2

* TITLE

* TITLE

* Getting It Right

* TITLE

ISSUE 20 | APRIL - JUNE 2011 | PAGE 1

RH GROUP NEWSLETTERBIGGEST MALL OFFICIALLY OPENSThe offical Grand Openingof the Vision City MegaMall was the talk of thenation’s capital as it shonewith bright colors, lightsand many more.The event coincided withthe 20th Anniversary ofRimbunan Hijau Group(RH) PNG’s existance in thecountry.Officiating the Openingwas acting Acting PrimeMinister and Minister forWorks Sam Abal.“Congratulations to RH foryour day today; for the past20 years for being here, con-gratulations to you and allyour hard working staff,”Mr. Abal said.Mr. Abal congratulated RHfor it’s 20 year anniversaryand commended the effortsof the company for it’scontinued support in thecountry and also acknowl-edged the group for

CARBON TAX: IS IT HERE TO STAY?In August 2010, when JuliaGillard was campaigning inthe national election, shemade a promise: “There willbe no carbon tax under thegovernment I lead,” she saidto an Australian televisionchannel.

It’s a statement thatAustralia’s first female PrimeMinister has undoubtedlylived to regret as she’s heardit quoted back to her

(Continue to page 2)

country today.It will continue to workwith Government and sup-port its vision to promote (continue to page 6)......

repeatedly since Februarywhen she announced a billthat would put price on

carbon and as she tries nowto convince the Australianpublic to embrace a law theynever voted for.

“Most Australians now agreethat our climate is changing.This is caused by carbon pol-lution. This has harmful ef-fects on our environment andon the economy, and theGovernment should act,”Gillard said in a televised ad-

(time/world+article/+carbon+tax)

PATRON James Lau

Editor J.K.Balasubramanian

Sub-Editors Mathew Werigi Valerie Puipui

Layout&Design Valerie Puipui

INSIDE

Page 3:Splinter Group putsforest deal in doubt

Page 4:RH ventures into Palm

Oil

Page 5:HIV/Aids workplace

training

Guards undergo basiccourse

Page 7:2011

International Year ofForests

Page 6:

Page 8:Photos from the official

opening of V City

Acting Prime Minister Sam Abal unvels the plaque commemoratingthe Opening of Vision City Mega Mall flanked by RH PNG Manag-ing Director James Lau (L) and RH Group executive chairman SirTan Sri Tiong Hiew King (R).

A magnificant view of the frontentrance of the Mega Mall duringthe Offical Opening which cap-tured the attention of many.

provinding employment tothe people of this country.Rimbunan Hijau is commit-ted to supporting growthin the country in the longterm, it employs about 7,500 people accross the

page 1.pdf 8/24/11 9:16:27 AM

RH GROUP NEWSLETTER

We welcome your suggestions and contributions to improve our future publications, send them to:

Public Relations Dept Telephone: (675) 325 7677 (214) Email:RH (PNG) Group Facsmile: (675) 325 6165 pr_dept@rhpng.com.pgP.O. Box 102 werigi_pr@rhpng.com.pgPort Moresby valerie@rhpng.com.pgNational Capital District www.rhpng.com.pg

Vision City Official Opening Photos

Managing Director of RH PNG James Lau giving hisspeech during the Offical Grand Opening.

Mr. Bala and Francis Tiong, MD of RH Hong Kongtake time to give their best pose to the camera......

Ms Wong (L) and Jenny Chow (R)looking sharp and ready for what liesahead.

VIP Guests (from left) Datin Seri Blanche Olbery, MrAbal, Mr. James Lau, Tan Sri Tiong, Mr StevenRockefeller, Mining Minister John Pundari, Sir RabbieNamaliu and Mr Ivan Lu.

RH staff who assisted in the official opening of theVision City Mall.

Invited guests and staffs listening to Mr. Lau’sspeech.

page 8.pdf 8/24/11 10:41:16 AM

9858 RH NEWS LETTER.indd 1 8/24/11 11:11:59 AM

RH GROUP NEWSLETTER

‘A genuine partner in PNG’s nation building process’2

To placate coal and other industriesthat feel they will be disproportionatelytargeted the tax, the government hasdesigned a $9.8 billion package of re-bates to heavy polluters such as steel,zinc, concrete and aluminum manufac-turers, among others, that will be re-duced gradually each year. A $1.38 bil-lion package has also been offered toprotect jobs in the coal industry.But even with these measures, manyworry Australia will be priced out ofthe global market. “The tax will pushour coal prices up, but the world’s de-mand for coal is not going to decrease,”says Michael Roche, chief executiveof the Queensland Resources Council,a not-for-profit industry association.

Consumers have had mixed reactions to

both popularly and within his ownparty. Gillard, who again faces theonerous task of convincing thepublic to embrace putting a priceon pollution, looks like she iswedged in an equally complicatedposition.

“The first Australian governmentto announce a plan for a carbonprice was John Howard’s back in2007,” she said in her address tothe nation. “The debate has beendifficult and divisive, and no gov-ernment — no political party orleader — can claim to have got ev-erything right during this time...Now is the time to move from wordsto deeds.”

Vapours pour from a steel mill chimney in the industrialtown of Port Kembla about 80km south of Sydney. July

7,2011. Credit Reuters ? Tim Wimborne

http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2083303,00.html

a mechanism to trigger change,” saysBarry Brook, director of Climate Scienceat the University of Adelaide, thoughhe and others agree that $24.5 per ton,even given its incremental rise, is not ahefty enough price tag to instigate anyreal change in the industry.

Peter Cook, CEO of the Cooperative Re-search Centre for Greenhouse Gas Tech-nology in Canberra, believes the priceshould be as high as $106 (AU$100) forrenewable energy to become a properalternative.

Environmentalists also worry that theplan’s goal of a 5% emissions reduc-tion won’t have a significant impact.Australia emits 577 million tons of car-bon dioxide a year — just 1.5% of glo-bal emissions. Bill Hare the director ofClimate Analytics, a non-profit organi-zation that specializes in climate change,believes that Australia should aim toreduce its emissions by 25% of 2000levels by 2020. “It would be a major stra-tegic contribution globally as it wouldspur others to match this and assist ingetting a strong global agreement.”

divulged the long awaited details ofClean Energy Future package.

The policy lays down the foundationfor the biggest emissions tradingscheme outside of Europe. If passed,from July next year, 500 of Australia’stop polluters will pay $24.5 (AU$23) forevery ton of carbon they release intothe atmosphere. That fee will rise an-nually until 2015.

The goal of the bill is to reduceAustralia’s total emissions by 5% be-low 2000 levels by 2020 and ultimatelyreduce carbon pollution by 80% below2000 levels by 2050.

The Government has also said thatthey will invest approximately $13 bil-lion into clean technology, focusing onrenewable energy projects such as so-lar wind and geothermal power genera-tion.

Today, 80% of Australia’s electricity isderived from coal. Australia is also theworld’s leading coal exporter, and thenation’s $50 billion coal industry couldbe hit the hardest by the proposed re-forms.

the tax. Half of the levy’s revenue willbe used to cushion individuals frombearing the brunt of the tax; nine out of10 households will receive tax cuts andpayment increases.

Predictably, opposition leader TonyAbbott has slammed Gillard’s proposal. “This go-it-alone carbon tax will alsoimpose a heavy cost on Australian in-dustries that their overseas competitorswill not face. Australian jobs will be sentoffshore for no environmental gain,” hesaid in a statement on July 10. Abbottalso faulted the impact it would haveon households and consumers.

But for all the controversy it has gener-ated from interest groups and the po-litical opposition, will Gillard’s carbontax plan make a difference to the envi-ronment? Scientists say that it is a stepforward — albeit a small one. “I amhappy it has been introduced. We need

But before any international col-laboration can take place, Gillard’spackage has to pass. The legisla-tion is due to go before parliamentfor a vote at the end of the year.

With an election due to take placein the next few years, Abbott hasalready said that if he is elected, hewould eliminate the tax.

It wouldn’t be the first time carbonhas spelled the end for an Austra-lian leader. Former Prime MinisterKevin Rudd’s proposed emissionstrading scheme — and his decisionto shelve it because of its lack ofsupport — is widely considered tohave been catalyst for his demise

From page 1....

dress on July 10 after the Government

page 2.pdf 8/24/11 10:47:46 AM

RH GROUP NEWSLETTER

‘A genuine partner in PNG’s nation building process’ 7

2011 INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF FORESTSThe 61st United Nation’s Gneral As-sembly declared 2011 as the Interna-tional Year of Forests and called gov-ernments international organizationsand civil societies to host orparticiapte in relevent celebrations.

In Port Moresby, the PNG Forest Au-thority held a two day open day fromthe 27th to 28th of July at the PNGFAhead office at Hohola.

The event was an educational andfunfilled event with various schoolsin the city and visitors attending.

Corprorate bodies like PNG ForestProducts and Rimbunan Hijau partici-pated in this two day event.

Manging Director of PNGFA KanawiPouru said, “2011 is the year of for-ests were the global communtitytakes stock of forests”.

“ Forests are the lungs of the Earthand ensures that we have clean airand plays a significant role in the

ecological system,” Mr Pouru said.

In PNG apart from mining and agricul-ture, forestry is an economical productand brings in revenue and contributesimmensely in developing the country.

Mr. Pouru said “ In PNG the Forests arenot lost. The estalishment of PNGFA in1993 brought about the sustainable for-est development program whereby theuse of forests are based on sustainableforestry”.

Mathew from our Public Relations Depttalking to Gerehu Secondary Schoolstudents about the operations of RimbunanHijau.

“The areas were logging takes placeare in those areas we have markedas sustainable forest development”,Mr. Pouru said.

Mr. Pouru also added that climatechange is a major factor behind sus-tainable forestry.

In light to the International Year ofForests , the PNGFA is nearing ittstarget of planting three million treesbefore the end of this year.

The two day open day ended on ahigh note with a good turn out fromstudents and the public who re-ceived firsthand insight about for-estry and the importance of forests.Their knowledge was also testedwith a mini quiz hosted by PNGFAwere prizes were given out and ev-ery school that attended the openday was given trees to replant backat their respective schools.

The Forestry Open Day In Pictures

page 7.pdf 8/24/11 10:34:18 AM

9858 RH NEWS LETTER.indd 2 8/24/11 11:12:07 AM

RH GROUP NEWSLETTER

‘A genuine partner in PNG’s nation building process’6

RH Marks World Earth Day 2011World Earth day which is cel-ebrated annually on 22nd April,marks the anniversary of the birthof the modern U.S environmentmovement in 1970.

This year, for the fifth year run-ning, the U.S Embassy in PortMoresby and the National CapitalDistrict Government organized acleaup event along Ela Beach tocelebrate Earth Day.

The day long event whichcommenced at 8am saw a goodturn out buy volunteers frombusiness houses, school studentsand the general public to markthe occassion and to givesomething back to the environ-

GUARDS UNDERGO BASIC COURSESix guards from Rimbunan HijauGroup PNG’s Dynasty Estate under-took 2 days of basic in-house train-ing which was conducted from the18th to the 19th of April 2011

The courses covered were‘Mainduties of a Security Officer, SecurityPolicy, High Risk Points, Emergencysituation, Weapon, Ammunition &Exlposives, Power of arrest, Tele-phone Procedures, Discipline andRadio Procedures.

Deputy Security Manager MorrisBaea said the purpose of training theguards was to have basic Securityknowledge to gain confidence in fac-ing real situations that may arise.

RH staff taking a breather after the cleanup at Ela Beach to mark World Earth Day.

“This is to help maintain an effectivework environment, reduce liability inorder fo business to continue with littleor no visible impact which is their re-sponsibility areas and they are;a) Crime Preventionb) Crime Detection

c) Crimminal Apprehensiond) Crowd controle) Proection of life and property”.

Mr. Baea believed that training is themost effective way and be providedcontinously in order for them to facethe challenges with confidence duringwork

Those who have not attended thetraining will be provided the same inthe near future. The training is ongo-ing which was follow up on a similartraining conducted in February 2007.

the long term.. The RH Group has madesiginificant economic contributions

payments and infrastructure contribu-tions.

The RH Group Executive Chairman andDirector Tan Sri Sir Tiong Hiew Kingsaid more than 5000 people would be

employed by the project and the megamall would generate more than K200million in economic activities annually.

“Vision City is a long term investmentthat shows Rimbunan Hijau is commit-ted to economic growth in PNG,” SirTiong said.

ment.

The staff of Rimbunan HijauGroup PNG was also present andjoined the effort to highlight theimportance of maintainin a cleanenvironment.

About 12 volunteers from thecompany spent their Good Fridayon the beach carrying greengarbage bags along with othervolunteers, collecting rubbishalong the beach.

The day ended on a high note withvolunteers being commended for ajob well done in marking thisspecial day and also for cleaningup this once iconic spot of theNation’s Capital for residents andvisitors..

Next year’s World Earth Daypromises to be bigger and betterand anticipates to have morevolunteers and participation byresidents.

(from page 1).....

development and investment andwill continue to contrinbute to theeconomic and social welfare of theordinary Papua New Guineans in

totalling K1.65 billion to date in theform of contributions, through salarytax, premiums and levies, Nasfund

The guards go into theory,concentratingon what is being taught to them in class.

page 6.pdf 8/24/11 10:35:21 AM

RH GROUP NEWSLETTER

‘A genuine partner in PNG’s nation building process’ 3

The Wilderness Society (TWS) sus-pends its involvement after a year oftalks and despite significant processof historic negotiations, ending de-cades of conflict over Tasmania’s for-ests.

“TWS is suspending its involvement- this an expression of frustration atthe lack of leadership and lack of ac-tion from both governments”, saidTasmanian campaign manager VicaBayley.

The decision appears a high stakesgamble aimed at pushing govern-ments to commit political and finan-cial capital to a deal to restructure thetimber industry and protect 570,000 haof forests.

The Gillard government has urgedTWS to reconsider its decision, in-sisting that Canberra remainedcomitted to facilitating a lasting peacedeal for “jobs and conservation”.

Tasmanian Premier Lara Giddingsurged those still at the table to con-tinue talking, warning that with mar-ket forces devastating the timber in-dustry “doing nothing is not an op-tion”.

Most key timber, union and conser-

vation groups vowed to continue theprocess, but conceded a final dealwould not stick without TWS.

The Forest Industries Association ofTasmania warned it would reconsiderits involvement if TWS tried to lever-age an expansion of the agreed loggingmoratorium.

However, TWS has recieved supportfrom its old arch adversary, the CFMEUforestry union.

The collapse of talks would end theindustry’s hopes of a federally fundedrestructure package - along with con-servationist’ hopes of a generational winfor forest protection.

Mr. Bayley said state and federal gov-ernments were yet to respond to an in-terim report handed to them six weeksago by the federally appointed talks fa-cilitator, former ACTU secretary BillKelty.

He said all parties to the principles agree-ment, signed late last year to guide thetalks, wanted government to begin buy-ing out sawlog contracts and assistingstruggling contractors to quit the in-dustry.

Federal Environment Minister Tony

Burke urged TWS to reconsider.

Mr Burke denied the government wasinsufficiently engaged, saying it hadalwasy been committed to facilitatethe turning of last year’s statementof principles into a lasting deal.

At the start of this landmark talks ayear ago, all sides wanted the gov-ernment to take a hands-off role toavoid the politicising the process.However, both sides now say thetalks have progressed to the pointwhere they cannot proceed much fur-ther without direct governmentinvolvment.

This is because of the likely cost ofrestructuring the industry towardsplantations and necessary changesto state legislation to reduce the oftimber Forestry Tasmania must sup-ply the industry.

The Australian Conservation Foun-dation and Environment Tasmaniasaid they remained committed to thetalks, as did FIAT and Timber Com-munities Australia.

FIAT chief executive Terry Edwardswarned, however, that his groupwould reconsider if TWS was tryingto expend the moratorium currentlyplanned for 98 per cent of high con-servation- value forests.

Timber Communities chief executiveJim Adams said he could “understandthe frustration” felt by TWS support,but he believed the key group wouldreturn to the table when governmentbecame more engaged.

SOURCE: THE AUSTRALIAN: 18th May,2011.

SPLINTER GROUP PUTS FOREST DEAL IN DOUBT

http://www.google.com/imgres?q=splinter+group+put+forest+deal+in+doubt+-+the+australian: Vica Bayley, Tasmanian campaign manager.

page 3.pdf 8/24/11 10:50:56 AM

9858 RH NEWS LETTER.indd 3 8/24/11 11:12:08 AM

RH GROUP NEWSLETTER

4 ‘A genuine partner in PNG’s nation building process’

Story: The National 23 / 03 /11

RH venture into palm oilThe Rimbunan Hijau (PNG)Group is diversifying itsbusiness interest in thecountry by venturing intopalm oil production.

The Sigite Mukus Interna-tional Rural Developmentproject located in East NewBritian was revealed yester-day by RH executive direc-tor Ivan Lu at the launch ofa report on the economicimpacts of palm oil in PNG.

Lu said although the initialstages of the developmenttook almost three years toprocess, with more still tocomplete, RH has suc-ceeded in securing 40,000hectares of land from thelandowners, while equip-ment were sent early thisyear to begin work.

“The Sigite Mukus projectincludes an investment of He said this would have a

ore than K600 million involv-ing three palm oil mills.

“It is expected to contributeroyalties, payments, leviesand other community fund-ing worth over K800 millionover the life of the project.“ This is around K35 millionper year,” Lu said.

development to the nation,where economic indicatorsnow, RH’s move into thepalmoil industry was the lat-est investment in their longterm commitment to PNG.

He said responsible palm oildevelopment offered hugepotential to generate eco-nomic growth for the peopleof PNG for many years.

“Many people in PNG andaround the world assume thatall we do is timber. But we area diverse company with inter-ests in retail, media, property,transport and logistics andnow agriculture.

“In 2006, just under 50% ofour turnover came from non-forestry operations,” he said.

RH GIVES K10,000 FOR HEART OPS

THE Rimbunan Hijau (RH)PNG group, through its RHFoundation, yesterday do-nated a cheque for K10,000to the Operation OpenHeart Campaign.The cheque was presentedto Port Moresby GeneralHospital chief executive of-ficer Sam Vegogo by thefoundation member and ex-ecutive director of RH PNG

He said the donation givenby the foundation and oth-ers that the committee hadreceived would be used aslogistics and mobilisationcosts.

Vegogo said doctors had al-ready been sent out to allparts of the country startingin February to diagnose pa-tients with heart problems soa list of patients could bedrawn up for this operations.

THE NATIONAL: 1/06/2011

significant effect in drivingeconomic development inEast New Britain and therural communities, wherecontuinued growth was thevital if PNG were to bring40% of the population outof poverty.

He said after 20 years inPNG, RH understood theimportance of economic

Vegogo said the hospitalwas privileged to receivesupport from businesshouses and groups likethe foundation.“This is not the first timeyou have helped the hos-pital,” he said.“The money will help usto plan ahead for the eventin July.”

Group Ivan Lu.Lu said the foundation wasdonating to the programmeto promote and encouragebasic health care in the coun-try.He said although the foun-dation was formalized justover a year ago it had beentaking part in the Open HeartProgramme with cash dona-tions and farewell dinners

for heart staff for a de-cade.“For the heart programmealone, the foundation hasdonated arond K70,000 inthe past decade,” Lu said.Lu said before the Foun-dation was formalized, RHalso assisted in sports,community, youth andother activities.

how much had been raised forthe event so far for the event,saying the operation openheart committee was incharge of the funds.

A u s t r a l i a nand PNGdoctors andnurses per-forming sur-gery in Op-eration OpenHeart.

(ausaid.gov.pg)

Vegogo could not say

page 4.pdf 8/24/11 10:52:39 AM

858 RH NEWS LETTER

RH GROUP NEWSLETTER

‘A genuine partner in PNG’s nation building process’ 5

A Partner in PNG’s Nation-Building Process

RH undergoes HIV/Aids workplace trainingThe staff of RimbunanHijau Group PNG headoffice had the opportuntiyto participate in a HIV/AIDS workplace work-shop conducted by theBusiness Coalition againstHIV/AIDS (BAHA).

Since 2006, RH PNGGroup has been a memberof BAHA and through itscharity arm RH foundationhas contributed over K600thousand to the organiza-tion.

A duo from BAHA took thestaff on an educational andfun workshop whichlasted an hour.

The workshop involvedindepth discussions onHIV/AIDS and activities

She said “knowing one’sHIV/Aids status is one step

which got the attendeesparticipating and interact-ing with each other.Jane from BAHA spoketo the staff, highlightingthe importance of know-ing your HIV/AIDS sta-tus.

“People living with HIV/Aids have rights just likeany other person andshould not be discrimi-nated,” Jane said.

She commended theRimbunan Hijau PNGGroup for their continuedsupport and being amember of the coalitionand also thanked the com-pany for giving them theopportunity for comingand talking to the staffabout this rising epi-demic.

RH FOUNDATION HELPS RADIOLOGY ASSOCIATIONThe Charity arm ofRimbunan Hijau GroupPNG, RH Foundation pre-sented a cheque of K1000to to the Radiology Asso-ciation.

The K1000 will help assistthe society’s fundraisingdrive to attend a MedicalSyposium by the MedicalSociety.

President of of the Asso-ciation George Ottothanked RH Foundationfor its generous contribu-tion saying it was the 1stof its kind.

“The society started re-cently in 2009 and this isthe first coperate sponsorwe’ve received”, Mr. Otto

said.He said he was greatful toFoundation’s support as itwould go towards helping

the society fulfilling itsobjectives and that is; educating people on theadvance signs and prac-tices of radiology in PNGand achiving this by moreeducation, workshopsand meetings.

The Medical Symposiumis a large forum held an-nually with specialty ar-eas in the medical field andwill be staged in Kimbethis year from 3rd to 9thSeptember.

RH representative Mr. Dickson Watt (L) present the the chequeto George Otto.

Jane said ‘the best pre-ventive method is eitherto be faithful to onepartner or abstaining.

She also pointed out thatrecent studies have shownthat the high risk group isstill between the ages of 12and 29 and that women aremost vulnerable.

to minimizing the spread ofthe virus and prevention isbetter than cure.

A HIV/ Aids workplace trainer from BAHA collecting items fromstaff that were used in an activity during the workplace training.

page 5.pdf 8/24/11 9:24:06 AM

9858 RH NEWS LETTER.indd 4 8/24/11 11:12:13 AM