The Post-War Australian Objective in Papua-New Guinea: Liberal Ambition or Colonial Control?

Abstract

This article contributes to current historical debate surrounding Australia's post-war colonial development of the Territory of Papua and New Guinea. It examines the strategic motivation of both the Chifley Labor and Menzies Liberal/Country governments and explains how the intent of Australian government plans satisfied a broad political consensus, from Fabian policymakers of the Labor Left to the progressive wing of the Liberal Party. In this way, this article builds upon Scott MacWilliam's recent assessment of long-term Territories Minister, Paul Hasluck, as a “liberal developer”. However, in regard to application of policy, despite the appearance of positive and progressive development plans, the lived reality for local people was that the Australian government often did not deliver on these aspirations. Moreover, in circumstances where subjugated people did not fit within an expected narrative of the compliant or Westernised “native”, on the ground in the villages the government appeared to prioritise control over Indigenous autonomy. This article explores the dichotomy of these positions, of liberal ambition versus colonial control, and explains why this fundamentally influenced both the effectiveness of government programmes and the lived experience of Papua New Guineans.