local people, we had the opportunity of meeting, on three separate occasions, the Prime Minister of Vanuatu. We also met the Deputy Prime Minister, the Minister for Health, the Minister for Finance, the Leader of the Opposition and the Speaker of the Vanuatu parliament. Through the Australian High Commissioner, Mr Perry Head, I was privileged to present, on behalf of the Australian parliament, a selection of books to the Speaker for the Vanuatu parliamentary library.

There are many challenges regarding population issues in Vanuatu. Our trip was particularly enriched by the presence of Dr Gunasagaran Gounder, Assistant Minister for Health, of Fiji; the Hon. Iarris Naunun, of Vanuatu; and the Hon. Albert Loare, of the Solomon Islands. The adviser to the Secretariat of the Pacific Community, Reproductive Health and Family Planning also accompanied us throughout the trip.

In Vanuatu, members of the group were surprised that basic education was provided by the government for children basically only up to the age of 12. At the end of primary schooling, only 20 per cent of children go on to secondary schooling. The cost is borne by the family. This inevitably leads to too many children having too much time on their hands. The massive distances and isolation of most of the island population makes education a particular challenge.

We were very impressed with the Vanuatu projects and particularly impressed with the work of AusAID. There were very innovative projects through theatre and dance companies, which we were privileged to see. Indeed, we witnessed the beginning of a program on AIDS which is especially important in Vanuatu as many young men spend many months abroad as seafarers. I did get the impression in respect of AIDS that Vanuatu is very much in denial mode. Until Vanuatu faces the reality of the AIDS issue, it is going to be increasingly difficult for the country.

The Australian High Commission, the High Commissioner, the High Commission staff, and especially AusAID staff, worked hard for us to see not only the successes but also the challenges facing the people. We came away with a better appreciation, particularly of the way Australian money is being spent on various programs. Much is being done with a small amount of money.

The group also visited Fiji. Fiji, as honourable members will know, is more developed than Vanuatu. We were particularly fortunate to have travelling with us Dr Gunasagaran Gounder, Assistant Minister for Health of Fiji. We also met the Minister for Health and from a personal point of view I was pleased to renew my personal acquaintance with the Speaker of the Fijian parliament, Dr Apenisa Kurisaquila, who has taken such a leadership role on population and development issues not only in Fiji but generally within the South Pacific.

With the change of government in Fiji, we were especially fortunate to meet with several of the new Fiji ministers, including the Minister for Women, Culture and Social Welfare, the Hon. Lavenia Padarath. We also visited the Fiji School of Nursing where each head within the school gave us a synopsis of activities and programs. Such is the excellent training at the School of Nursing, that graduates are sought after and many do not return to Fiji, instead going to work in Australia and the UK.

Low wages and poor working conditions are stumbling blocks to keeping graduates. This is a real problem for Fiji, and a similar problem with graduates from the Fiji School of Medicine. The nurses were appreciative of Australian aid but asked for shorter courses to be funded.

In Fiji we were shown and given a copy of a video, Staying the Course, which provided a good overview of the work done in the Pacific community by the UN Population Fund. There seemed a greater awareness of the threat of AIDS in Fiji and Vanuatu.

The only non-positive note was that, on the day after we left Fiji, the plane on which we were aboard 24 hours earlier had crashed, with the loss of all life including two Australian aid workers. This was a tragic event.

Our special thanks goes to Larry Baldwin from the Australian Reproductive Health Alliance who accompanied the group throughout the trip. We were particularly impressed with some of the women's groups, the women's rights movement and crisis centre which we saw in Fiji. For each and every one of us, the trip was a very enriching experience. (Time expired)