Australia to Work with Pacific on Land Policy Reform

The Australian Government will provide $54 million for a Pacific Land Program to support governments in the region that wish to strengthen or improve their land systems.

'This funding, which was announced in the recent federal budget, will assist governments dealing with complex issues relating to land policy reform,' said Parliamentary Secretary for International Development Assistance, Bob McMullan.

Mr McMullan said Australian assistance will be guided by two fundamental principles: first, Australia will only support reforms that recognise the continuing importance of customary tenure; and, second, land policy reform must be driven by Pacific island governments and communities, not by donors.

Mr McMullan will also launch a two-volume publication Making Land Work which was prepared by the Australian Agency for International Development, AusAID. The publication gives an overview of issues that countries are likely to face if they choose to reform their land policies and institutions.

'This is an excellent resource for policy-makers,' said Mr McMullan. 'It draws lessons from international experience around the Pacific and will stimulate ideas on policy options.'

Link to media release

http://www.ausaid.gov.au/media/release.cfm?BC=Media&ID=4312_6085_8808_36...

Link to Making Land Work

http://www.ausaid.gov.au/publications/pubout.cfm?ID=3363_9223_6836_1452_...