Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1694412698372.pdf (Papua New Guinea)
THIRD DAY ________________________ Thursday 2 June 2016 DRAFT HANSARD _______________________ Subject:………………………………………………………………………………Page No: QUESTIONS ............................................................................................................................ 2 Kumul Petroleum Holding Limited and PMIZ Program .................................................................................... 2 Clarification of PAs, CEOs, PHAs and their HR functions ............................................................................... 5 Kandrian-Gloucester Rural Lockup Programme ................................................................................................ 7 Woodlark Island ................................................................................................................................................. 8 Department to Assist Job Seekers ...................................................................................................................... 9 Supplementary Question - Proper Policy Needed .................................................................................................................................. 11 Progressive Report on 17 Recommendations ................................................................................................... 11 SUSPENSION OF STANDING ORDERS – EXTENDED TIME FOR QUESTIONS ......................................................................... 14 Visa Issues ....................................................................................................................................................... 14 Climate Change Agenda for ACP ................................................................................................................. 17 Status of Angau General Hospital ................................................................................................................ 19 ACP and EU Dialogue.................................................................................................................................... 22 DISCUSSION OF MATTER OF PUBLIC IMPORTANCE - UNIVERSITY STUDENTS BOYCOTTING CLASSES AND RELATED MATTERS .......................... 27 ADJOURNMENT .................................................................................................................. 28 THIRD DAY Thursday 2 June 2016 The Deputy Speaker (Mr Aide Ganasi) took the Chair at 10.00 a.m..
There being no quorum present, Mr Deputy Speaker stated that he would resume the Chair after the ringing of the bells.

Sitting suspended.

The Speaker (Mr Theodore Zurenuoc) took the Chair at 11.00 a.m., and invited the Governor of Eastern Highlands, Honourable Julie Soso Akeke to say Prayers: ‘Papa God, God almighty yu Papa tru, yu great Creator, yu awesome God.

Yu mighty God, yu God bilong Israel.

Yu God bilong Abraham, yu God bilong Issac, yu God bilong Jacob.
Yu dispela God bilong Israel na yu God bilong mipela long Papua New Guinea.

Papa God mi laik tok tenkyu long dispela taim.

Papa God mi laik tok tenkyu long dispela Parliament.

Papa God mi laik tok tenkyu long Prime Minister na olgeta members insait long dispela ninth Parliament bilong Papua New Guinea.

Papa God mi laik tok tenkyu, yu ino save mekim mistake.

Yu tok pinis olsem olgeta lida yu yet i odenim, yu yet imakim na yu yet yu chusim long en.
Yu pitim ikam insait long dispela parliament na papa dispela olgeta member mipela makim ol pipol bilong mipela long Papua New Guinea na stap insait long dispela parliament papa we are chosen vessels for this time.

Papa God this appointed people for time for carrying Papua New Guinea to another level.

Papa thank you for the special anointing on each one of us.

Papa thank you for your special calling on its and every one of us.
Papa God you are in all and your spirit is working in us all so that we accomplish your purpose Papa God.

Papa God yu em spirit na bai yu kam long spirit, joinim spirit man bilong mipela na bai mipela wanbel wantaim tok bilong yu, wanbel wantaim spirit bilong yu na bringim Papua New Guinea igo long level yu laikim long en.

Planti professes kam pinis long dispela nation.

Dispela nation em bai kamap olsem fore-runner long olgeta narapela nations.
1 Na Papa God yu wok long opim duo na opim window we Papa mipela iken perform insait long G7 countries na Papa ACP tu kam insait long Papua New Guinea.

Opim rot bilong Papua New Guinea we em ken bi recognise and acknowledged in the global world and the global village.

Papa you are in control therefore, I thank you na mi komitim dispela parliament na dispela session igo long hand bilong yu.

Na Papa bilong olgeta bai putim maus wantaim na beten dispela beten Jisas yu yet yu lainim mipela long en.
Helpim mipela Holy Spirit.

Amen.’ QUESTIONS Kumul Petroleum Holding Limited and PMIZ Program Mr SAM BASIL – Thank you Mr Speaker, my question is directed to the Minister for Public Enterprise & State Investment and Member for Mt Hagen Open, Honourable William Duma.

My series of questions begins with Kumul Petroleum Holding Limited and I ask the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee Honourable John Hickey to take note of the second part of the question.
Mr Speaker, the Honourable Minister attended an annual general meeting of Kumul Petroleum Holding Limited on the 25 of May.

He was presented the company’s 2015 annual report which also included auditor’s financial statement.

Mr SPEAKER – Are you referring to the former Minister?

Mr SAM BASIL – Thank you.


Mr Speaker, the 7 million plus shareholders of PNG can only know how their wealth was managed under the Kumul Petroleum Holding Limited if the annual reports and the audits are tabled by the Minister in this Parliament.

02/03 My questions are; (1) When will the Minister table this important report to the Parliament?

The other question relates to the financing and the actual works being carried out on the ground of the Pacific Marine Industrial Zone (PMIZ) in Madang province.
We believe that a K300 million loan was successfully obtained by the O’Neill Government to finance the PMIZ 2 and the draw down has been completed while the state is re-negotiating for another loan from the same bank for US$68 Million (K450 Million).
Mr Speaker, before additional loans are re-negotiated on an existing project of this magnitude, I believe that proper process of checking and verifying of quality and completion of different stages must be thoroughly checked before additional funding is sought.

The taxpayers of PNG will be burdened to repay those loans that has been spent already.
I have with me pictures taken five days ago from the PMIZ site which I would like to share on the Floor to bring to the Honourable Minister’s attention of the realities on the ground of the PMIZ program.

(2) Can the Minister deny or conform that the entrance to the gateway of the PMIZ as shown in the pictures which I have with me, remains incomplete, with structures that need more work?

These have already cost K5.4 million from the taxpayers.
(3) Can the Minister also confirm or deny a K12 million was spent on trenching job alone which is now overgrown with vegetation and has been abandoned?

(4) Can the Minister also confirm or deny that a K18 Million was spent for cutting down coconut trees from this old plantation?

Mr Speaker, there are currently no machines or activities on the site and we believe are awaiting the second trench of funding.
Finally for the benefit of taxpayers can the Minister assure this house that, his department if possible can engage a foreign forensic audit to verify the use of the Exim Bank loan?

We believe about US$300 million or K900 million that was spent so far for the PMIZ project before committing the taxpayers again to another loan which I believe is under process.

Mr WILLIAM DUMA – I thank the Member for Bulolo and the Deputy Opposition Leader for his questions.
In relation to the first question relating to the Kumul petroleum Holdings and the minister responsible for that company is Honourable Ben Micah so I will refer that question for him to respond to.

In relation to the questions regarding the PMIZ, I would like to point out that there has been a lot of misinformation, misreporting and deliberations of rumours.

The fact is that, there was an agreement signed by the Government for a loan from a Chinese Bank.
Unfortunately due to our own misunderstanding and unpreparedness and we must also 3 remember that we had to resolve with our landowners and the provincial government in Madang and we devoted most of our time to resolve those issues ourselves in the country before asking our friends to lend us that money and by the time those issues were resolved nothing had been done.

Mr Speaker, the time left to allow for the government to draw down on the funds lapsed.
The reality is that we have not borrowed the money nor have we seen it.

And we are now re-negotiating from this bank.

We have realised upon everything that has happened that we need more money than what was anticipated to properly and fully develop this very important infrastructure that will help this country propel down the path of industrialisation.

We have not drawn down the funds no money has been transferred to the government.
In relation to the pictures that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is referring to.

03/03 Mr Speaker, he has raised very important questions that the public needs to know the answers to.

This concerns PMIZ, a very important infrastructure project that the O’Neill Government has undertaken so we must ensure that everything is done properly.

I can assure Parliament that I will get answers from the people responsible for PMIZ and respond to the Deputy Leader of the Opposition.
Mr Sam Basil – Point of Order!

Mr Speaker, K12 million was already spent on cutting down coconut trees, K5.6 million on building the entrance and some more millions on the roads.

Where did that money come from?

It would be good if the Minister can explain that.

And if possible, Mr Speaker, if I can table the pictures.

Mr SPEAKER – With regard to the pictures, I just made a ruling previously that all papers must come to my office for clearance before tabling so I’ll stick to my ruling.
Mr WILLIAM DUMA – Mr Speaker, I have already answered the honourable Member’s question.

I have made an undertaking to him that I will get the answers to the questions he asked and respond to them.

But I am aware that in the last government led by Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare some payments have been made to developers so it is not something that just happened overnight.
It is a concerted effort by the previous government as well as this government to 4 help our country go down the path of endless dependence and that means that we can spend money, even if it is more than K10 million.

Money has to be spent to initiate and develop these projects.

But again, to answer his question, I will respond to him once I get those answers.
Clarification of PAs, CEOs, PHAs and their HR functions Mr ELIAS KAPAVORE – Mr Speaker, my question is directed to the Minister for Public Services.

Mr Speaker, the provincial administrators, the CEOs of public hospitals and PHAs who are delegated HR functions by DPM secretary since 2008 to make necessary organisational reviews, advertisements and recruitment.

Most PAs and CEOs of public hospitals who understood the devolved HR powers have used this to their advantage.
However, we have scenarios now present in the country where we have some of our districts and provincial HR establishments have never been reviewed or approved for implementation for up to five years or more.

This is more so in the rural areas.

For example, in Pomio District, we have health workers who are still paid below the approved industrial pay structure.

This is accumulating unnecessary liabilities.


Most of these, Mr Speaker, are the results of having provincial administrators whose appointments are being disputed.

My questions to the Minister are as follows: (1) What is DPMs undertaking in assisting those provinces that have been waiting for years to get their structures approved for implementation, especially those whose PAs appointments are being disputed?
Considering that each district in unique, (2) Can the DPM devolution of HR functions or powers be further delegated to the district CEOs under the DDA Act.

This will allow appropriate reviews of district staff according to their respective needs.

I think this is the key to improving service delivery at the districts level.

Of course, this will be done in consultation and in compliance to DPM requirements.
Sir PUKA TEMU – Thank you, Mr Speaker and I thank the honourable Member for Pomio who is doing an excellent job in the electorate in only a very short period of time in Parliament and commend his efforts.

5 The questions which the honourable Member has asked are very important and I wish to re-emphasise that for those provinces where the provincial administrators’ positions have been disputed, there’s about three provinces in the country at the moment.
The acting provincial administrator has powers to bring the recommended organisational structure to my secretary to be approved.

This will be done once the structure is brought over to the experts in organisational structure in the department and where the relativities in terms of position and relativities in terms of salary levels are cleared with the acting provincial administrator.
04/03 There is no need to really wait for a substantively appointed provincial administrator because it is important to recognise that the acting PA also has the same powers as the substantially appointed provincial administrator.

In many instances we recognises that there are political issues, for example, while the acting PA is appointed for a short term, the matters are in courts for a substantially appointed provincial administrator.
You cannot acting on an organisational structure on the part of the acting PA because of the perception that he or she may not have the powers.

But I advise Parliament that, Mr Speaker that the powers are as equal as the provincial administrator.

The issue is a political one that the substantially appointed administrator and the honourable governor of the province, when they have an understanding that he or she alone will ensure the structures are okay, than the delays takes place.
My advice is that bring that developed administrative organisational structures to my department where there is a very clear process of approving them.

Very important as service delivery is key through a public service delivery system as all of us know.
The issue on the part of the health workers and the provincial health authorities, Mr Speaker that I have advised Parliament that when we passed the District development authority law, we have not yet done the consequential amendment to the provincial health administration law.

That’s the outstanding issue because of the matter of HR control under the provincial health authority act is with the CEO of the provincial health authority.

We have to amend the provincial health authority act.
For example, what we have done with the teaching services commission and the police.

Then some of these powers can be transferred to the CEO of the district development authority in terms of HR, management, discipline, appointment etcetera.
So that’s the outside job that myself and the Deputy prime 6 minister who is in charge of the district development authority act to bring to the floor of this parliament very quickly so that we can properly align, particularly in this important sector of health where we have the provincial administration act and the district development authority which requires minor amendment so that we can progress with on that matter.
Only than we can say, CEO you take charge of the HR responsibilities at the district level.

Because that’s what we would want to do.

The district development authority was established under the leadership of the Prime Minister that the Chief Executive Officer must be in charge of all HR functions because if you don’t control the staff on the ground than the service delivery impediments are realised.
So this is part of stream lining so I thank the honourable member for raising this issue as he is also an expert in this areas of administration on the ground.

So I take the queue from him to make sure that these amendments are made quickly.

Thank you Mr Speaker.

Kandrian-Gloucester Rural Lockup Programme Mr JOSEPH LELANG – I want to direct my question to the minister for Correctional Services.
In April 2014, the Kandrian District development authority paid K100 000 to the Department of correctional services to undertake feasibility of two sides for rural lockup programs.

05/03 One at Kandrian and the other at Gloucester.

The K100 thousand was handed over to the CS Commissioner in April 2014 and there were to use the money to inspect the proposed sites.
They were to conduct feasibility studies for the rural lockups designs and hand it over to the district development authority to fund the construction.

At the moment the National Court Circuit with the judge are regularly visiting the district and conducting court hearings but it takes two days to go to Kimbe to appear in court.

It is very expensive and risky.

Therefore I think rural lockups cannot be delayed any further.

My questions are as follows (1) Is the Rural Lockup Program still in existence?
(2) Is your department going to give us the feasibility study report for the two lockups so that DDA can allocate money and start the construction?

7 Mr JIM SIMATAB – I thank the Member for his questions and I believe this question will also apply to other leaders who have also given money to the department to carry out feasibility studies in their electorates.
Mr Speaker, I have not received any report from our division that was responsible to carry out the feasibility studies including the one for Kandrian-Gloucester.

However I would like to assure the Member for Kandrian-Gloucester that as soon as I get a report, I will be writing to him to let him know about the situation and the progress.

I believe a feasibility study has been carried out so we will look at it and try to help you.
We do understand your problem of transporting prisoners to and from court places.

This too has caused a lot of problems for us in the department and we intend to address this issue for everybody.

I will definitely look into this issue and write back to you and we will sort it out.

Woodlark Island Land Mr TITUS PHILEMON – My questions are directed to the Minister for Lands and Physical Planning.
Before I ask my question, I know that this has been a successful story and has been debated many times regarding the Woodlark land.

I would like to thank the Prime Minister for his intervention to have this issue settled once and for all.

I would also like to thank the Member for Samarai-Murua and the Minister for Lands and Physical Planning because of the duration of the issue.
06/03 After the long wait the people of Woodlark feel that the battle has been won following the forfeiture of the agriculture lease held by a foreign company – back to the State but there are still some hurdles yet to overcome.

My questions are; (1) Can the Minister inform the Parliament and the people of the current actions been taken to complete the process?
(2) Can the Minister also give us the assurance that the process now in place will not be hijacked by people with ulterior motives, as we are hearing this might happen?

(3) Can the process be sped up so that the waiting time for the people is reduced and so will be the expectation and anticipation?

Thank you, Mr Speaker.

8 Mr BENNY ALLAN – Thank you, Governor for Milne Bay and I would like behalf of the Department apologies for the long delay in processing the Woodlark Land.
I would also want to thank the Prime Minister for making that decision and giving direction to the Department to look into this issue of forfeiting the State Land on Woodlark Island and declaring it as Customary Land.

Mr Speaker, upon receiving direction for the Prime Minister, we looked into the issue as to how we would address the problem.
Now, for the benefit of the Parliament and the Members of this House, Woodlark Island nearly 90 per cent of the land is in the hands of the State so overtime when population grew on the Island, the people are now squatting on State Land and the Prime Minister heard the cries of the people of Woodlark Island and have given us directions.

So, what we have done so far in the Department is we have taken out the forfeiture.
The issue was in Court for a while and we have taken out a forfeiture for that land and the delay was caused by certain people within the Department and we requested that this issue be fast- tracked.

Mr Speaker, to inform the Governor for Milne Bay, the forfeiture procedure has been completed and now we are waiting for the Department to process the Instrument of Declaration meaning that once the instrument is done we will sign off and declare that the Stat Land on Woodlark Island is now Customary Land.
I have conveyed the message to the re-elected Member that he will go out there on behalf of the Government to announce the declaration.

Just before coming to Parliament, I did mention that to the acting Secretary to look into it so I want to assure the Member and this Parliament that we will do that as soon as we can.

Hopefully this month or next month we should have the declaration signed off and announced to the people.

Thank you.
Thank you.

Department to Assist Job Seekers Mr FRANCIS POTAPE – Thank you, Mr Speaker, I want to direct my questions to the Minister for Labour and Industrial Relations.

Mr Speaker, before I do that I want to commend the Prime Minister and the Foreign Affairs Minister for receiving a standing ovation for the ACP Leaders, that is very important for our country and some of us are very proud when we read the story this morning.
9 Now, going back to my question, Mr Speaker, many young people in Papua New Guinea in remote provinces and districts are struggling to find jobs and it is not easy to that, to travel to Port Moresby to find work is also hard work.

It is which is the job of the Department of Labour.

07/03 That is the job of the Department of Labour.

(1) What is the Department of Labour doing to help Papua New Guineans in remote provinces and districts find employment in this country?
(2) Why is it so easy for foreigners to find employment in hotels and many places in this country when this can be done by Papua New Guineans?

Mr BENJAMIN POPONAWA – Thank you, Mr Speaker.

Let me thank the Member for Komo-Magarima for these two important questions.

The Government is trying all its best as much as possible to provide what we can for the majority of the people.

You must know that the Department of Labour will not go out of its way to provide employment to vast of the population.
Providing employment is the responsibility of the company that is providing the employment and Mr Speaker, the Department will not go out of its way in directing the employers to recruit people from the remote area.

Employment is driven by supply and demand.

When I was appointed to this Ministry, I have gone through every renewal labour work permit and I can assure this Parliament that the skilled jobs like, crane operators, truck drivers and carpenters and electricians are going through.
I have gone as far as rejecting all these applications for renewal.

So far, I have tried my best and I have requested the old system of approving work permits.

So there is a process in place now.

It is a matter of bringing the paper to get Cabinet endorsement and approval to have a look at the whole process of approving work permits.

I can agree that some of the foreigners are getting our jobs.
But I must say that there are other Governments institutions that are involved in issuing the permits as well and we cannot point finger at the Department of Labour.

Since my appointment, I have started scrutinizing people who are coming onto the country with request of renewal of work permits.

I have rejected a lot of these requests because I have the people of Papua New Guinea at heart and none of these things can be done 10 overnight.
I appreciate the concerns of the Member and it will take time to clean out this place.

Supplementary Question Proper Policy Needed Mr AMKAT MAI –I have two questions to ask the Minister.

(1) Does the Minister have statistics on how many labour boards we have in all the plantations that are registered in Papua New Guinea?
(2) Does the Minister have any ten or five year development plan to mobilise labourers to work on the land that has been cleared to create cocoa and oil palm plantations that are coming up.?

Mr SPEAKER – Honourable Governor, we’ll record that as a new question.

Mr BENJAMIN POPONAWA – Let me thank the Governor for Sandaun for his two questions.

On the statistics, I cannot give any information yet.

I will have to get that from my department.


Can I ask the Governor to put the two questions on paper and I will get back to him in detail.

08/03 Progressive Report on 17 Recommendations Mr ROBERT GANIM – Mr Speaker, I want to direct my questions to the Minister for Education.

Mr Speaker, on the 26 August 2014, the Parliamentary Referral Committee on Education of which I am the Chairman, presented a report in Parliament on our findings regarding the Teachers Leave Fares and other related issues.
This report was endorsed by this Parliament and sent to the Education Department and a working committee was set up headed by the Chairman of the Teachers Services Commission, which the committee presented a comprehensive report to NEC and it was endorsed.

And K7.8 million was allocated for funds to facilitate the recommendations made by the Parliamentary Referral Committee of which I am the Chairman.
Mr Speaker, up until now I have not received any feed-back from the Department or Teachers Services Commission on that matter so I would like to raise few questions in relation to this.

11 (1) Minister, can you tell us if the K7.8 million approved by the Cabinet in March last year for phase 1 implementation of my report was released?

(2) If so, how was the funds spent and what has been achieved in the phase 1 activities?
(3) Can you present a report on the implementation of my report to Parliament so that particularly the teachers can be aware of the progress so far?

Mr Speaker, I understand some progress has been made such as 55 new positions were created basing on my report.

And the ALESCO Payroll System has been rolled out to a lot of provinces and the teachers leave fares have been attended to.

Only small issues on taxes involving the payments are the delay.
And also the Teachers Services Commission and the Education Act have been reviewed.

It would only be proper if the Minister can present a report in this Parliament to update the teachers of this nation on how far they have gone in addressing some of the recommendations that the Parliamentary Referral Committee on Education, which I am the Chairman has made.

(4) How far has the Department gone into creating a data base which can sort out accurate records and enrolments on teachers file?
Mr SPEAKER – Can you allow the Minister to answer?

Mr NICK KUMAN – In response to the honourable Members question, let me begin by answering the third.

I sent a report in relation to your report later last year and as head of the Ministry, I undertook to ensure the implementation of the 17 recommendations.

And of course you rightfully said that I have to present a progressive report of the phase 1 implementation which I will do in the next sitting because we have responded to the report in Parliament.
09/03 Some actions were taken to ensure that the report requiring administrative arrangements that we have established a committee.

This committee is chaired by the chairman of the TSC and included in the committee is a representative from the PNG Teachers’ Association to ensure that the Teachers’ Association is represented to get a fair view on the politics of it.
Reading question two, I also concur that, as part of your question regarding the TSC Act, it has been reviewed and I will present it to the Parliament.

Currently we are on the final 12 stages of the Education Act and that will also be tabled in Parliament as soon as the NEC has readied those amendments.

With regards to the leave fare issues, we have implemented that and the government is well advanced in the leave pay arrangements.
The only issue that remains outstanding is the taxation of the leave fares.

We have yet to get a decision on the taxation component of the leave fares.

With regards to the ALESCO payroll system, yes, you and I were both in Enga with the good governor where we launched the payroll system as one of the 13 ALESCO payroll systems being introduced into the provinces.

This will be a continued programme where it will be rolled out throughout all the provinces.
At that gathering I made an undertaking that we will ensure that the Teachers’ Service Commission (TSC) officers will be posted to all the 24 provinces throughout the country and Enga and Chimbu were the first two.

I am also pleased to announce that appointments have been made and officers will be in the province very soon.

That is a positive step to ensure that the grievances of teachers throughout the country are taken care of in the provinces instead of them coming to Waigani.
The next appointments will in next month where we will have a TSC representative in Morobe Province.

I am pretty sure that the Governor for Morobe will take note of this as you will have a full time TSC office in Morobe to manage all the teachers’ grievances.

Morobe is one of the biggest provinces in the country with a large number of teachers teaching in the province as well.

Therefore, we want to ensure that all issues are dealt with in Lae instead of Port Moresby.
That answers question three and I will go back to the first question, and the answer is, no.

We have not received the K7.8 million that was approved by Cabinet.

Where there are administrative arrangements that need to be used to implement your report?

Yes, we have.

Nevertheless, the K7.8 million despite making continuous attempts with Finance and Treasury to get that money to implement some parts of the report has been unsuccessful since.
Therefore, we are still trying to secure the K7.8 million and I cannot tell how that money will be expended because I have not received it.

This is in relation to question two.

As for the fourth question, the database particularly regarding enrolment figures throughout the country is always a challenge every year.

For us to ensure that we pay the right amount of money to each school is a challenge and Cabinet in its wisdom in December last year approved a single integrated TFF policy.
13 10/03 They put a structure to get a greater visibility of money going into the districts by ensuring that we get the right enrolment and teachers at the school.

In response to the question by the Member for Anglimp South Wahgi, I will inform the House through a ministerial statement.

I should do that next week.


I also want to report to Parliament that in response to question number 1, we have increased the school inspectors in each districts by 1 so as soon as all the postings are out, you will have two State officers or school inspectors in each districts.

One of the inspector will ensure that teachers are at the school, student’s enrolment are right and we pay the right amount of money to each schools.

Secondly, we also created 24 positions throughout the country.
Those TFF officers will be stationed in each provinces.

They will become a small ombudsman to ensure that the money going to the respective schools are used for the purposes of educating our students in this country.

This are some of the interventions that we have taken as a result of the report.

I am glad that the report has highlighted some issues that the Department has lacked for some time.
Through the leadership that has been provided, I want to ensure that our teachers in this country are well looked after so that we can get the quality outcome in the general education system because we are producing the future leaders of this country.

SUSPENSION OF STANDING ORDERS – EXTENDED TIME FOR QUESTIONS Motion (by Mr Sasindra Muthuval) agreed to – That so much of the Standing Orders be suspended as would prevent the time for questions being extended by 20 minutes.
Visa Issues Mr SASINDRA MUTHUVAL – I would like to direct my question to the Foreign Affairs Minister if he is here otherwise I will direct it to the Prime Minister.

Before I ask my question, I would like to join the Member for Komo-Magarima to congratulate both our Foreign Affairs Minister and the Prime Minister including all the senior 14 Cabinet Ministers for successfully hosting the ACP conference summit in Port Moresby a short notice.

This is successfully marketing Papua New Guinea to the world.
On the same note, Mr Speaker, I thank you and the Prime Minister and the senior Cabinet Ministers for successfully hosting the Indian President’s visit.

It was an historical visit.

Mr Speaker, my question relates to the official announcement during the official speech by our Governor General announcing that PNG will reciprocate the same visa on arrival arrangement.
Last year, after our prime minister attended the Pacific Summit in India, Indian Prime Minister announced for all Pacific Countries on arrival visa to India.

Mr Speaker, here we are trying to promote tourism.

In West New Britain we have two main economic activities: agriculture and tourism.

After that announcement there was a lot of enquiries from the operators from India especially from the movie industry that they are curious to visit PNG.
So we have a lot of potential to sell or market Papua New Guinea to the world.

My questions are: (1) Can we communicate that message to the Foreign Affairs Department to process that one.

(2) We still have issues of obtaining visa for Australian citizens.

Most of our Papua New Guineans have relatives who are now Australian citizens and we want to visit the country during emergencies but we are also facing problems obtaining a visa to come to PNG.
11/03 Country during emergency is also facing problems getting visas to come to PNG.

I have recently disturbed the Prime minister and the Minister for Foreign Affairs to get urgent visas for a relative to attend a funeral here.

Mr Speaker, whether we like it or not, more than 60 percent tourists are from Australia visiting Papua New Guinea.

We have to ensure that they get smooth on arrival visa.
And the third one is more related to foreign affairs is that one of the stringent visa requirement is even for under employment conditions.

However, for any visitor visiting Papua New Guinea must also have an HIV/Aids check.

15 I see this as a sort of discrimination against our various treaties signed with the United Nations.

Mr PETER O’NEILL –I would like to thank the Governor for West New Britain for his questions.
Let me confirm that during the visit of the Prime Minister of India to the country; the Governor General made an announcement as head of state that we would do a similar arrangement that India is offering to our citizens.

That, when they visit India, they will get visa on arrival and we will do the same for the visitors who are coming here for short stays only, about 30 days to be exact.
If they want to work and do business in the country, they must go through the Embassy and get a proper business visa or working visa that will allow them to stay here longer.

But those who are coming on short stays as tourists or visiting relatives will have a visa on arrival for 30 days.

This is extended to most of our APEC member countries because they are offering a similar arrangement for most of our citizens who are want to visit APEC countries.
For instance in Indonesia, you can have a short term visa done on arrival at all ports in Indonesia and also other APEC member countries.

Once any country offers us the same arrangement we will offer them the same arrangement as well.

We are also extending the arrangement to the European Union and we are trying to get Papua New Guineans who want to travel to Europe that they do get a visa on arrival at a European country, so that they can have a short stay which is normally up to 30 days.
And this is the arrangement that we are doing for our travelling citizens with the rest of the world.

One last point that the Governor has raised was on medical checks, including Aids and other diseases that we do not want to get into the country.

This is a normal requirement for those who are visiting under a long term arrangement.

If they want a work permit or do business in PNG, they must go through medical check that is necessary for them to get a visa.
Mr Speaker, we are trying to be as fair as possible to all our international visitors.

The reflection that we are now living in a global community has shown this week where we have 79 countries visiting for the APEC meeting that we have just hosted.

I want to take this opportunity to thank Papua New Guineans, especially the public here in the city for showing the best of Papua New Guinea to our visitors.
Mr Speaker, our visitors spoke very highly of our country and they are just like our country and they now have seen that we are moving forward and making the strides to 16 achieve its goals.

The recent report by the United Nations Development Programme highlights clearly our achievements on the issues about UN sustainable development goals.

For the first time we are achieving those goals and I know that if we continue to stick to the programs that we have in education and health.
We will achieve those international goals that have been set by the international community.

12/03 Mr Speaker, on visa arrangement, we are doing as much as we can where similar arrangements accorded to our citizens are being accorded to their citizens who are arriving in our country.

Climate Change Agenda for ACP Mr KELLY NARU – Thank you, Mr Speaker.

My question is in relation to climate change which I want to address to the Minister for Environment.
I also join the queue on this topic to thank the Prime Minister for bringing the matter of climate change to the recent ACP meet as a frontline agenda and also congratulate the government and those involve for arranging a successful meeting.

Mr Speaker, as we know most of our coastal communities are slowly becoming sinking ships.

For example, our island in Finchshaffen, Tami Island, is a classic example of an island that is slowly going under water.
On the same token, there are other islands in Morobe Province, in the Siassi Group of islands, and on the coastal communities in Salamaua and also Madang, North Coast going up to Bogia, the Caterets Islands in Bougainville are examples of communities that are inevitably going to vanish.

And so the issue of rising sea levels and how to protect these communities becomes very important.
My question to the honourable Minister for Environment is: Has the government got plans and budgeted for the issue of communities that will be affected by rising sea levels?

If so, how do coastal communities and provinces whose communities are affected by this rising sea level have access to and apply to this funding whether it is domestic or donor funded?

We need to know how to get to these funds so that we can assist our communities.
17 Some of us have in fact put in place contingency plans to move affected communities to safer ground on the mainland and we need to know how we can cooperate and strategise in this to save these island communities.
Has the Department got personnel, staff or division that is responsible for dealing with such affected communities so that we access these personnel to actually go down to the provinces and the affected communities to make assessments and report back so that relevant assistance can be accessed to assist these affected communities.

Mr JOHN PUNDARI – Thank you, Mr Speaker.

First of all let me thank the honourable Governor for Morobe for his series of good questions.
Mr Speaker, let me also thank his leadership for the contingency plans that he has through his provincial government to assist some of his climate change affected communities.

Mr Speaker, climate change is a cross-cutting challenge that we all need to work together to mitigate and to find solutions and support so that we can be able to assist our people.
Mr Speaker, the Climate Change Authority is there to assist and to support to conduct studies to see where and how we can be able best cooperate and work together in addressing these challenges.

13/03 Mr Speaker, I welcome the governor for Morobe and any other Governors and Leaders on this floor of this Parliament to work through the Authority as to see how best we can be able to work with you and addressing some of this challenges that is confronting us.
Mr Speaker, Finance is the up-states on the floor of this Parliament, it’s a challenge for us.
We are working closely with some of our Donors and good friends and I know that recently as I have said on the floor of the parliament before, we signed the agreement between the Minister for treasury and Asian Development Bank and I am sure that we will be able to excess some of funds to help some of our small Island communities that are already challenged by the effects of Climate Changes especially increasing of raising seas level.

Mr Speaker, I look follow working closely with the Governor for Morobe.
18 Status of Angau General Hospital Ms LOUJAYA TONI-My Question are directly to the Prime Minister and the Minister for National Planning and Health can take note.

In February 2013 the staff of Angau Hospital deliver the petitions on the operations of the hospital including post states of the facilities.

Mr Speaker, this petitions was address to Members of the Parliament from the Morobe Province and the Health Minister.
This is the appeared in the various media when honourable Sam Basil received on the 19 of March 2013, He wrote on 21st of March to the Minister for Health attaching the petitions.

At that time honourable Sam Basil was in his capacity as the shadow Minister for Health, HIV AIDS and highlighter certain issues sure as of using of the hospital grounds private security and being aware of the law and order issues that required a long term solutions.
Minister responded but, Mr Speaker, National Government intervened and certain actions including upgrade of the facilities has been committed and this includes the Australia Government making commitments through the asylum processing centre packages and its development aid.
Mr Speaker, the Australian Government has commitment to its development assistant for Angau, but it appears PNG Government needs to come good with its funding to complete the work before the Australian Government withdrawals its funding commitment.

Question No.2 Angau host its only facilities treatment in the country.

Every time we read about fundraising drives to buy cancer treatment machines which it cost K5 million, people are already buying taxes.
Second question basically, Can the Government committed to K10 Million once for all and get the machine into the country.

Leading to the third question Mr Speaker.
The only highly qualify un paid for, for the last 8 months from Oncologist Dr John Niblet has been unceremoniously sideline and was told to live the country this month, Why Mr Speaker at the time when cancer is raising at an exorbitant level Question no.4 Angau is a National Regional Referral hospital as saves Morobe Province and other provinces so could the government considering it as the UPNG medical facility teaching hospital so that services of Angau could extended to the rural hospital and heath centres through rural Morobe through the training program of UPNG or other medical schools.
Finally Mr Speaker, while waiting for consequential amendment to provincial Authority Health Act within the Lae city Commission Act are there any plans to upgrade rural health 19 centres to rural hospitals so that the people of rural morobe cannot compete with people of Lae city and other provinces and urban provinces and allow services to deliver to the people of Morobe.

Thank you Mr Speaker through you to the Prime Minister.
Mr PETER O NEIL – Thank you Mr Speaker, and I thank the good member for Lae for her questions, and the Angau hospital stories are very sad one and let down by the many people.

14/03 Mr Speaker, when we came into office in 2011 then again in 2012, we made a commitment to invest in health care for our people.

As a result of that commitment we have been funding all the hospitals in the country.
Rather than going through the Health Department, we have been directly funding the hospitals with close to about K10 million for Angau and Port Moresby General Hospitals has been K25 million and K15 million respectively.

Its direct funding to the hospitals under the care of the hospital management and the board consistently every year without failure.
Mr Speaker, for Angau General Hospital, I intervened because a few times that I visited, I saw people sleeping on the verandas because of lack of hospital facilities.

On one occasion I had to go and buy the mattresses myself to deliver to the patients.

These are the sort of things we have to put up to because of the mind set of people who are tasked to run this hospitals and who are not putting time and effort into managing these hospitals properly.
Let me make it very clear that it is not because of lack of funds.

Funds for the very first time have been made available.

Mr Speaker, we had to intervene directly by appointing an acting CEO for that hospital but when he was there he was assaulted by doctors and nurses so he had to leave.

They are not willing to accept change and they are being supported by leaders of that province.
When you know that they are not delivering to the expectations of our people why do you continue to support them especially when they are paid by the government?

When that CEO was there we put extra 150 beds.

Mr Sam Basil – Point of Order!

The honourable Prime Minister mentioned leaders, could he please specify and mention names of leaders who are doing that?

20 Mr SPEAKER – This is a general statement so you point of order is out of order.
Mr PETER O’NEILL – This Government intervened directly by putting in 150 new beds and by building 3 new wards.

When I tried to build more new wards, I was blocked by the board and individuals in Lae city.

I want to put more beds in Angau Hospital.

They are sitting there waiting but there is a cargo cult mentality that the Australians will come and help them.

Australians are continuously designing the hospital as part of their commitment that they have made in line with the Manus Asylum Program.
They are designing it and I do not know when they will come and finish it.

Mr Speaker, we need to take ownership of things by ourselves.

There is money in the trust account of Angau General Hospital today.

When we built the 3 new wards and put in the 150 beds, it cost less than K5 million and they have over K15 million in the trust account of the Angau General Hospital but yet they are not willing to put more new beds.

They are waiting for this new hospital that the Australians have promised them.
Mr Speaker, it is a serious flaw in the way we manage our hospitals by people that we task including the board, the management and the CEOs of hospitals.

If you go the Port Moresby General Hospital, you will see a dramatic change.

In 2011 when we took Government, remember all the Members of Parliament were put on a bus and we went and visited the hospital.

We committed to change that hospital and we have done so and not by using donor funds but our own money.
Mr Speaker, two or three weeks ago we opened four operating theatres in Madang General Hospital.

It is a first class theatre for our people in Madang and that was from our own money.

15/03 We are putting K10 million to each provincial hospitals, every province has got that money into their accounts.

Why are they not spending that money to build the hospital?

K10 million is a lot of money.


When you look at the hospital in Popondetta, I understand that the hospital in Popondetta is almost complete and again this is the intervention of our Government.

Mr Benny Allan – Tell the Member for Lae.

21 Mr PETER O’NEILL – It is going to serve our people and that is happening right across our country, Mr Speaker.
So, I want to ensure that the Member for Lae appreciates what our Government is doing in making sure that we can upgrade all the facilities at the Angau Hospital and of course the nursing facilities at the back being upgraded as well.

Our aim as you go into the Angau Hospital today, the operating theatre has been upgraded.

All the facilities have been upgraded and all the laundry services have been upgraded.

In fact, the hospital itself is much cleaner today than it was few years back.
Mr Speaker, the roads internally in the hospital have been upgraded so the facilities are much better but I want to assure the good Member that we need to get the Board rather than waiting for Australian Government to come and help us.

We have the funds in our trust accounts so we should utilise those funds to build more wards to be able to accommodate more Papua New Guineans who are going there for treatment.
Mr Speaker, the last question about the Cancer Facility in Lae and Dr Niblet, I am not aware of the situation and I understand that his contract has expired.

Health Department makes those decisions so I will ask the Health Minister to write to the good Member and explain the issues relating to that particular person and his employment.
But I want to again assure the honourable Member that some of the machines in that hospital, I had to authorise the Gaming Board through the Community Development Fund to invest in some of the machinery in that hospital so that our Cancer patients can access treatment.

We have been able to upgrade the facilities and the equipment there but more needs to be done and let’s work together in making sure that the hospital functions as a referral hospital for all the patients throughout the country.
It is an important institution, Mr Speaker.

The Provincial Government and the local Members, we need to work together.

If there is health funding allocation in our respective DSIP and PSIP let us use it so that we can be able to improve the facilities.

Thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr DON POLYE – Thank you, Mr Speaker, for giving me the opportunity to ask my ACP and EU Dialogue question.
22 My question is in regards to one of the two most significant happenings taking place in the country in the last month or so, first being the Boycott of the University Students and the issue they have been raising which is on agenda number 7 to be discussed.

Therefore, I will question the second matter that is the ACP to the Minister for Foreign Affairs but he is not here so I will ask the Prime Minister to answer one or two questions.
The Opposition also recognises that the program itself was a well-managed and well established program which we can say and I am confining to the program that took place that Papua New Guinea’s image is very important and I commend the people of this country, the students as well and everyone else.

And I think I agree with the Prime Minister that the students and people were very responsible.
They knew that we have overseas important distinguish delegates coming to our Nation and we have received them and the Government has been going ahead to do the job that they have been tasked to do.
We have been with the government on this matter because this affects the Nation and also I want to mention on behalf of the Opposition and the people of Papua New Guinea that whilst the other delegates of the ACP have left, the others are still leaving the country, we also join our Government folks and the people of this country in thanking them and farewelling them.
Because the issues that has been discussed in the ACP meeting is a dialogue with the European Union will definitely affect and impact upon Papua New Guinea’s progress in nation building because we are not an island we are a member of the global community.

So, with these issues of common interests to the nation the Opposition is – 16/03 Mr SPEAKER – Opposition Leader, with due respect, ask your question.

Mr DON POLYE – Okay, yes.


The Opposition is with the Government with some of the common issues that we believe affect the nation at large.

Now, questions are these, Mr Speaker, and thank you for your guidance.

I would like to just probably help the government to articulate to the people of this nation by these questions.

The Opposition has a position that if we were in that position like you gentlemen, leaders on the other side, we would have had the three or four significant issues.
(1) What is the government’s position on this now that you had dialogue?

23 The Investment Promotion Protection Agreement between the ACP member countries and the European Union.

(2) What is the Government’s position on that?

Because the Opposition’s position is that we must have such protection agreements in place to enhance Papua New Guinea’s trade and business not just amongst ACP countries, but also with the European Union.

We have free trade agreements in place with the European Union.
For instance, with European Union Commission we have the tuna.

We talk about Papua New Guinea being a tuna industry and we are selling tuna to the European market free.

Mr Speaker, the Minister for Fisheries will agree with me that you will find that the fish sold in the shelves of supermarkets throughout Europe are competitive, of quality and we are selling cheaply making a lot of revenue.
(3) Did Papua New Guinea discuss in terms of the free trade with the European Union if we could enhance and explore other areas of free trade; not just in tuna but in oil palm, agricultural commodities and other products that our small-medium scale enterprises in Papua New Guinea can produce?

(4) Do we have any free trade agreements that we might have discussed or the government could have discussed in ACP dialogue recently?

Because these are what really matters.


We can have good programmes but we must address those issues which are important as it affects our people.

My next question is in regards to the labour mobilisation.

The Asia, Caribbean and Pacific labour force and we are now seeing under the PIF that we have got labour within Pacific already being mobilised and working to enhance the cooperation and integration of people in this agreement.
(5) With the ACP dialogue taking place, what did Papua New Guinea benefit from in terms of our labour force, skills and our university and colleague students when they come out?

(6) Can our students who come out from our universities and colleges go and work in those countries or even in Europe?

(7) What did PNG intend to achieve out of this dialogue in addition to some of the following and the other issues that I have raised?

Like such issues like poverty alleviation.


24 (8) How can Papua New Guinea really benefit itself in terms of alleviating ourselves out of the poverty line with regards to the (inaudible) or in terms of quality education and skills development?

(9) Can we get some agreement or programmes in place with the European Union to support Papua New Guinea skill our labour force and not just giving them education or basic literacy but also teaching skills, and promoting good governance ?
If we do not have the governance systems and structure strengthened, we will have problems there and even the ACP objectives will not be achieved effectively.

(10) Did Papua New Guinea play a significant role or did we achieve some result of the dialogue that we have seen taking place recently?

Thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr PETER O’NEILL – Thank you, Mr Speaker, and I thank the good Honourable Leader of the Opposition, and let me again take this opportunity to welcome him back to Parliament.
Although there was a bit of a short break but we always enjoy your debates on national importance and contribution to Parliament.

Therefore, we welcome you back.

Mr Speaker, but, let me say this, the good Foreign Affairs Minister will table a comprehensive report.

In fact, this is a report that was just signed for the declaration of Port Moresby and the Waigani Communique and will be tabled in Parliament over the course of next week.
And the Foreign Affairs Minister will put detailed statement with regards to recent ACP Summit that was held in our country.

Mr Speaker, I would like to say again that, it was a tremendous honour for Papua New Guinea to host this very meeting that comprised of close to 79 countries, and that is quite a substantial number of similar countries of developing states throughout the African, Caribbean and Pacific.
17/03 Mr Speaker, as you know many of these countries have similar challenges like PNG but one thing certain is that and one or two of the delegates who have been here before have seen a noticeable progress that our country has made over the last 10-15 years.

They commended our Government, leaders and our people for the development progress that we have achieved to date.
But they also noticed that we also have challenges ahead of us and let me mention here that many of this countries are not as developed as PNG.

25 So we must not talk ourselves down.

We must be appreciative of the progress that we are making.

In less than 40 years as a nation, we have achieved so much unlike many of this countries who have attended this meeting.

They colonial powers have left decent infrastructure that they were able to build their countries on.
Whereas PNG there was nothing, we had to build ourselves so we have come quite a far distance that we all should be proud of.

Sometimes we take it for granted and we talk ourselves down all the time.

But it is good to see from visitors who are very appreciative of what we are doing.

Mr Speaker, we are achieving the targets that the international community has set for us including sustainable development.
In this particular meeting in summary for the good of the Parliament and of course in relation to the question raised by the Leader of Opposition.

This has been an important summit for the ACP groups.

Why?

Because it is about reforming the ACP grouping structure on how it relates to trading and development partners globally and especially the European Union that the Leader of Opposition has alluded to.

That’s almost 40 years ago, in 1975 when the Georgetown Agreement was signed by ACP founders.
It was to try and have a relationship between EU, basically many of the ACP country members are former colonies of European Powers, whether it be Germany, France, Portuguese or British.

They were former colonies that formed this grouping and their aim was to find a structure that is going to have a relationship with EU.

And of course through the European Economic Corporation in 1975, the events and the circumstances has changed so far.
That’s the European model and the EU itself has changed so our relationship with EU is something that needs to change as well and that’s why Port Moresby declaration and the Waigani communique has alluded to that change that needs to have been structure of the ACP group itself.

Mr Speaker, PNG is one of the only few countries today has got the Economic Partnership Agreement with the EU.
We have that partnership that enables our produce including fish and it’s not exclusive to fish along but it’s for all our produce that we produce in our country having access to markets in Europe that’s includes coffee, cocoa, copra having the preferential treatment to the markets in Europe and that’s why we have a very thriving tuna industry in this country.
The tuna industry employs not only thousands Papua New Guineans but mainly so women, over 10 000 women work in this tuna factories throughout 26 the country.

That’s a huge employment of a women population in the country that directly looks after families.

That’s why its very crucial that ACP and Papua New Guinean continue to maintain that relationship with EU where we have the preferential access to their markets allowing us to employ Papua New Guineans that’s continue to look after their families.
So I want to say that the Foreign Affairs Minister will table a comprehensive report on the ACP meeting but Mr Speaker, we were asked to host this meeting almost six months ago at very short notice because one of our Member State in Africa could not host this meeting because of internal conflict and therefore, PNG was asked to step up.

18/03 Mr Speaker, and we have done it proudly.


At such a short notice, quite a substantial number of visitors in Port Moresby including the woman’s soccer teams from Japan, New Zealand, United States and Taihiti.

About close to 7000 people were in the city over the weekend, including the cricketers from Kenya.

But you did not realise that there was stress and we handled it proudly and that’s a credit to all the officials.
Mr Speaker, let me take this opportunity to commend all these officials who were able to look after all our visitors and they did it very well.

Sometimes, we talk them down, sometimes we don’t appreciate the work they do, but they stood up for Papua New Guinea.

DISCUSSION OF MATTER OF PUBLIC IMPORTANCE – UNIVERSITY STUDENTS BOYCOTTING CLASSES AND RELATED MATTERS.
Mr SPEAKER – Honourable Members, I have to inform Parliament that Dr Allan Marat, Member for Rabaul has proposed that a definite matter of public importance be submitted to Parliament for discussion namely, The University Students Boycotting Classes and related matters.

In accordance with Standing Order 109, subsection 4, the proposed discussion must be supported by nine Members including the proposer standing in your places.

If you do support it then rise in your places.


Alright you may resume your seat.

In accordance with Standing Order 109, subsection 5, the proposed discussion is postponed until half past three this afternoon.

27 ADJOURNMENT Motion (by Mr James Marape) agreed to – That the Parliament do now adjourn Mr DON POLYE – Point of Order!
If there is a proposal here, under Standing Order 109, subsection 5 that there is a matter of public importance here, so why can’t we discuss that to diffuse tension and pressure rather than delay.

Mr SPEAKER – Honourable Member it is the Parliament that decides if the matter is supposed to be discussed so I am applying the normal rules of Parliament here.

If we sit tomorrow we have a chance of discussing this but it’s already on the record of Parliament.
Dr ALLAN MARAT – The Chair has ruled that the Parliament suspend until 3.30 p.m. this afternoon Mr SPEAKER – Honourable Member, let me correct you.

The Motion has been agreed on by this Parliament that the Parliament do now adjourn.

It is on record and it is now part of the procedures of Parliament.

It will be dealt with as and when we sit until 3 O’clock on any sitting day.

The Parliament adjourned at 12.35 p.m.. 28