This document is the briefing paper for the Australian ministerial delegation to the South Pacific Forum Economic Ministers Meeting (FEMM) held at Cairns in July 1997. It was discovered by the media amidst a pile of other misplaced miscellaneous papers at the meeting. The pessimistic assessment of economic and political trends in the Pacific Island States and the often disparaging portraits of the leaders of these countries caused scandal, embarrassment and controversy in Australia and throughout the Pacific region when these details became public. The report covers economic dilemmas in the Pacific, fiscal responsibility, resource management, public sector reform, health services and governance issues for each particular country and for the region as a whole. The backgrounds, beliefs and personal habits of Pacific leaders and finance ministers are also presented in a series of controversial character assessments. These were considered offensive and insensitive by many political and official commentators, along with some of the leaders themselves.

Section 1, Overview.p.1
Section 2, Program. p.9
Section 3, Draft Annotated Agenda. p.11
Section 4, Agenda items: Ministerial Dinnerp.,p.19
Opening Formalities,p.21
Session 1 Reform Processes,p.23
Session 2 Institutional Reform,p.25
Session 3 Investment Policy,p.29
Session 4 Tariff Policy,p.31
Session 5 Multilateral Trade Policy, p.33
Section 5, Forum Island Countries: Economic & Social Scorecard.p.35
Section 6, Aid to Forum Island Countries.p.38
Section 7, Map of South Pacific Forum Countries.p. 39
Section 8, South Pacific: Political Economy.p.41
Section 9, Individual Country Briefing:
Cook Islands,p.43
Fiji,p.45
Kiribati,p.49
Micronesia (Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Palau),p.53
Nauru,p.59
New Zealand,p.63
Niue,p.67
Papua New Guinea,p.69
Samoa,p.73
Solomon Islands,p.77
Tonga,p.81
Tuvalu,p.85
Vanuatu.p.87
Section 10, List of Ministers.p. 91
Section 11, Australian Delegation List.p.92
Section 12, Office Facilities.p.93