Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1698054234007.pdf (Papua New Guinea)
THIRD DAY __________________________ Thursday 21 April 2022 DRAFT HANSARD ________________________ Subject: Page No: MOTION BY LEAVE ....................................................................................................................... 2 SUSPENSION OF STANDING ORDERS – .................................................................................... 2 REARRANGEMENT OF BUSINESS ............................................................................................. 2 FINAL BUDGET OUTCOME 2021 ................................................................................................ 2 AND ACHIEVEMENTS .................................................................................................................. 2 MOTION BY LEAVE ..................................................................................................................... 10 SUSPENSION OF STANDING ORDERS – .................................................................................. 10 EXTENDED TIME FOR QUESTIONS ......................................................................................... 10 SPECIAL PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE ON ...................................................................... 11 GENDER BASED VIOLENCE ...................................................................................................... 11 PAPER AND STATEMENT – ....................................................................................................... 11 MOTION TO TAKE NOTE OF PAPER ........................................................................................ 11 SPECIAL PARLIMENTARY COMMITTEE ON ......................................................................... 17 PUBLIC SECTOR REFORM AND SERVCIE DELIVERY – ...................................................... 17 PAPER AND STATEMENT – ....................................................................................................... 17 MOTION TO TAKE NOTE OF PAPER
 ........................................................................................ 17 MOTION BY LEAVE ..................................................................................................................... 20 SUSPENSION OF STANDING ORDERS – .................................................................................. 21 REARRANGEMENT OF BUSINESS ........................................................................................... 21 MANUS SPECIAL ECONOMIC REGION AUTHORITY BILL 2022 ........................................ 21 First reading ................................................................................................................................. 21 Second Reading ........................................................................................................................... 21 MESSAGE FROM THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL ...................................................................... 24 Third Reading .............................................................................................................................. 24 INVESTMENT PROMOTION (AMENDMENT) BILL 2022 ...................................................... 25 First Reading ................................................................................................................................ 25 Second Reading ........................................................................................................................... 25 MESSAGE FROM THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL ...................................................................... 26 Third Reading .............................................................................................................................. 26 INCOME TAX (AMENDMENT) BILL 2022 ................................................................................ 26 First Reading ................................................................................................................................ 27 Second
27 Second Reading ........................................................................................................................... 27 MESSAGE FROM THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL ...................................................................... 27 Third Reading .............................................................................................................................. 28 SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONE’S AUTHORITY (AMENDMENT) BILL 2022 ........................... 28 First Reading ................................................................................................................................ 28 Second Reading ........................................................................................................................... 28 MESSAGE FROM THE GOVERNOR- GENERAL ..................................................................... 29 Third Reading .............................................................................................................................. 29 GOOD S AND SERVICE TAX – ................................................................................................... 29 NEW PORGERA ............................................................................................................................ 29 (AMENDMENT) BILL 2022 .......................................................................................................... 29 First Reading ................................................................................................................................ 29 Second Reading ........................................................................................................................... 29 MESSAGE FROM THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL ...................................................................... 30 Third Reading .............................................................................................................................. 30 INCOME TAX NEW PORGERA (AMENDMENT) BILL 2022
 .................................................. 31 First Reading ................................................................................................................................ 31 Second Reading ........................................................................................................................... 31 MESSAGE FROM THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL ...................................................................... 32 Third Reading .............................................................................................................................. 33 MINING (NEW PORGERA) (AMENDMENT) BILL 2022 ......................................................... 34 First Reading ................................................................................................................................ 34 Second Reading ........................................................................................................................... 34 MESSAGE FROM THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL ...................................................................... 34 Third reading ............................................................................................................................... 35 MOTOR VEHICLE (Third Party) (New Porgera) .......................................................................... 36 (AMENDMENT) BILL 2022 .......................................................................................................... 36 First Reading ................................................................................................................................ 36 Second Reading ........................................................................................................................... 36 MESSAGE FROM THE GOVERNOR–GENERAL ...................................................................... 36 Third Reading
36 Third Reading .............................................................................................................................. 37 NATIONAL ENERGY AUTHORITY (NEW PORGERA) ........................................................... 38 (AMENDMENT) BILL 2022 .......................................................................................................... 38 First Reading ................................................................................................................................ 38 Second Reading ........................................................................................................................... 38 MESSAGE FROM THE GOVERNOR–GENERAL ...................................................................... 39 Third Reading .............................................................................................................................. 39 RESOURCE CONTRACT FISCAL STABILISATION ................................................................ 40 (AMENDMENT) BILL 2022 .......................................................................................................... 40 First Reading ................................................................................................................................ 40 Second Reading ........................................................................................................................... 40 MESSAGE FROM THE GOVERNOR GENERAL ....................................................................... 40 Third Reading .............................................................................................................................. 41 STAMP DUTIES (AMENDMENT) BILL 2022 ............................................................................ 42 First Reading ................................................................................................................................ 42 Second reading
42 Second reading ............................................................................................................................ 42 MESSAGE FROM THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL ...................................................................... 44 Third Reading .............................................................................................................................. 44 GOODS AND SERVICES (AMENDMENT) BILL 2022 ............................................................. 47 First Reading ................................................................................................................................ 47 Second Reading ........................................................................................................................... 47 MESSAGE FROM THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL ...................................................................... 50 Third Reading .............................................................................................................................. 51 GOODS AND SERVICES (AMENDMENT) BILL 2022 ............................................................. 53 First Reading ................................................................................................................................ 53 Second Reading ........................................................................................................................... 53 MESSAGE FROM THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL ...................................................................... 54 Third Reading .............................................................................................................................. 54 INCOME TAX SALARY OR WAGES TAX ................................................................................ 55 RATES (AMENDMENT) BILL 2022 ............................................................................................ 55 First Reading
55 First Reading ................................................................................................................................ 55 Second Reading ........................................................................................................................... 55 MESSAGE FROM THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL ...................................................................... 58 Third Reading .............................................................................................................................. 58 INNOVATIVE UNIVERSITY OF ENGA BILL 2022 .................................................................. 58 First Reading ................................................................................................................................ 58 Second Reading ........................................................................................................................... 58 Third Reading .............................................................................................................................. 68 MOTION BY LEAVE ..................................................................................................................... 69 SUSPENSION OF STANDING ORDDERS – ............................................................................... 69 REARRANGEMENT OF BUSINESS ........................................................................................... 69 CUSTOMS TARIFF P’NYANG LNG PROJECT ......................................................................... 69 (AMENDMENT) BILL 2020 .......................................................................................................... 69 First Reading ................................................................................................................................ 69 Second Reading ........................................................................................................................... 69 MESSAGE FROM THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL
 ...................................................................... 70 Third Reading .............................................................................................................................. 71 EXCISE TARIFF (P’NYANG LNG PROJECT) ............................................................................ 72 (AMENDMENT) BILL 2022 .......................................................................................................... 72 First Reading ................................................................................................................................ 73 Second Reading ........................................................................................................................... 73 MESSAGE FROM THE GOVERNOR–GENERAL ...................................................................... 74 Third Reading .............................................................................................................................. 74 GOODS AND SERVICES TAX (P’NYANG LNG PROJECT) .................................................... 74 (AMENDMENT) BILL 2022 .......................................................................................................... 74 First Reading .................................................................................................................................... 74 Second Reading ........................................................................................................................... 74 MESSAGE FROM THE GOVERNOR–GENERAL ...................................................................... 75 Third Reading .................................................................................................................................. 76 INCOME TAX (P’NYANG LNG PROJECT) ............................................................................... 76 (AMENDMENT) BILL 2022
 .......................................................................................................... 76 First Reading ................................................................................................................................ 76 Second Reading ........................................................................................................................... 76 MESSAGE FROM THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL ...................................................................... 78 Third Reading .............................................................................................................................. 79 INSURANCE (P’NYANG LNG PROJECT) (AMENDMENT) BILL 2022 ................................. 79 First Reading ................................................................................................................................ 79 Second Reading ........................................................................................................................... 79 MESSAGE FROM THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL ...................................................................... 80 Third Reading .............................................................................................................................. 80 INCOME TAX DIVIDEND WITHHOLDING TAX ..................................................................... 81 AND INTEREST WITHHOLDING TAX RATES ........................................................................ 81 (P’NYANG LNG PROJECT) ......................................................................................................... 81 (AMENDMENT) BILL 2022 .......................................................................................................... 81 First Reading ................................................................................................................................ 81 Second Reading
81 Second Reading ........................................................................................................................... 81 MESSAGE FROM THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL .................................................................. 82 Third Reading .............................................................................................................................. 82 KONEBADA PETROLEUM PARK .............................................................................................. 82 (P’NYANG LNG PROJECT) (AMENDMENT) BILL 2022 ......................................................... 82 First Reading ................................................................................................................................ 82 Second Reading ........................................................................................................................... 82 MESSAGE FROM THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL ...................................................................... 83 Third Reading .............................................................................................................................. 83 OIL AND GAS (P’NYANG LNG PROJECT) ............................................................................... 84 (AMENDMENT) BILL 2022 .......................................................................................................... 84 First Reading ................................................................................................................................ 84 Second Reading ........................................................................................................................... 84 MESSAGE FROM THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL ...................................................................... 85 Third Reading .............................................................................................................................. 85 PRICE REGULATION (P’NYANG LNG PROJECT)
 .................................................................. 85 (AMENDMENT) BILL 2022 .......................................................................................................... 85 First Reading ................................................................................................................................ 85 Second Reading ........................................................................................................................... 85 MESSAGE FROM THE GOVERNOR–GENERAL ...................................................................... 86 Third Reading .............................................................................................................................. 86 RESOURCE CONTRACTS FISCAL STABILIZATION .............................................................. 87 (P’NYANG LNG PROJECT) ......................................................................................................... 87 (AMENDMENT) BILL 2022 .......................................................................................................... 87 First Reading ................................................................................................................................ 87 Second Reading ........................................................................................................................... 87 MESSAGE FROM THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL ...................................................................... 87 Third Reading .............................................................................................................................. 88 STAMP DUTIES (P’NYANG LNG PROJECT) (AMENDMENT) .............................................. 88 BILL 2022 ....................................................................................................................................... 88 First Reading
88 First Reading ................................................................................................................................ 88 MESSAGE FROM THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL ...................................................................... 92 Third reading ............................................................................................................................... 92 DIGITAL GOVERNMENT BILL 2022 ......................................................................................... 93 First Reading ................................................................................................................................ 93 Second Reading ........................................................................................................................... 93 MOTION BY LEAVE ................................................................................................................... 103 SUSPENSION OF STANDING ORDDERS – ............................................................................. 103 REARRANGEMENT OF BUSINESS ......................................................................................... 103 MESSAGE FROM THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL ................................................................ 107 Third Reading ............................................................................................................................ 108 MOTION BY LEAVE ................................................................................................................... 109 SUSPENSION OF STANDING ORDERS – ................................................................................ 109 REARRANGEMENT OF BUSINESS ......................................................................................... 109 SALARIES AND REMUNERATION COMMISSION ............................................................... 109 THIRTY- EIGHTH REPORT –REPORT ADOPTED ................................................................. 109 RUBBER INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT
 ................................................................................... 115 BILL 2022 ..................................................................................................................................... 115 First Reading .............................................................................................................................. 115 Second Reading ......................................................................................................................... 115 Third Reading ............................................................................................................................ 122 RESCISSION OF VOTES ............................................................................................................ 123 MOTION BY LEAVE ................................................................................................................... 123 SUSPENSION OF STANDING ORDERS – ................................................................................ 123 REARRANGEMENT OF BUSINESS ......................................................................................... 123 ELECTRICITY INDUSTRY (AMENDMENT) BILL 2022 ........................................................ 123 First Reading .............................................................................................................................. 123 Second Reading ......................................................................................................................... 124 Third Reading ............................................................................................................................ 129 PROCEEDS OF CRIME BILL 2022 ............................................................................................ 129 First Reading .............................................................................................................................. 129 Second Reading
129 Second Reading ......................................................................................................................... 129 Third Reading ............................................................................................................................ 138 LAND COMMISSION BILL 2022 ............................................................................................... 141 First Reading .............................................................................................................................. 141 Second Reading ......................................................................................................................... 141 Third Reading ............................................................................................................................ 144 MOTION BY LEAVE ................................................................................................................... 145 SUSPENSION OF STANDING ORDERS – ................................................................................ 145 RESCISSION OF RESOLUTION ................................................................................................ 145 RUBBER INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT BILL 2022 ................................................................. 145 Third Reading ............................................................................................................................ 145 NON-TAX REVENUE ADMINISTRATION BILL 2021 ........................................................... 147 First Reading .............................................................................................................................. 147 Second reading .......................................................................................................................... 147 MESSAGE FROM THE GOVERNOR -GENERAL ................................................................... 148 Third Reading
148 Third Reading ............................................................................................................................ 149 RESCISSION OF VOTES ............................................................................................................ 149 FIREARMS (AMENDMENT) BILL 2022 ................................................................................... 150 First Reading .............................................................................................................................. 150 Second Reading ......................................................................................................................... 150 Third Reading ............................................................................................................................ 152 MOTION BY LEAVE ................................................................................................................... 154 SUSPENSION OF STANDING ORDERS – ................................................................................ 155 REARRANGEMENT OF BUSINESS ......................................................................................... 155 STATEMENT BY THE SPEAKER ............................................................................................. 155 STATEMENT BY THE LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION ........................................................ 155 STATEMENT BY THE SPEAKER ............................................................................................. 179 SPECIAL ADJOURNMENT ........................................................................................................ 184 ADJOURNMENT ......................................................................................................................... 185 THIRD DAY Thursday 21 April 2022 The Speaker, (Mr Job Pomat) took the Chair at 10.00 a.m., and invited the Member for Tari- Pori, Honourable Prime Minister and Minister for Bougainville Affairs, Mr James Marape, to say Prayers:
 “Gracious Father in Heaven, we come back before you, one more time as we stand in this Parliament, for the last time to stand in this Tenth Parliament.
We just want to say thank you for allowing us to be of good health as we stand to pledge our service to you one more time and the service to our country.

I just want to firstly say thank you for the health and life of our speaker, the health and life of the Opposition Leader and members in the Opposition, the health and life of every member of Parliament in the government side.

We may have had and I pray for your special forgiveness.
We lead a country of huge diversity, we serve a country of many wants and needs, we have an inherent deficient public service machinery that is many times broken down.

But in the midst of all our challenges you have allowed us to prevail, especially that the country lives on.

And today, as we stand for the last time, I just want to say thank you very much, on behalf of all leaders who have served with me in this Parliament, in both sides of the House.
We think of those who have passed before us, seven or so who have passed, we think of their families.

We think of the family of late Grand Chief, Sir Michael Somare, we think of the family of late Sir Mekere Morauta, those who have died in service to your country and to you.
And for us who are standing here, as we come one more time for perhaps, the last sitting of this term of Parliament, our thank you to you for our calling and as we prepare, we present ourselves to you, you know the meditation of our hearts, you know the work that we have done, and we present ourselves one more last time to you.

As we go out to the elections, I pray for special watch and care over our members of Parliament.

I pray for special watch and care over our country.
Those who will also be contesting our electorates right throughout the country, may your will prevail.

But for these members who stand here, I dedicate them back to you for this, Jesus.

We are praying in your saving name and as we recite the words that you have taught us, may these words be real in our hearts.

Amen” 1 02/03 MOTION BY LEAVE Mr RAINBO PAITA (Finschaffen – Minister for Planning and Monitoring) – I ask leave of Parliament to move a motion without notice.

Leave granted.
Leave granted.

SUSPENSION OF STANDING ORDERS – REARRANGEMENT OF BUSINESS Motion (by Mr Rainbo Paita) agreed to – That so much of the Standing Orders be suspended as would prevent presentation of ministerial statements being brought forthwith; FINAL BUDGET OUTCOME 2021 AND ACHIEVEMENTS Mr IAN LING-STUCKEY (Kavieng – Minister for Treasury) – Mr Speaker, what an extraordinary three years of responsible, responsive, caring economic actions by the Marape Government.
What a contrast to the worst economic mismanagement in our nation's history by the head of the PNC!

Before I demonstrate these differences in performance, I need to cover two important items.

First, I want to deliver the Final Budget Outcome for 2021.

Once again, I have good news to share on a successful, steady, on-going budget repair and reconstruction.
Second, I want to quickly outline key actions being taken by the Marape-Basil Government to deal with cost-of-living pressures on PNG families due to the Ukraine-Russian war.

2 Mr Speaker, I am pleased to foreshadow that I will be introducing important legislative changes before this Parliament rises today which will provide targeted relief to our families.

We contemplate significant extra revenues in 2022 flowing from the increased profitability of our petroleum and minerals sector.
We will re-direct these increased revenues back to our people.

First, we will remove fuel excise and GST on all fuel products for six months.

From the beginning of May, it will cost K107 less to fill up a 100-litre tank of petrol.

This will cost an estimated K250 million.

Second, we will lift the income tax threshold from K 12,500 to K 17,500 from 1 June 2022 to the end of the year.

03/03 So, if someone earns K17,500 or above, they will now take home in their fortnightly pay packet an extra K42.30.
This will cost K 135 million.

Third, we will fully fund school project fee costs in 2022.

This will flow through to all families with children in schools with the re-imbursement of project fees of 20 per cent.

This will cost K126 million.

And finally, we will work with local businesses to reduce the cost of all tinned fish, Ox & Palm, rice and flour by 10 per cent at a cost of K100 million.

This is a major K611 million package to assist all families in Papua New Guinea.
We cannot deal with all of the impacts of the war, but we can help.

And if the war continues, we will do more.

This is a good, responsive, responsible government, listening to our people and businesses, while also protecting our children's future by on-going budget repair.

Final Budget Outcome 2021 Mr Speaker, I am pleased to provide Parliament with good news on the performance of the 2021 Budget.

The budget deficit target for 2021 was K6,631 million.
The outcome is a deficit of K6,270.3 million and expenditure of K20,130.7 million.

This is higher than expected, all because of higher donor grants.

Revenues of K13,860.4 million.

Tax revenues were higher than expected, and donor grants were higher than expected.

As a share of our GDP, the deficit drops from 8.9 per cent of GDP in 2020 down to 6.7 per cent for 2021.
A reduction of over K1 billion from the K7,304 million in 2020 and by international standards, this is an extraordinary turnaround in just one year – an improvement of 2.2 percentage points of GDP, more than double what would be regarded internationally as a good rate of repair.

Mr Speaker, let me share a personal comment.

As a businessman, I have never liked having to borrow.

As a businessman, I have slashed costs when necessary.
3 But the role of a Treasurer requires careful balances in protecting the health and education and infrastructure spending in our budget.

It needs business insights but also wise judgement given the much broader role of the Treasurer in national development for all our people and its social consequences.

We need to support the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals for our people.

Careful balances in focusing tax increases on those that can afford it the most.
Reducing our borrowing with a clear, costed, credible plan to return to a budget surplus by 2027 and getting our debt levels down to below 30 per cent of GDP and even the option of eliminating all debt completely for the first time in our history.

04/03 Mr Speaker, budget repair and reconstruction, also builds international credibility.

The Opposition claims, we would not be able to finance PNG's budget – we did!

K4,913 million in good, cheap international financing.
We used these funds to help pay off the expensive Credit Suisse loan, having to borrow to pay off the former government's borrowings, but doing so at interests costs of usually under two per cent rather than commercial interest costs of over eight per cent such as on the expensive sovereign bond.

Our constructive, open, transparent international engagement also has led to a major increase in international grant support.

Mr Speaker, we budgeted for K l008 million in international grant support in 2021.
We received K2,088 million, more than double.

An extra Kl billion in grant support.

This is over K100 extra for every person in PNG to support government services.

And for the first time in more than two decades, I am pleased that some donors have actually started to provide grant support directly through our own budget.

This is a sign of trust, this is a sign of partnership, this is delivering benefits to our people from constructive engagement with the global community.
Mr Speaker, we have also continued the process of changing the fundamental structure of our budget.

We are bringing operational costs under control.

We are rapidly expanding the capital budget.

More needs to be done, with salary costs for teachers and police and health workers higher than initially expected.

But the level of cost blowouts have reduced dramatically, more on that later.
And I am very pleased there is a comprehensive staffing review plan that has been completed to bring these costs under even greater control.

Another successful FBO outcome with on-going budget repair.

Not just words, but distinct actions.

Revenue targets met.

Financing targets met.

Expenditure under control.

More and more government expenditure focused on the capital budget.

4 These concrete actions of budget repair are being rewarded by the international community.
Let me thank our international partners for their outstanding support last year.

Mr Speaker, 2021 was a very good year for budget repair in PNG.

The Marape-Basil Government's economic achievements.

These very positive outcomes from this year's Final Budget Outcome is just further evidence that the Marape-Basil Government is delivering for the people of PNG.

Recently, I sat down with my economic team to reflect on the achievements since becoming the Treasury Minister in the Marape-Basil Government.
05/03 We quickly got to over 100 achievements.

Not just a 100-day action plan from the last government, with most of the promises not delivered.

Instead, a steady path forward based around 10 economic principles set out in the 2020 Budget for a better, fairer economic vision, better budgeting, and working to build international support.

These principles have stayed with us consistently since we formed this government.
They were based on our National Goals and Directive Principles in our Constitution and the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals.

They were built on the values of the PANGU Pati and the National Alliance.

They have been robust and helped guide us through the extraordinary once-in-a-century global health pandemic.

Once again, they are guiding us through the worst war to explode in Europe since the end of World War II.

Mr Speaker, I will not go through all 100 achievements during this speech.
For if I spend only one minute on each of these achievements, only one minute, I would be here for another one hour and forty minutes.

Let that go for another time.

I hear a sigh of relief!

For we know we already have a busy Parliamentary agenda.

These achievements will be set out over the coming month in press releases and other presentations.
Let me go through just a few high level ones, and let me compare these to the first few years of the failed government of the current head of the PNC from 2012 to 2014.

He has become the one that must not be named, but we all know who he is.

We all know what he did.We just need to remember.

All the sackings of anyone who questioned his corrupt practices.

All the incompetence and abuse of office.

All the concentration of 5 power.


All the lack of listening to other ministers, especially former treasurers.

The UBS report indeed promises to be an insightful one.

Mr Speaker, the former 2012 Government inherited a balanced budget with debt levels that had been declining over the last decade due to the good management of the then National Alliance Government.

But then the disastrous change of government, within two years, the budget deficit had exploded from zero per cent to 7.8 per cent of GDP.
This is the worst, most irresponsible, budget blowout in PNG's history.

When the Marape Government came to power, the budget deficit was pretended to be only 2.3 per cent of GDP.

We initiated a due diligence exercise, confirmed by the International Monetary Fund, revealing that these were fake budget figures.

Instead, the real deficit was 5.8 per cent of GDP and not 2.3 per cent.

The work in 2019 reduced this budget deficit to just five per cent.

Hard work commenced early.


But then the Covid-19 global pandemic hit and we lost an extraordinary K2.5 billion in revenue.

06/03 Rather than slashing the budget, loosing thousands of jobs, killing the economy, we worked with international partners to protect the budget.

We knew this was vital for protecting the economy.

The 2021 budget outcome is a deficit of 6.7 per cent of GDP.
So, in comparison, the former government, in the best years of the largest resource project in our nation's history set up by our Grand Chief Somare, exploded the budget deficit by 7.8 per cent of GDP.

Over the last two years, in the worst of times, our government’s change is only 0.9 7 per cent of GDP.

And we have a clear, costed vision of returning us to a budget surplus by 2027 and I’m pleased to have the other sides copycat us on this particular policy initiative.
What a contrast in the quality of economic management 7.8 per cent of GDP deficit decline versus just 0.9 per cent.

Let’s talk about interest cost.

Interest costs in 2012 were K452 million.

They then more than doubled to K933 million by 2014, an increase of 106 per cent in just two years.

They then more than doubled again by the time the Marape Government came to power to K2,147 million.
Over the last two years, our hard work has limited interest costs to K2,249 million an increase of under five per cent.

Interest cost increases of 106 per cent by the other side versus less than five per cent by this side.

6 Exchange rates, in 2012, US 48cents could buy one kina.

By the end of 2014, it only took just US38.55 cents to buy one kina, a massive fall of 20 per cent in just two years.

This collapse of the Kina under very poor economic policies continued over the next four years from 2012.
By the time the Marape Government had taken over, the PNG kina had fallen by a massive 38 per cent.

Mr Speaker, let me repeat, the exchange rate depreciated by 38 per cent during the years of the former government.

So, when we talk about cost-of-living pressures, especially imported inflation, remember the economic mismanagement which led to a 38 per cent depreciation.

If the foreign exchange rate had not fallen so much during their time, fuel would be so much cheaper.
Instead of K5 per litre today, it would be only K3 a litre.

At the end of May 2019, this Government inherited an exchange rate that had dropped dramatically so instead of needing US48 cents to buy one kina, you only needed US29.55 cents to buy exchange kina.

By 31 December 2021, the kina has only dropped to US28.50 cents and that despite the worst global health emergency in a century.
07/03 So in the first two years under the previous government, a 20 per cent depreciation, increasing to a 38 per cent depreciation by 2019, compared just to three per cent under this government – the Marape-Basil Government.

What a contrast!

And the union movement, whose leadership is opposing me in the Kavieng seat, is running a scare campaign on depreciation!

Get a life!

Just look at the facts.

Total foreign exchange reserves in 2012 were K8,406 million.
By 2014, they had decreased to K5,980 million, a decline of 29 per cent.

The Marape Government has seen an increase in foreign exchange reserves from K7,880 million in 2019 to a record K11,368 million at the end of 2021, an increase of 44 per cent, minus 29 per cent in reserves versus an increase of 44 per cent under the Marape economic team.

Mr Belden Namah – Point of Order!

The Treasurer is making an inference by using the statement ‘the other side’, I have never been in that Government.
The Treasurer has to be very careful in making such remarks.

Those who were in Government at that time, most of them are with him on 7 that side, Mr Speaker.

So, he has to withdraw that statement.

Instead of saying ‘the other side’, he has to be specific because I have never been in that Government.

Thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr SPEAKER – Honourable Opposition Leader, your Point of Order is in order.

He has never been on that side.

Mr IAN LIN-STUCKEY – Thank you, Mr Speaker.


I would prefer using ‘other side’ rather than referring to it as ‘the wrong side’.

Public servants wage payments were K2,496 million in 2012.

By 2014, that had increased to K3,697 million, an increase of 48.1 per cent.

Wage costs were out of control.

From 2019 to 2021, public service wage costs, despite major increases in financing for teachers and health workers, increased just under 4.5 per cent from K5,831 million in 2019 to K6,093 million in 2021.
There was a 48.1 per cent increase in public service wages over two years versus the 4.5 per cent.

This is fiscal responsibility.

This is the hard work of budget repair.

Not necessarily popular.

Unions, especially, my political opponent, will protest during this election campaign.
We have built into the budget responsible wage increases in the budget, but never again the weak economic policies of the previous government that threatened our nation's budget and our development plan with an average increase in public servant wages of 24 per cent each year.

08/03 How irresponsible!

Lest we forget!


International donor grants were K931 million in 2012, and declined by seven percent to K868 million by 2014 as the international community lost confidence in the antics of the previous government.

Under this government, international donor grants have increased by 17 per cent to K2,088 million in 2021, the highest level ever.

A fall of seven percent versus an increase of 17 per cent.

What a massive turnaround in international support!
On corruption, in 2012, PNG was rated as low as 25 out of 100 by Transparency International, and it did not improve by 2014.

Under the Marape-Basil Government, the index lifted from 28 in 2019 to 31 in 2021, the best rating PNG has ever received.

Still a long way to 8 go, and as the ICAC deals with its challenge from the Ombudsman Commission, and as we see the results of the explosive UBS inquiry, we expect that rating to continue to improve.
Our people expect a less corrupt government than the one they suffered under from 2012 to 2019.

On-going corruption versus concrete improvements.

As I have gone through the list of achievements, we see a very stark contrast to the former government which was benefitting from the Somare Government's hard work to get the PNG LNG project working versus the current government facing the worst global pandemic in a century.
All their figures should have been so much better because the times were better, but their mismanagement meant the opposite!
So to quickly summarize again, in budget deficit levels increases of 7.8 per cent of GDP versus 0.9 per cent, in debt interest payments increases of 106 per cent of the previous government versus five per cent by our government, in kina depreciation of 20 per cent vs three per cent, in foreign exchange reserves of a decrease of 29 per cent versus our increase of 44 per cent, in public servant wage increases of 48.1 per cent by the former versus our 4.5 per cent, in international donor grants of a decrease of 7 per cent versus an increase of 17 per cent.
Let us not forget.

Then there are so many achievements that are much harder to quantify.

The priority given to our non-resource sector which is where most of our people earn their livelihoods rather than just giving big tax concessions to their mates.

The vital reforms to modernise our Central Bank as a step in removing our foreign exchange shortages, the greatest challenge to growth in the eyes of our local business leaders.
The extraordinary expansion in our labour mobility programs with over 1,500 workers perhaps more going overseas just for this year and more to follow in the years ahead.

Our repayment of over K600 million in the former Government's arrears.

No big tax increases on families or workers, instead targeting the most profitable sectors and working to lift tax compliance from the black economy.

09/03 The massive increases in our health, education and infrastructure, all in the context of the budget repair.
This is a government of actions, not just words.

But economic reform is a process that takes years under a responsible, responsive, credible economic team.

Let us not return to failed policies of the past.

9 Mr Speaker, I have covered key economic updates for our country.

I have worked to constantly provide these updates in each session of Parliament despite all the challenges of Covid-19 and the very suspicious hack of our own IFMIS government accounting system.
I have been proud to serve as a member of the Marape-Basil Government's senior economic team.

Whatever the outcome of the election, I truly believe that we have delivered better economic outcomes for our children's future.

It has been an honour to serve, and I thank the people of PNG for the opportunity that they have given me.

Mr Speaker, I commend the Final Budget Outcome 2021 to the Parliament.

Thank you.
Thank you.

Motion (by Mr James Marape) agreed to – That the Parliament take note of the Paper Debate adjourned.

10/03 MOTION BY LEAVE Mr BRYAN KRAMER (Madang – Minister for Immigrations and Border Security) –I ask leave of Parliament to move a motion without notice.

Leave granted.
Leave granted.

SUSPENSION OF STANDING ORDERS – EXTENDED TIME FOR QUESTIONS Motion (by Mr Brian Kramer) agreed to – That so much of the Standing Orders be suspended as would prevent the Chairman of the Gender Based Violence and Public Sector Reform and Service Delivery Committee from presenting their papers.
10 SPECIAL PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE ON GENDER BASED VIOLENCE PAPER AND STATEMENT – MOTION TO TAKE NOTE OF PAPER Mr ALLAN BIRD (East Sepik) – Thank you, Mr Speaker and I thank the Parliament for this opportunity.

Mr Speaker, I am very pleased to present to you and the House, the second and final report of the Special Parliamentary Committee on Gender Based Violence.
This report captures our final reflections and recommendations which we hope will provide guidance to the officials across the country who have responsibilities of addressing gender-based violence and sorcery-accusation- related violence.

I acknowledge that the government will soon be in care-taker mode, but I still encourage every member of Parliament to show leadership and to continue to work with us to try to reduce these stats of gender -based violence and sorcery-related violence.
Violence in general, is one of the most critical issues facing our country, and any person who wishes to be elected to represent our people must be ready to confront violence, gender-based violence and sorcery-accusation-related violence.

I believe that our report contains very important practical ideas on how we can do that, and I hope that every member of Parliament and our State agencies will continue to carry this work out so that we can make our country safe again for our women, men and children.
Mr Speaker, just some background in terms of the critical recommendations in this report, as many of you will recall, this special committee was established in 2020 by this Parliament for the first time in our history.

Our Chairperson was the Honourable, Charles Abel, who sends his apologies as he could not be here today to present this report himself.
I am the deputy chairperson and our five other supporting members of Parliament are; Honourable Powes parkop, Honourable Michael Dua, Honourable Iye Tambua, Honourable Ginson Saonu and Honourable Dr Allan Marat.
Mr Speaker, as the deputy-chairman, I speak on behalf of all our members and I again thank this House for the broad mandate that was given to us, which empowered us to take a serious and 11 proper look at the issue of gender-based violence and sorcery-accusation-related violence which have been plaguing our country for many decades.

I would like to thank the Parliamentary Secretariat and the United Nations Development Program for their support given to our committee.
The UNDP supported us technically and financially through the UNEU Spotlight Initiative.

I’d like to also acknowledge the support of the European Union and her people.

They supported the organizing and live-streaming of both our committee’s public hearing and have continued to provide technical support.

We have long known that gender-based violence is a critical threat to our national development.
But this is the first time we have ever dedicated a parliamentary committee to undertake the work so that we could give a voice to all of the victims of gender-based violence across our country.

Mr Speaker, we have done our best to discharge our mandate transparently and accountability.

And in doing so, I hope that we have demonstrated the usefulness and the value of doing parliamentary committee work in serving our country.
11/03 So that we can hold Government bodies using our oversight powers to account and to encourage them to work better to serve our people.

Mr Speaker, there are many times where we complain of this committee work as being talkfest.

Mr Speaker, but in this particular endeavour, we were not wasting our time.
I hope that the two public hearings that we held, the first one on May 2021 and the second in March 2022, and the two reports we have tabled in this House; the first in August 2021 and the second which I am tabling today will show to the public that we took our mandate very seriously.

We have done our best to produce concrete recommendations which aim to improve the national response to addressing GBV and sorcery-related violence.
Mr Speaker, as you are aware, our mandate as a special parliamentary committee is limited.

Now that we have submitted our final report, our mandate comes to an end aswell.

To address this, the very first recommendation in our report calls on the House to endorse a motion that would establish the GBV Committee as a Permanent Parliamentary Committee, who’s work will then can continue in the Eleventh Parliament and beyond.

12 Mr Speaker, we have the motion prepared and ready to table.
I urge all members of the House to put aside our differences and to support this motion on the Notice Paper, so that we can endorse as a matter of urgent priority before the House rises.

We must show the people of our country that we are serious about tackling GBV and sorcery- related violence, and we must do so through the powers of a parliamentary committee that will continue to hold government officials to account.
Mr Speaker, for the record it is my belief that the government officials have also appreciated the work of the committee, because we gave them an opportunity to be heard and to also outline to the public the many constraints that they faced in conducting this work which is so important to our community.

We have advocated publicly for more resources to be provided and we thank the Government for starting the work in this year’s Budget.
When we had our first meeting in 2021, there was a sense that officials were surprised at the way we questioned them because many were not used to being held to account for the work they were supposed to do as public servants.

Mr Speaker, however, in our second engagement we were very impressed with the response of our public officials who have risen to the occasion.

They were well prepared and they are taking these issues very seriously.
I wish to put on record the thanks of the committee to all those government officials who took the time and made the commitment to come across and respond.

And also, we thank all the community service organisations who have been caring tirelessly across our country in working to address GBV and sorcery-related-accusation violence.

As one of the officials said to us, her team is deeply committed to making sure the GBV survivors are supported but they simply lack staffing and funding to do their jobs.
Mr Speaker, in terms of high-level leadership, many of the officials from whom we heard testimonies seemed genuinely committed to doing more and doing better.

It became that as leaders, we need to make sure we use our powers.

the powers of this House to clear a path for them.

I encourage government ministers here today, to use your platform within the NEC to continue to secure funding for all our stake holders working in this area.
12/03 13 I urge my fellow governors to use our positions as heads of provincial governments to continue supporting the provincial GBV secretariat and to ensure they are properly funded.

I urge district MPs to use your DSIP in terms of a minimum level of funding to support the work to reduce GBV in your electorate.

And last but not least, I urge the Treasurer and the incoming treasurer to ensure that we continue to fund these areas that deal with GBV and sorcery—accusation-related violence.
We need to also fund the critical work of teams; particularly the PNG Royal Constabulary Family and Sexual Violence units that have been established across the country but remain severely understaffed and under-resourced, the Department of Health Family Support Centre which provides immediate health care to GBV survivors and the Office of the Public Prosecutors, Family and Sexual Violence Unit; which currently have only the minimal staff available to prosecute the huge backlog of GBV cases that are occurring across the country.
Mr Speaker, while funding is obviously a key challenge that we must deal with, we need to move to some of the more technical recommendations in our report and we have tried to be very specific in our analysis and to provide very clear and concrete recommendations.
We have used the August 2021 committee report as a starting point where no action has been taken and we noted that the recommendations must still be addressed; however, where progress has occurred or more information is provided by officials we have updated and added to the recommendations.

We now have 75 recommendations for action.

I know these may seem like a lot but there is already a lot of work that is currently underway.
I again humbly on behalf of our people ask the ministers who will be performing their roles going up to the return of the writs, please read the report and take note of the areas where your department could act upon to address the outcomes that we need.

I will not go through all the recommendations in here because I believe this is our last day in the House.
Mr Speaker, firstly, the committee calls on the Government to urgently establish the National Gender Based Violence Secretariat by recruiting the CEO and the 10 staff that are needed in the ministry of Community Development so that we can start the ball rolling on the National GBV strategy.

This GBV secretariat was approved by the NEC in 2016 but even to date it is still not established, not operating and does not have a permanent director.
At the March 2022 public hearings, we heard conflicting accounts of what needed to be done but we just urged the different agencies to step up and conclude this long outstanding work.

14 Mr Speaker, as members can see in the correspondence attached as annexes 3, 4 and 5 of the report, the DFCDR in accordance with our own recommends that the head of the secretariat has to be a highly qualified GBV expert.
We realize this is very senior but at the same time this is the level we need, the same as the national office of the Child and Family Services which has a similar responsibility to the GBV Secretariat.

Mr Speaker, in addition we need the Department of Personnel Management to approve all the technical requirements which I will not go through but leave that for the Minister responsible to address.

We need the GBV Secretariat to be operational now.

I cannot stress this enough.


13/03 Our victims have been without support for a very long time and this small core team is extremely important in achieving some positive outcomes in order to address GBV across our country.

Mr Speaker, this brings me to our second recommendation; namely, the release of the GBV funding allocated by this Government for 2022 and a commitment to include a minimum funding in subsequent years.
About K7.93 million has been allocated by the Treasury and we understand that K1 million has been released, but our committee encourages Treasury to front load the rest of the funding within the next six months if possible.

Mr Speaker, our committee has seen the budget produced by DFCDR and we know that they want to disburse funds to support provincial partners and the many NGOs who work tirelessly in this area.
Those that provide GBV support services including crises responses, safe houses, counselling, legal advice and other support for GBV survivors.

We need this work to be progressed urgently.

Mr Speaker, to our final area requiring urgent action.

I want to discuss with the House the need to strengthen access to justice for GBV survivors by improving the response of every single institution involved in the justice process.
From our inquiries, it remains clear that every single part of the justice process remains underfunded, understaffed particularly in relation to addressing GBV.

Law enforcement in relation to GBV needs to be addressed through proper funding, staffing and training.

15 In particular, we need police response times and better investigation of GBV cases.

More effective and timely prosecution of alleged perpetrators and finally survivor-centred court processes.
Our Committee report includes very specific recommendations to address all these aspects of the judicial system that needs to be fixed.

I encourage every single minister and official with responsibilities for justice in this country to read our recommendations closely and to please action them.

Mr Speaker, many a time people do the wrong things and it takes years, sometimes they are never even penalised.

GBV perpetrators are no different.

They continue to operate with impunity.


We have to make sure that justice is served and that perpetrators know that there will be consequences for bad behaviour.

We run the risk of encouraging bad behaviour if we don’t curb it.
I remain deeply concerned that we continue to read in the media too many stories of perpetrators continuing to commit unspeakable acts of violence and horror against other people particularly in gender-based violence and sorcery-accusation-related violence and are never charged or brought to trial.

This must stop.
This must stop.

Mr Speaker, before I conclude, I want to draw a special attention to the need to make sure that we also address perpetrators of GBV but also those who commit sorcery accusation related violence or SARV.

Many will know that this is an issue I am personally committed to addressing.

I am very proud of the advocacy and the fruitful partnership with groups like the Tribal Foundation.

I also want to thank the House for the amendments to the criminal code.
I encourage every single police officer and prosecutor across the country to familiarise themselves with the new amendments and to use them and make sure we stamp out this barbaric practice.

It is not part of our culture and it has no place in our country.
14/03 In conclusion, let me thank you Mr Speaker, and the House for allowing us a voice to speak on behalf of everyone who has been a victim of gender-based violence and sorcery-accusation- related violence and for everyone who has been touched by violence in our country.

We simply cannot tolerate violence in our communities any longer.
I want every Papua New Guineans to feel safe in our country and also want every single one of us to show respect for each other and no person has the right to hit anyone or cause harm, hurt, torture or kill them.

16 As Christians we are taught to show kindness to our fellow human beings and we must follow these teachings and practice them.
Mr Speaker, I am proud and honoured by the work that this House has given to our committee and I commend this report to you all as a document which should guide our efforts to stamp out violence across our country.

With that Mr Speaker, I commend the report to the House.

Thank you.

Motion (Mr James Marape) agreed to - That the Parliament take note of the paper.

Debate adjourned.
Debate adjourned.

SPECIAL PARLIMENTARY COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SECTOR REFORM AND SERVCIE DELIVERY – PAPER AND STATEMENT – MOTION TO TAKE NOTE OF PAPER Mr GARRY JUFFA (Northern) – I present the following Report pursuant to statute: Special Parliamentary Committee on Public Sector Reform and Service Delivery.

I ask leave of the Parliament to make a statement in connection with the Report.

Leave granted.
Leave granted.

Mr Speaker, today is the last day of the Tenth Parliament so before I present my report, I just want to make few remarks and share my thoughts with my colleague and yourself.

I wish to convey the gratitude of myself and my family to the people of Northern for giving me the mandate to represent them in Parliament during this term, and to the people of Papua New Guinea for their support over the years during this term.
17 I wish to thank all those in Government under the leadership of Prime Minister, Honourable James Marape, the Government that I have been part of and has done significant work in just a few years.

I also thank the Opposition under the leadership of Honourable Belden Namah for their efforts in holding us to account in representing the people of Papua New Guinea.
Mr Speaker, I thank you and the staff of the Parliament who have worked tirelessly with very limited resources to do the best they can so that they can manage the affairs of Parliament so that we can stand here and present ourselves to represent our people.

I thank our development partners as well and I would like to thank the members of my Committee – the Special Parliamentary Committee on Public Sector Reforms and Service Delivery.
Mr Speaker, on behalf of the Special Parliamentary Committee on Public Sector Reforms and Service Delivery, I am honored to be able to present this first interim report of our work so far which will need to be continued through a few Parliament cycles to really bear the results in this area that our country so desperately needs.

15/03 This interim report number one of 2022 represents or presents the concepts for the creation of this committee as currently defined.
In reviewing the former committees work and in commencing our work in fairness, to execute our terms of reference, we discovered that sound strategy was essential.

A reasonable question to be asked is, ‘why is the performance of the public sector a parliamentary focus?’ And the answer is, this subject is of such a public concern and universal despair that it has triggered the legislator to peer over the lines and ask questions to the responsible arms of government.
Why do they appear to be in such a state of paralysis to hold the public sector to account?

Mr Speaker, in this honourable House, elected leaders have lamented of lack of service delivery by the public sector for many years.

Every year, the members of this House approve up to a third of our annual budget going towards ever increasing salaries and emoluments to feed the run- away creature who no longer does what its owner paid to do.
18 By current design, the public sector is our only option to deliver both basic of services and infrastructure to our people.

Much has been written and researched, motivated by concerns of our failing public sector system.

Mr Speaker, we have concluded that much needs to be done about growing the drivers of our systems which used to work since early Independence.
As a nation, we are today fairly graded at the wrong hand of the global scales in harvesting the neglect of basic education and health to our people and also by deliberate failure of administration.

It is apparent that success at sustainable reform of the public sector must entail us growing our human resources.

This we estimate will require the full corporation of the whole machinery of government over four to five parliamentary terms.
In fact, I would suggest that it ought to be a constant continuous and consistence effort.

We are convinced that any reform has to be done on the basis of solid data and data analysis not on knee- jerk reaction.

To that end, I thank the New Zealand Government’s 2021 commitment to journey with us in the establishment of this critical data as described in the latter part of this report.
In particular, Honourable Lua Manugoa, Dame Winnie Laban, Peter Hughes Commissioner of New Zealand and his hard-working staff.

The Deputy Commissioner Tania Oat, Roy Laluwalo and Tina McNikolos assisted by His Excellency, Honourable Philp Taula, New Zealand High Commissioner to Papua New Guinea.

I thank the Honourable Prime Minister James Marape for supporting this Parliamentary Committee and I thank the honourable members of the committee for providing the quorum for sittings and deliberations.
We have held six hearings.

A few financially significant results of the committee work have been to: • launch the four-years stalled public service payroll review, which the nation has been crying out for so long, once completed and if followed through by the next committee; this shall save millions of kina in restoring integrity back to it by cancelling ghost names and dealing with multiple persons on a single position.
• adamantly demand that the procurement and distribution of medical supplies is subjected to proper tender with the inclusion of appropriate international human standards.

• step into the National Housing Corporation to stamp the public outcry of allegations of mismanagement of State housing assets.

19 The Secretariat has one technical session with over 40 State instrumentalities and related individuals in the quest for immediate and strategic long-term reforms.
We intend to keep up the current momentum right up to the formation of the next Parliament in August this year and will not stop just because we are heading into the National General Elections.

The efforts of the public sector reform cannot stop, must not stop and will not stop.
Therefore, we recommend that this committee be made a permanent committee and this Parliament authorize the work done so far to be continued into any next special parliamentary committee on public sector reforms and service delivery.

Further to that, the efforts by this committee must be migrated out of it and institutionalized so that there is an established authority which effectively audits and monitors the public sector performance and appointments without political or external capture.
16/03 I commend this interim report to Parliament and I ask that this Honourable House endorse the work of this committee to be carried forward into future Parliament sittings if and when this committee is reconstituted.

Thank you, Mr Speaker.

Motion (by Mr James Marape) agreed – That the Parliament take note of the paper.

Debate adjourned.

MOTION BY LEAVE Mr BRYAN KRAMER (Madang – Minister for Immigration and Boarder) – I ask leave of Parliament to move a motion without notice.

Leave granted.
Leave granted.

20 SUSPENSION OF STANDING ORDERS – REARRANGEMENT OF BUSINESS Motion (by Mr Bryan Kramer) agreed to – That so much of the Standing Orders be suspended as would prevent notice numbers: 328, 329, 330, 331, 334, 345, 346, 347, 348, 349 and 350.

MANUS SPECIAL ECONOMIC REGION AUTHORITY BILL 2022 First reading Bill presented by Mr James Marape and read a first time.

Second Reading Leave granted to move the second reading forthwith.
Mr JAMES MARAPE (Tari-Pori – Prime Minister and Minister for Bougainville Affairs) – I move – That the Bill be now read a second time.

Mr Speaker, I am pleased on this occasion, in fact, in the sunset of the Tenth Parliament to present the Manus Special Economic Region Authority Bill 2022 to this Honourable House.
This is a very focused initiative to create an important investment opportunity to generate economic activity for the smallest of our family of provinces in our country including our special region of Bougainville and I do acknowledge our Bougainville leaders who are up there at the Public Gallery.
A lot of us do not realise that because of its small size, any intervention or activity on the island will have a significant flow-on effects in terms of generating employments, services and small-scale business activities.

You need only to have a few significant investments in the province to build a web of value adding activities instantaneously.
21 Mr Speaker, you are aware that the refugee processing centre, for instance, with all its associated constitutional issues and humanitarian concerns happened to be a significant economic booster for the small island economy.

17/03 Apart from stimulating growth and support and SME based services it was able to extract a significant number of manusians from their villages and communities into paid employment for the years it was operating in Manus.
They put money into peoples’ pockets and generated enormous demands for goods and services not just in Lorengau, but right across the communities and islands with immediate effect and the impacts are profound.

Mr Speaker, policy backdrop is that we must weigh economic development opportunities deliberately.

It must drive the provincial government’s efforts to build an economy based on investment and business activities, providing the means to grow demands for other services.
It must stimulate the economic activities deliberately and lawfully.

We need not wait for another externally imposed refugee processing centre as a case in point, to create opportunities for us, we need to create it for ourselves for it to be sustainable.

Mr Speaker this is the reason why this Bill is before this Honorable House, to provide the opportunity for our smallest island province.
While small in physical land mass, it is a big province but rather the physical size of it is small and it will have an immediate impact once we bring investors into the province to provide employment.

It will provide good opportunities for small to medium enterprises that are now struggling because of the lack of demand or the absence of inherent purchasing power in the local population.
It will provide a stimulus required for other sectors of the provincial economy to subsequently flourish Mr Speaker, the purpose of the proposed Manus Special Economic Region Act 2022 is to provide for the creation of a Manus Special Economic Region; to establish the Manus Special Economic Region Authority and to provide for its consequence of amendments to be made in relation to legislations, and for related purposes.
The main features of the Bill are: • To provide for the creation of Manus Special Economic Region • To provide for the creation of Manus Special Economic Regional Authority which will be responsible for the administration of the region 22 • Provide for the introduction of a special category of companies to be called Manus Special Economic Companies.
These companies should be incorporated as normal companies under the Companies Act 1997 or could potentially be overseas companies registered under the Companies Act.

Consequential amendments will be made to the Income Tax 1969 to provide that the Manus Special Economic Region Company will be exempted from income tax.

The Authority will have powers enabling you to approve such companies and also engage in infrastructure development in Manus to complement other developments taking place in Manus.
A range of other incentives to encourage investments in Manus will potentially be provided.

This will be determined having regard to the individual circumstances of the particular project and vary quite considerably between projects.

For this reason, the Bill will provide for the administrative orders to be propagated to provide details sector by sector.
From a legislative point of view, this is the same approach that has taken under the Conservation and Environmental Authority Act 2014 and the Central Banking Act 2002 which uses exchange control notice to regulate initial requirements of the law.

The Bill proposes the establishment of a one stop shop, the way the Bill does this is to provide a legislative delegation to the authority to be exercised in effect on behalf of the relevant decision maker under the legislation.
For example, it may be a license that is required to operate a port in Manus.

Developing a port will require a large number of approvals from various government agencies.

The Bill would enable the authority to grant the approval after the consultation with relevant decision making under various pieces of legislation.
It is important to remind ourselves that revenue is collected on the island at the moment, we are not proposing for current revenue to be forgone, what is presently collected is largely instituted.

Butd we believe that taking a bold and decisive step in providing this opportunity we will build a robust economy that can yield larger revenues than what is being collected at the moment.
I believe that this is the time to make such bold stand as the country moves into a period of more opportunities in the resource sector.

We should embark on the treating an economy hard that can rise on this period and yield opportunities for this part of our country that needs our support.
18/03 Mr Speaker, this concept of special economic zones are not new we now tailing this especially for Manus economy and all its associated developments to grow using incentives and legalisation to 23 bring investment into Manus.

It may be small in land mass, but the sea remains a big space, in which marine resources are being harvested.

Mr Speaker, I commend the bill to this Honourable House.

Motion – That the question be now put – agreed to.

Motion – That the Bill be now read second time – agreed.
Bill read a second time.

MESSAGE FROM THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL A message from His Excellency, the Governor-General dated 20 April 2022 recommending the expenditure of public monies insofar as the Bill relates to and provides for such imposition and expenditure.

Third Reading Leave granted to move the third reading forthwith.

Motion (by Mr James Marape) proposed – That the Bill be now read a third time.

Motion – That the Question be now put – agreed to.


Motion – That the Bill be now read a third time– put 19/03 24 The Bill requiring an absolute majority of 56 Members, Mr Speaker, ordered, that the Bells be rung.

The Parliament voted (the Speaker, Mr Job Pomat in the Chair) – AYES – 73 NOES – 0 The Proposed Bill passed with the concurrence of an absolute majority as required by the Constitution.

Bill read a third time.


INVESTMENT PROMOTION (AMENDMENT) BILL 2022 First Reading Bill presented by Mr James Marape and read a first time.

Second Reading Leave granted to move the Second Reading forthwith.

Mr JAMES MARAPE (Tari-Pori – Prime Minister and Minister for Bougainville Affairs) – I move – That the Bill be now read a second time.
25 Mr Speaker, to members of our House, this Bill will amend the Investment Promotion Act 1992 – the principal act, consequent on the enactment of the Manus Special Economic Regional Bill 2022.

20/03 The principal act is amended by adding a new section 25 (b) after section 25 (a) to provide that a foreign that is to hold on for certificate that is impose under Manus Special Economic Region Act, 2022, shall be deemed for all purposes of the principal Act who had been granted or certified under that act.
I commend this Bill to the House.

Motion – That the question be now put – agreed to.

Motion – That the Bill be now read a second time – agreed to.

Bill read a second time.

MESSAGE FROM THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL A message from His Excellency, the Governor–General Dated 20 April 2022 recommending the expenditure of public monies in so far as the Bill relates to provides for such expenditure.

Third Reading Bill, by leave, read a third time.


INCOME TAX (AMENDMENT) BILL 2022 26 First Reading Bill presented by Mr James Marape and read a first time.

Second Reading Leave granted to move the Second Reading forthwith.

Mr JAMES MARAPE (Tari-Pori – Prime Minister and Minister for Bougainville Affairs) – I move – That the Bill be now read a second time.
Mr Speaker, and members of Parliament, this Bill will amend the Income Tax Act 1969, and the principal act consequent on the enactment of the Manus Special Economic Region Bill, 2022.

The principal act is to be amended by adding the new term Manus Special Economic Region immediately after the term ‘management fee’ and a new section 25 (b) is added after section 25 (a).
This amendment will ensure that the income of companies certified under the Manus Special Economic region Bill, 2022 will be exempted from Income Tax that as certified, provides the lender will be exempted from Tax.

I commend the Bill to the House.

Motion – That the question be now put – agreed to.

Motion – That the Bill be now read a second time – agreed to.

Bill read a second time.


MESSAGE FROM THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL 27 A message from His Excellency, the Governor–General dated 20 April 2022 recommending the expenditure of public monies in so far as the Bill relates to provides for such expenditure.

Third Reading Bill, by leave read a third time.

21/03 SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONE’S AUTHORITY (AMENDMENT) BILL 2022 First Reading Bill presented by Mr James Marape and read a first time.

Second Reading Leave granted to move the Second Reading forthwith.
Mr JAMES MARAPE (Tari-Pori – Prime Minister and Minister for Bougainville Affairs) – I move – That the Bill be now read a second time.

Mr Speaker, this Bill will amend the Special Economic Zone’s Authority Act 2019, the principal Act consequent on the amendment of the Manus Special Economic Region Bill 2022, the principal Act is to be amended by repealing and replacing section 5 to provide for the exclusion of Manus Province.
This amendment will avoid duplication by ensuring that companies certified under the Manus Special Economic Region Bill 2022 are not subject to the Special Economic Zones Authority Act 2019.

I commend the Bill to the House.

28 Motion – That the question be now put – agreed to.
Motion – That the Bill be now read a second time – agreed to Bill read a second time MESSAGE FROM THE GOVERNOR- GENERAL A message from His Excellency, the Governor General Dated 20 April 2022 recommending the expenditure of public monies in so far as the Bill relates to provide for such expenditure.

Third Reading Bill, by leave, read a third time.

GOOD S AND SERVICE TAX – NEW PORGERA (AMENDMENT) BILL 2022 First Reading Bill presented by Mr James Marape and read a first time.
Second Reading Leave granted to move the Second Reading forthwith.

29 Mr JAMES MARAPE (Tari-Pori- Prime Minister and Minister for Bougainville Affairs) – I move – That the Bill be now read a second time.

Mr Speaker, the proposed Bill and other subsequent bills that are coming are in relation to our effort to consolidate and to ensure Porgera is open.

These amendments are consequential to the Porgera reopening.
This present Bill proposes to insert new definitions, especially referencing the Pogera Project Commencement Agreement and to give effect to the terms of the Porgera project commencement agreement which in fact is back to zero rating on certain supplies as far as GST is concerned.

I commend the Bill to the House.

Motion – That the question be now put- agreed to.

Motion – That the bill be now read a second time- agreed to.

Bill read a second time.


22/03 MESSAGE FROM THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL Mr SPEAKER – Honourable Members, I have to announce that I have received a message from His Excellency the Governor General dated 20 April 2022, recommending the expenditure of public monies in so far as the Bill relates to and provides for such imposition and expenditure.

Third Reading Leave granted to move the Third Reading forthwith.

Motion (by Mr James Marape) proposed – That the Bill be now read a third time.
30 Motion – That the question be now put – agreed to.

Motion – That the Bill be now read a third time – put The Bill requiring an absolute majority of 56 Members, Mr Speaker, ordered, that the Bells be rung.

The Parliament voted (the Speaker, Mr Job Pomat in the Chair) – 23/03 AYES – 75 NOES – 0 The Proposed Bill was passed with the concurrence of an absolute majority as required by the Constitution.

Bill read a third time.


INCOME TAX NEW PORGERA (AMENDMENT) BILL 2022 First Reading Bill presented by Mr James Marape and read a first time.

Second Reading Leave granted to move the Second reading forthwith.

31 Mr JAMES MARAPE (Tari-Prime Minister and Minister for Bougainville Affairs) – I move – That the Bill be now read a second time.
Mr Speaker, the Bill proposes to insert a new definition especially referencing Porgera Project Commencement Agreement to give effect to certain terms of the Porgera Project Commencement Agreement providing: (a) exemption from taxation of certain interest and dividend income; (b) exemption from liabilities or any taxation which might otherwise apply to; consideration or transfer of assets and the undertakings from the old Porgera to the new Porgera; (c) for the transfer of tax benefits including allowable deductions between the parties to unincorporated joint venture agreement to the parties engaged in the new Porgera pursuant to the Porgera Project Commencement Agreement; (d) for the application of a total income tax rate of 32 per cent and for the deductibility of royalties paid by the new Porgera Mr Speaker, I commend the Bill to the House.
Motion – That the question be now put – agreed to.

Motion – That the Bill be now read a second time – agreed to.

Bill read a second time.

MESSAGE FROM THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL A message from His Excellency, the Governor-General dated 20 April 2022 recommending the expenditure of public monies in so far as the Bill relates to and provides for such imposition and expenditure.

32 Third Reading Leave granted to move the third reading forthwith.
Motion (by Mr James Marape) proposed – That the Bill be now read a third time.

Motion – That the question be now put – agreed to.

Motion – That the Bill be now read a third time–put.

24/03 The Bill requiring an absolute majority of 56 Members, Mr Speaker, ordered, that the Bells be rung.

25/03 The Parliament voted (the Speaker, Mr Job Pomat in the Chair) – AYES – 74 NOES – 0 The Proposed Bill was passed with the concurrence of an absolute majority as required by the Constitution.
Bill read a third time.

33 MINING (NEW PORGERA) (AMENDMENT) BILL 2022 First Reading Bill presented by Mr James Marape and read a first time.

Second Reading Leave granted to move the Second reading forthwith Mr JAMES MARAPE (Prime Minister and Minister for Bougainville Affairs) – I move – That the Bill be now read a second time.
Mr Speaker, the Bill proposes to insert two new definitions, specifically referring to referencing the Porgera Project Commencement Agreement to give facts to the terms of the Porgera Project Commencement Agreement so that the royalty rates of three per cent applies to the New Porgera to confirm that the survey requirement of the Mining Act amendment to a satisfied, with regards to the New Porgera.

Mr Speaker, I commend the Bill to the House.


Motion –That the question be now put – agreed to Motion – That the Bill be now read a second time – agreed to.

Bill read a second time.

MESSAGE FROM THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL 34 A message from His Excellency, the Governor-General dated 20 April 2022 recommending the expenditure of public monies insofar as the Bill relates to and provides for such imposition and expenditure.

Third reading Leave granted to move the third reading forthwith.
Motion (by Mr James Marape) proposed – That the Bill be now read a third time.

Motion – That the question be now put – agreed to.

The Bill requiring an absolute majority of 56 Members, Mr Speaker, ordered, that the Bells be rung.

26/03 The Parliament voted (the Speaker, Mr Job Pomat in the Chair) – AYES – 76 NOS – 0 The Proposed Bill was passed with the concurrence of an absolute majority as required by the Constitution.

Bill read a third time.


35 27/03 MOTOR VEHICLE (Third Party) (New Porgera) (AMENDMENT) BILL 2022 First Reading Bill presented by Mr James Marape and read a first time.

Second Reading Leave granted to move the Second reading forthwith.

Mr JAMES MARAPE (Tari – Prime Minister and Minister for Bougainville Affairs) – I move – That the Bill be now read a second time.
Mr Speaker, the Bill proposes to insert two new definition especially referencing Porgera Project Commencement Agreement to give effect to certain terms of the Porgera Project Commencement Agreement providing with respect to excluding any taxes , fees or charges applying to the New Porgera.

Mr Speaker, I commend the Bill to the House.

Motion – That the question be now put – agreed to.

Motion – That the Bill be now read a second time – agreed to.

Bill read a second time.


MESSAGE FROM THE GOVERNOR–GENERAL 36 A message from his Excellency, the Governor-General dated 20 April 2022 recommending the expenditure of public monies in so far as the Bill relates to and provides for such imposition and expenditure.

Third Reading Leave granted to move the third reading forthwith.

Motion ( by Mr James Marape) proposed – That the Bill be now read a third time Motion – That the question be now put – agreed to.
Motion – That the Bill be now read a third time – put.

28/03 The Bill requiring an absolute majority of 56 Members, Mr Speaker, ordered, that the Bells be rung.

The Parliament voted (the Speaker, Mr Job Pomat in the Chair) – AYES – 77 NOES – 0 The Proposed Bill was passed with the concurrence of an absolute majority as required by the Constitution.

Bill read a third time 37 NATIONAL ENERGY AUTHORITY (NEW PORGERA) (AMENDMENT) BILL 2022 First Reading Bill presented by Mr James Marape and read a first time.
Second Reading Leave granted to move the Second Reading forthwith Mr JAMES MARAPE (Tari-Pori – Prime Minister and Minister for Bougainville Affairs) – I move – That the Bill be now read a second time.

Mr Speaker, to insert new definitions especially referencing the Porgera Project Commencement Agreement to give effect to the terms of the Porgera Project Commencement Agreement by excluding the application of any taxes, fees or charges imposed by the National Energy Authority Act on the new the Porgera.
This is the reason why this Bill is proposed to the House.

I commend the Bill, Mr Speaker.

Motion – That the question be now put – agreed to.

Motion – That the Bill be now read a second time – agreed to.

Bill read a second time.

38 MESSAGE FROM THE GOVERNOR–GENERAL A message from his Excellency, the Governor-General dated 20 April 2022 recommending the expenditure of public monies in so far as the Bill relates to and provides for such imposition and expenditure.
29/03 Third Reading Leave granted to move the third reading forthwith.

Motion (by Mr James Marape) proposed – That the Bill be now read a third time.

Motion – That the question be now put – agreed to.

Motion – That the Bill be now read a third time – put The Bill requiring an absolute majority of 56 Members, Mr Speaker, ordered, that the Bells be rung.
The Parliament voted (the Speaker, Mr Job Pomat in the Chair) – 30/03 AYES – 76 NOES – 0 The Proposed Bill was passed with the concurrence of an absolute majority as required by the Constitution.

39 Bill read a third time RESOURCE CONTRACT FISCAL STABILISATION (AMENDMENT) BILL 2022 First Reading Bill presented by Mr James Marape and read a first time Second Reading Leave granted to move the Second Reading forthwith.
Mr JAMES MARAPE (Tari-Pori- Prime Minister and Minister for Bougainville Affairs) – I move – That the Bill be now read a second time.

The Bill proposes to insert new definition especially referencing the Porgera Project Commencement Agreement to give effect to the project commencement agreement with respect to permitting the state to enter into a physical agreement for the new Porgera, I commend the Bill to the House.

Motion – That the question be now put – agreed to.


Motion – That the bill be now read a second time – agreed to.

Bill read a second time MESSAGE FROM THE GOVERNOR GENERAL 40 Mr SPEAKER – Honorable Members, I have to announce that I have received a message from His Excellency the Governor General dated 20 April 2022 recommending the expenditure of public monies in so far as the bill relates and provides for such imposition and expenditure.

Third Reading Leave granted to move the third reading forthwith.
Motion (by Mr James Marape) proposed – That the Bill be now read a third time.

Motion – That the question be now put – agreed to.

Motion – That the Bill be now read a third time –put Mr JAMES MARAPE – I wish to make a correction in the Hansard, I was reading it the second time earlier The Bill requiring an absolute majority of 56 Members, Mr Speaker, ordered, that the Bells be rung.
The Parliament voted (the Speaker, Mr Job Pomat in the Chair) – 31/03 AYES – 74 NOES – 0 41 The Proposed Bill was passed with the concurrence of an absolute majority as required by the Constitution.

Bill read a third time STAMP DUTIES (AMENDMENT) BILL 2022 First Reading Bill presented by Mr James Marape and read a first time.
32/03 Second reading Leave granted to move the Second Reading forthwith Mr JAMES MARAPE (Tari-Prime Minister and Minister for Bougainville Affairs) – I move – That the Bill be now read a second time.

Mr Speaker, firstly I want to thank you for sitting long hours with the Honourable Members of Parliament, Opposition Leader, Senior Sir Puka and all the leaders for committing your time in sitting long hours in this tenth Parliament.

It shows to our nation that our leaders are still at work for us to produce.
The 76 Members of Parliament to sit at this time in passing important laws.

It is commendable and let me place on record my appreciation for the fact that Members of Parliament are at work.

This Progera Bills that we passed in the new Porgera related amendments through all our affected laws in our country, given within the context of the negotiated outcome, the State negotiating team and the Barrick team engaged upon instead of going through lazy court cases.
42 This gives me peace and I want to inform all the people of PNG that we have passed this law within the project agreement which states that we will get 51 per cent equity and they will keep 49 per cent equity.

In that 51 per cent equity, we will only contribute 36 per cent which 15 per cent is for the landowners and the people of Enga will be for free no payment.

We will only contribute 36 per cent and we don’t need to go to the bank and get loan as was practiced previously by PNG LNG or other projects.
As for Porgera when it commences it will refinance itself and Barrick will carry the cost of restart up.

The entire economic benefit comes with it although it may seem we giving some stamp duty concessions and we are stabilising the fiscal regime in which the agreement was signed.

But the entire project benefit for the life span of the project if it runs for a 20-year period.

Then State and the people of PNG beneficiaries will get 53 per cent of the pie and Barrick will get 47 per cent of the pie.
If it runs for a ten year and we exercise our rights to buy them out and phase them out in ten years, PNG beneficiaries would have received 52 per cent and Barrick would have received 47 per cent of the entire pie emanating out from Progera.
Or if it’s for a five-year period, the model down for project economic benefit in a five-year period, the first five years is queued heavily to our favor and the landowners and the Enga Provincial Government will receive the equity rights from day one if the project commences.

It is queued 65 per cent in PNG party beneficiaries and 35 per cent to Barrick as an investor operator.
In one of the earlier bills we passed, the current trend, the royalty payment was at two per cent but today we passed for the royalty to be at three per cent for the new Porgera.

Mr Speaker, in the sunset of this Parliament especially at the back-end of this Government, businesses that we did for our country in an effort to take back more for our country to fast track more to our PNG beneficiaries party including landowners and the provincial government and the greater country.
I am happy this Parliament has sat right through and consolidated on some of these laws to ensure the new Porgera is moved and we will then progress to working the finer details to open Porgera.

Mr Speaker, the last bill proposes new definitions on referencing the Porgera Project Agreement specially to give effect to the terms of Progera Project Agreement with the exemption from stamp duty for certain transactions.

And I commend this Bill to the House Mr Speaker.


43 Motion – That the question be now put – agreed to.

Motion – That the Bill be now read a second time – agreed to.

Bill read a second time.

MESSAGE FROM THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL A message from His Excellency, the Governor-General dated 20 April 2022 recommending the expenditure of public monies in so far as the Bill relates to and provides for such imposition and expenditure.
33/03 Third Reading Leave granted to move the Third Reading forthwith Mr JAMES MARAPE (Prime Minister and Minister for Bougainville Affairs) – I move – That the Bill be now read a third time.

Mr Speaker, I know this is the last time, I will be speaking as far as the Porgera Bills are concerned.
Let me say thank you, to the Honourable Mining Minister, Honourable Johnson Tuke and department Secretary, the MRA Managing Director and the entire team at the Mining Department and MRA, as well as Mineral Resource Enga, Governor of Enga Province Honourable Sir Peter Ipatas, leaders and landowners of Enga Province.

And Porgera more so for the support in us progressing our State negotiation team chairman Dairi Vele and the entire team.

44 Just want to also say thank you to Barrick.


They came hard and fought hard.

They wanted to get more for the shareholders but we put our foot down, we told them that we will collect more than them.

They had mined for many years and we wanted to get some shares of the mine and I just want to say thank you, to Barrick for understanding the Papua New Guinea beneficiaries.

It’s about time we get more and secured a better deal as a result of the negotiation.
So, Mr Speaker, on this note I thank everyone in the Mining Department for helping out especially the Minister, Honourable Johnson Tuke.

Sir PUKA TEMU (Abau) – Mr Speaker, I congratulate the Prime Minister and his team on the other side for bringing this seventh consequential amendments to ensure that the long closed Porgera mine is guaranteed to open hopefully this year.

Mr Speaker, one reason as you know why I left the government was for the very reason why the government closed an existing mine.
And so, today I just want to echo some of my personal observations in this last day sitting of the Tenth Parliament.

Yesterday, we really had a commotion in terms of the arguments on the UBS loan and we pointed fingers at each other.

Mr Speaker, what’s happening right now with the presentation of these important bills and amendments to reopen an important mine in our country; that there is unity on the Floor of Parliament and the level of maturity in our young democracy.
When things are right and there is a good spirit in the country, leaders do come together.

And this afternoon is one such example of where we see good things happening; good bills being passed although, we have disagreements over the months on this Porgera mine issue.

It really demonstrates the vibrancy of our young democracy and the maturity of leadership.
And we need to give confidence to our people out there on the eve of the election; that we do have the type of leadership that is required when there is a demand for leaders to get together and support has been demonstrated and towards the Prime Minister in this important bill.

Yesterday in the debate, the Minister for State Own-Enterprises called on the former Prime Minister, stating that hopefully lessons have been learnt.

I also call upon our Prime Minister today, that lessons have been learnt.
That the world is a global village and we need investors to come and go.

We need to sit down and talk and negotiate.

We have State processes and State institutions that needs to be followed.

We 45 really have to learn when not to utter them in public and when to hold back because the processes are yet to be concluded.

And so, I commend the Prime Minister and his team for this very important consequential amendment on the seventh bill.
We supported fully from the Opposition side and on that note, I wish everyone success in the coming elections and hopefully those of us who win again will see you on the Floor of Parliament.

Thank you, Mr Speaker.

Motion – That question be now put – agreed to.

Motion – That the Bill be now read a third time – put 34/03 The Bill requiring an absolute majority of 56 Members, Mr Speaker, ordered, that the Bells be rung.
The Parliament voted (the Speaker, Mr Job Pomat in the Chair) – (Voting in progress) 35/03 36/03 AYES – 73 NOS – 0 46 GOODS AND SERVICES (AMENDMENT) BILL 2022 First Reading Bill presented by Mr Ian Ling Stuckey and read a first time.

Second Reading Leave granted to move the Second reading forthwith Mr IAN LING STUCKEY (Minister for Treasury and Member for Kavieng Open) – I move – That the Bill be now read a second time.
Mr Speaker, our Nations has just been reflecting over the last weekend on the suffering of crises during the persecution and execution on Good- Friday in the services throughout our country.

I noted that the people also reflecting on corrective story.

37/03 In services throughout our country, I know that people were also reflecting on horrific stories coming out from the Ukraine-Russia war.
This war is having horrible human costs, it is reshaping the entire strategic arrangements in Europe and more broadly.

This war is also having economic costs.

Everyone in this country knows about these costs.

Every time one goes to fill up one’s car or tank for our banana boats, we feel the pinch in cost of fuel.

Our farmers know that fertilizer cost have increased significantly.

Our wholesalers know that freight costs have increased dramatically.
And, we will see more increases in flour costs and other goods because of the war.

Mr Speaker, the government cannot eliminate all of these cost pressures.

They are just too widespread and costly to repair.

The government can however, take balanced responsible actions to help reduce some of these pressures.

47 These actions need to be calibrated to ensure that they do not undermine budget repair.

They need to be matched with the length of the adverse impact.
So, most of the measures we will announce today or have announced today, will have a six-months timeframe.

If the conflict continues, the government will consider doing more.

Overall, we are expected to stop over K600 million from increased fuel and mineral prices leading to higher taxes and dividends from our mining sectors.

Advice from Kumul Petroleum is that, they will be paying all the K300 million in extra dividends this year.
We are already seeing very strong increases in the company tax on the mineral and petroleum sectors, which we expect to now over K300 million as well.

The strength of commodity prices is lightly balancing the adverse impact from global growth.

The Marape-Basil government has decided to redirect these extra revenues back to support our families.

I am announcing today, a K611 million packages and measures to help deal with the cost of living pressures.
Following extensive consultation, our government will help with these cost of living pressures through four measures.

The first and largest of these, is to allocate K250 million to eliminate all fuel purchase on retail purchases.

We will eliminate all fuel excise taxes saving 61 toea on every litre of petrol and 23 toea on every litre of diesel.

This is the purpose of the Excise Cut Amendment Bill now before the House.
We will also get rid of the GST on all fuel leading to average saving of around 46 toea in Port Moresby for every litre and in even largest savings in rural areas.

This is the purpose of the amendments to the Goods and Services Tax on fuel which I will present straight after.

Mr Speaker, the outcomes of these two legislative amendments is that, when we go to fill up a 100 litre petrol tank in a 4-wheel, it used to cost K490 litre on February 1, 2022.

If we go today, it will cost about K503.


After these fuel tax reductions, the cost will fall back to about K396.

This is a saving of K107 on a tank of petrol due to these tax changes.

The price of petrol will fall back to less than before the war.

38/03 48 For diesel the cost that could fill a 100-litre tank will be about K418, slightly above the pre- war price of K379, but still a major change saving of K67, compared to the price of today because of this fuel tax touched.
The excise taxes on diesel are less than on petrol so petrol benefits more from the temporary removal of fuel taxes.

Every gallon of zoom will be at least 10 per cent cheaper due to our GST cuts.

Mr Speaker, the second major measure that I am pleased to announce today is that we will be lifting the income tax threshold from K12,500 to K17, 500 million.

This will put an extra K42 per fortnight into the pay package of an estimated 200 thousand workers.
This will be of major assistance in reducing cost of living pressures.

The target and the timing of this measure is from 1 June 2022 to 31 December, 2022.

Even administrative issues delay the starting time, the tax cuts will be back-dated to 1st of June.

This package is estimated to cost about K136 million.

The third measure costing K126 million is targeted to supporting families with children throughout our country.
The Government’s Tuition Fee Subsidy program (TFFS) is about the only way we can directly help families with children throughout our country including, whether they work on their remote farms, informal sector, SMEs, or the lucky ones even formal employment.

This is one reason we lifted funding; the GTFS program to K632 million this year.

It is the highest level ever.

We are already paying for all school fees and unlike in previous years, we are paying on time.
Now we will also pay for all school project fees, so that the extra set of project fees up to the legal maximum of 20 per cent of school fees will be paid for by the Marape-Basil Government.

Administrative arrangements will be put in place that if a parent as already paid his or her fees then they will be reimbursed.

If the parent has not yet made the payment, the funds will go to the school directly.

Mr Speaker, the fourth major measure is to reduce the cost of targeted household item by 10 per cent.
We had hoped to do this through GST cuts on 10 selected items, but the feed-back from businesses and IRC is that, this would be extremely difficult to implement in our country.

So, we had listened to this feed-backs instead, we are going to reduce the cost of key household items by 10 per cent through specific contracts with key PNG manufacturing companies and importing companies.

We are working in conjunction with recommendations from the 49 manufacturing council of PNG.
This focus needs to be realistic and will now target Tin Fish, Ox & Palm, Rice and Flour.

If administratively sizable within a budget of K100 million, more of the original set of targeted household items may be included.

This will help support local businesses whilst also reducing key cost through our household.

If these administrative contracts does not prove sizable then the Marape-Basil Government commits to continuing the fuel tax exemptions until 31st December, 2022.
39/03 Governments commit to the continuing fuel tax exemptions until 31st December 2022, costing an extra K100 million.

And fully utilizing the K601million we have committed to reducing cost of living pressures.

We have a fallback plan to help our people and once again in the worst conflict in Europe, we will continue doing more.
The Bill being considered now reduces excise tariffs on fuel products and the next bill which I will bring shortly will deal with removing the GST on these fuel products for the next six months.

The bill after that will lift the income tax threshold to 17, 500.

Mr Speaker, I commend the Bill to the Parliament.

Motion – That the question be put – agreed to.

Motion – That the Bill be now read a second time – agreed to.

Bill be read a second time.


MESSAGE FROM THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL A message from His Excellency the Governor-General dated 21 April 2022, recommending the expenditure of public monies in so far as the bill relates to and provides for such expenditure.

50 Third Reading Leave granted to move the Third Reading forthwith.

Motion by (Mr Ian Ling Styuckey) proposed – That the Bill be now read a third time.
Mr ALLAN BIRD (East Sepik) – Mr Speaker, before I make any comments, I would like to thank my people of East Sepik for this great honor in representing them as their voice in Parliament.

And at the same time, I would like to say to the people of Papua New Guinea that you will have an opportunity to appoint leaders of your choice.

And for all of us in the country we hope and pray that those choices will be good choices.
And I want to thank the government and particularly the Treasurer who knows that we have had this discussion several times, particularly about the direct relief to our people especially in light of the current Russia Ukraine war and the impact it has on the living costs in our country.

It is perhaps a sign of the times that we are making this decision on the eve of the last Parliament but it is something that I think our people will welcome.
As there has been so many complaints about fuel and we have seen bus operators go on strike and increasing their fees.

Last week when I was at home, I saw that the provincial transport board was running around measuring distances between villages so that they could recalculate PMV fares.

I think it is important that we are shifting some of the revenue that would normally go to KPH limited for this windfall in the high price of fuel.

And we are now giving it directly back to our people.
I think historically the PNG government has never done that, and this is the first time that I think we are taking this step.

40/03 This is the first time that we are taking the windfall from one part of the economy and giving it directly to our struggling public.

I want to commend the government for that.

It will flow onto everybody.

In fact, it should flow into the cost of goods in the shops.

It should lead to them being reduced.

There should be a flow on benefit just by us intervening in the fuel.
Some of us made that intervention in the last sitting.

51 Mr Speaker, a total of K611 million in relief to our people.

The Treasurer has been at the forefront of a lot of criticisms in Parliament but many people are forgetting that we just came out of a two-year worldwide pandemic.

If you care to check the stories coming out of China, for example, it is now under lockdown again because they have got another wave of COVID-19 and their government has decided to shut it down.
This is going to affect global supply therefore Papua New Guinea is going to be affected.

Mr Speaker, in support of what the government has done, I want to tell our people that we must not look for quick fix of things.

Do not expect that the Parliament or the NEC will sit and shift money just like that and your lives will be fixed because it won’t be happening like that.

We know from the news that Poland is getting its army ramped up to join in the war.
If Russia decides to attack Poland in the next couple of months then I’m not sure if we can call Parliament to make more concessions for our people.

These are the sorts of things that are totally beyond the call of government but do affect us.

Mr Speaker, I notice that we are going to reduce the tariff on ox & palm tinned meat.

This meat is a very unhealthy food item.


In our previous debate, I note the comments from the good Member of Abau, Honourable Sir Puka Temu who spoke about increasing taxes on items such as sugar.

Whilst I am happy that we are giving a lot of support to our people, we have to start looking at our own food production systems.

We got to be looking at how we can get more healthy food onto the table as opposed to rice, flour and ox & palm.
Mr Speaker, our people have really healthy food crops in their gardens.

Incidentally that is one thing we did in East Sepik when we first started having the pandemic.

We built a lot of food markets and open them.

We encouraged our mothers to grow more local crops like taro, banana, cassava and yams and bring them to the markets.

I think we need to be doing that in all districts of our country.

We need to be making more healthy food crops available for our people.
Mr Speaker, if this war continues, it does not matter what changes we make, the price of flour will continue going up.

The price of rice will continue going up.

The price of fuel, the fertiliser and everything else will continue going up.

These are my comments and I commend the Treasurer and thank you for the relief to our people.

Mr JAMES MARAPE (Tari-Pori – Prime Minister and Minister for Bougainville Affairs) – I too stand to thank the Treasurer and support the comments by Governor Allan Bird.
52 Mr Speaker, times are hard and our people are feeling the pinch of rising costs of fuel and other goods and services.

The Treasurer and his team have done a fine job in looking at these things and giving a huge relief to our people.

I would like to stress to our people that these changes will not come overnight but in the long run it will come into effect.

The Treasurer has stated that what is being done is not removing all our problems.
41/03 We relate in a global economy therefore what’s happening outside also affects us and so within our context we are trying our best to present this small relieve.

I also want to assure all the stakeholders in our budget that this additional revenue collected from oil price when it increases, we collect it and fill in to supplement the lost of revenue from last year in GST and other levies.
But for now, we omit it to give relieve to all the consumers and the people of PNG, we have enough revenue that will come from Kumul Petroleum to supplement the deduction taking in the relieve concession we giving today, thankyou Mr Deputy Speaker.

Congratulations Treasurer, well done.

Motion – That the question be now put – agreed to.

Motion – That the Bill be now read a third time – agreed to.

Bill read a third time.


GOODS AND SERVICES (AMENDMENT) BILL 2022 First Reading Bill presented by Ian Ling-Stuckey and read a first time.

Second Reading Leave granted to move the Second reading forthwith 53 Mr IAN LING-STUCKEY (Kavieng-Minister for Treasurer) – I move – That the Bill be now read second time.

Mr Deputy Speaker, I just outlined in the second reading on changes to the Exercise Tariff Bill, actions being taken to reduce cost of living pressures as a result of the war in Russia and Ukraine.
This particular amendment is complimentary legislation which will temporarily remove GST on petrol, diesel, zoom and kerosine products for households and small and medium size enterprises.

This removal of GST on fuel product is temporary and shall only operate from 1 May 2022 and expire on 31 October 2022.

Mr Speaker, I commend the Bill to the Parliament.

Motion – That the question be now put – agreed to.

Motion – That the Bill be now read a second time – agreed to.

Bill read a second time.


MESSAGE FROM THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL A message from His Excellency, the Governor-General dated 21 April 2022 recommending the expenditure of public monies in so far as the Bill relates to and provides for such imposition and expenditure.

Third Reading Leave granted to move the third reading forthwith.

Motion (by Ian Ling-Stuckey) proposed – That the Bill be now read a third time.

Motion – That the question be now put – agreed to.


54 Motion – That the Bill be now read a third time – agreed to.

Bill read a third time.

42/03 INCOME TAX SALARY OR WAGES TAX RATES (AMENDMENT) BILL 2022 First Reading Bill presented by Mr Ian Ling-Stuckey and read a first time.

Second Reading Leave granted to move the Second Reading forthwith Mr Ian Ling-Stuckey (Kavieng – Minister for Treasury) – I move – That the Bill be now read a second time.
Mr Deputy Speaker, this amendment is complementary legislation again which were raised the income tax threshold from K12, 500 to K17,500 from 1 June 2022 this year until 31 December 2022.

This measure will reduce income tax payable for everyone earning more than K12, 500.

For all tax payers earning K17, 500 or higher, they will have up to K42.30 more in their fortnightly pay to help meet some of the cost of living pressures.

This measure is estimated to benefit over 200,000 workers.
Mr Deputy Speaker, I commend the Bill to this Parliament.

Sir PUKA TEMU (Abau) – Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker, and I thank the Treasurer for these important Bills.

55 I also want to congratulate him for the initiative that he has taken on the previous bill with regards to the reduction in the food like Ox &Palm, tin fish, rice, flour and increasing the salary cap to K17,500.

Mr Deputy Speaker, I think we have to really get it right.
I want to argue for the hundreds and thousands of farmers in this country.

The wage earners are a limited number but the largest number who are really suffering under this price hikes are our small farmers throughout the country.

I’ve been listening and watching the hard-working Minister for Agriculture also complaining; for example, some interventions that the government has undertaken.
I stand to be corrected, but my notes say that the government increased the coffee export levy by 100 per cent and also increased the coffee-cocoa export tannish levy by 150 per cent.

There are many levies, charges and fees that have been charged; for example, on fertilizer and fuel which we are now addressing, wharf fee charges, NAQIA inspection fees, container fees and all these unnecessary fees have been charged to the farmers.
43/03 I think, about four million citizens rely on that type of income and even vegetable income.

So, the farmers’ ability to make money throughout the country is affected when we go around the corner and charge fees or levies on these same people.

No wonder, I’ve been listening to the Minister arguing that the productivity of the agriculture sector has been dropping over the years.

We are even going back for cocoa and coffee to 1975 levels of productivity.
Whilst the productivity is dropping, we are imposing higher levies and charges on the sector that has to breathe with the falling kina value.

Mr Aiye Tambua – Point of Order!

With due respect to the senior Member, the levy charged by the CIC is only 10 toea on top of the current levy that is already charged so it’s going up to 20 toea and that levy is only charged to the exporters, not to the local farmers.

Thank you.

Sir PUKA TEMU – But he agrees with me that is a 100 per cent increase.
The charges overflow to the farmers and that’s a 100 per cent increase so you agree with me in terms of the levy charged.

The 10 toea to 20 toea is 100 per cent increase.

56 So, the argument, Mr Speaker, I am getting at is, we really need to target in this scenario, the millions of people that are actually struggling and we are targeting the limited number who are have it on their wages.
That is the argument that I would want to impose in this debate whilst I support the increase in the salary cap for taxes.

I think, the government really has to seriously look at all these fees and levies and charges that are being imposed on hundreds of farmers who are struggling, who should be increasing productivity rather than going to promote tinned fish and Ox & Palm and flour and rice.

We should be support increase productivity of high nutrition value food in this country using this opportunity.
Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker.

Mr JAMES MARAPE (Tari-Pori – Prime Minister and Minister for Bougainville Affairs) – Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker.

I would like to thank the Treasurer once again for proposing this legislation which exempts the low income earners in Papua New Guinea from paying tax.

This legislation is for those workers with annual salary of K17, 500 and below.

These includes the church workers, farm labourers, security guards, and all those in the lower income earning bracket.
It is a small contribution that this Government has committed to considering the sensitivity of the needs of our people during this hard time.

In addition to the tax exemption on basic household items and the reduction of levies, in this hard times, we feel that this is appropriate to do so that our citizens have more kina in their pockets to spend it in terms of essential household goods and I thank the Treasurer for that.
The Cabinet has given him a little advice to look at ways to assist our citizens in this hard time and the Treasurer has moved some miles to ensure that this Bill come to a reality.

I would like the Parliament to give support to the Treasurer to pass this Bill so that it can put a smile on the faces of more than 200, 000 low income earners who are working at the moment.

If you look at it, the 200, 000 working in this bracket, is a majority.
They have families in settlements, suburbs, plantations, and I think it’s a good gesture.

As we go through this hard time of the year with respect to the economic problems where the prices of oil have risen as a result of the war between Ukraine and Russia.

I commend this Bill.

57 44/03 Motion – That the question be now put – agreed to.
Motion – That the Bill be now read a second time – agreed to Bill read a second time MESSAGE FROM THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL A message from His Excellency, the Governor-General dated 21 April 2022 recommending the expenditure of public monies in so far as the Bill relates to and provides for such imposition and expenditure.

Third Reading Bill, by leave, read a third time.

INNOVATIVE UNIVERSITY OF ENGA BILL 2022 First Reading Bill presented by Sir Peter Ipatas and read a first time.
Second Reading Leave granted to move the Second Reading forthwith.

Mr PETER IPATAS (Enga) – I move – 58 That the Bill be now read second time.

Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker and honorable members of this Parliament.

I rise on this occasion to introduce an important Bill to enact to establish another university in Papua New Guinea, the Innovative University of Enga Bill 2022.

Mr Speaker this Innovative University of Enga Bill has been in development for a long time.
45/03 However, it has taken shape in the last four years and represents the implementation of key aspects of NEC Decisions No.

25 of 2017, to reform, transform and to unify the higher and technical education sector in PNG including the directive and regulatory oversight of all higher education institutions being transferred to the Ministry and the Department of Higher Education Research Science and Technology.
A couple of weeks ago, this Parliament passed another similar Bill to establish the Lutheran University in Lae, Morobe Province.

This Bill will follow the same part.

A country with a total population of less than 5 million people like New Zealand, has more than 10 universities, many colleges and technical schools and a few privately established universities to educate its population.
PNG has a populations of over eight million, some say it has already exceeded 10 million and we have only seven universities in PNG.

It is therefore a need to establish another university as the current route or access to university entry is congested and limited.
Mr Deputy Speaker, as responsible leaders of this country, we have moral and specific duty to our future generations; to provide adequate opportunities for education particularly with tertiary education which is conveniently limited to a few privileged or lucky ones, hence making tertiary education a luxury.

I will briefly outline the main principles and effect of the draft Bill.

The current situation in the higher education sector in PNG.
Mr Deputy Speaker, and honourable members of this Parliament, it is high time Papua New Guinea faces the challenge to improve the quality of higher education sector.

Knowledge is a driving factor for the social and economic development of PNG.

59 Today, we need to ask this question, how many outstanding professionals have been lost to PNG, because we did not give them proper access to quality higher education.
Mr Deputy Speaker, about 32, 000 students pass through grade 12 examination every year of which 11, 800 enter universities and colleges in PNG.

The rest, approximately 20, 000, are left out of the system as un-skilled work-force or crudely put –as misfits.

Unfit to return back to the village lifestyle or unable to utilise his or her grade 12 education meaningfully through formal employment as skilled labourers.

They are in indeed a time bomb for this country.


On a positive note, Mr Deputy Speaker, some lucky ones get admissions to foreign university or colleges at huge costs and those with wealth family background get absorbed to useful employment within their family network; however for the rest, the opportunity is simply not there.
Mr Deputy Speaker, according to current estimates, very few take the first choice or the second option for those seeking employment without college or university qualification which becomes an impossibility.

Currently, we have seven universities in PNG, five are state-owned and two are run by churches, this is not adequate in delivering the human resource for developing a country like PNG.

We also have the considerable number of small colleges offering certificates and diploma programs.
Mr Deputy Speaker, PNG has one of the most stressed university education system in the world.

46/03 These stress factors includes the increased number of grade twelves (12), and correspondingly a limited capacity for university admission; a lack of international competition or into outdated curriculum and teaching standards; and a lack of connection between curricular and labour market requirement.
Mr Deputy Speaker, the present government is making strenuous efforts to reform the higher education sectors including the curricular.

the implementation of controls and quality, improved ligatures with the market, the introduction of modified admission systems and improved plans.

However, making changes to the outdated and resilient public higher education system will be difficult and it will take time.

In the meantime, we need both short-term and long-term solutions.
Universities sponsored by other partner bodies like churches, sub-national government and private sectors bodies 60 Mr Speaker, the issue of permitting private universities to offer university education in PNG is not a new concept.

It has existed since the establishment of Divine Word University in Madang by the Catholic church and Pacific Adventist University outside of Port Moresby, by the Seventh- Day Adventist church.
Just a couple of weeks ago, this Parliament passed a Bill to establish the Lutheran University in Lae, sponsored by the Lutheran church.

Apart from these church-sponsored universities, the only private university that exists also in PNG is the University of Business Studies outside of Port Moresby, in Central Province.

Those universities offer multi-disciplinary professional courses, similar to State-funded universities.
Academic programs apparently are endorsed by the Department of Higher and Technical Education Board, as per the Higher Education General Provisions Act 2010.

Mr Deputy Speaker, it is an open secret that since the late 90’s, the overall quality of State university graduates has declined sharply.

For a large number of students, the dawning realization that their degree qualifications are not greatly valued in the workplace, particularly in the thriving private sector has come as a rude awakening call.
The Enga Provincial Government and the tertiary education sector investment in Enga as a response.

As a response to the above facts, and having realized the need for a new university in PNG, the Enga Provincial Government, under my leadership has set up and have invested heavily in the tertiary education sector in PNG for the last 20 years – a role that should be performed by the National Government as its responsibility in providing tertiary educational opportunities.
Initially subsiding tertiary education for Engan students throughout the country and building world class infrastructure for that institution and later partnering with tertiary institutions or universities to actually offer degree programs.

Mr Deputy Speaker, and members of this honourable House, the Enga Provincial Government has partnered with the University of Goroka (UOG) campus.

It is now offering five different bachelor degree programs in education at the University of Enga campus.
These programs are based towards stem courses of Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics, apart from English which is a humanitarian program.

The English program is a cross- cutting program that is aimed at addressing the upholding standard and the quality of English, both written and spoken throughout institutions across PNG, including teachers.

This is a degree program leading to Bachelors of Arts in English degree.
61 The program commences in 2020, so the first batch are expected to graduate in 2023 from the University of Enga campus.

47/03 We plan to introduce a Bachelor Degree program in Early Childhood Learning commencing next year – 2023.

This initiative is a first of its kind if I may add.
Mr Deputy Speaker, we also have similar programs in partnership with Pacific Adventist University (PAU), offering two Bachelor Degree programs in Nursing and the new Hela Technical College, which will take on skill training in the near future.

In 2023, we will be partnering with the Western Pacific University to introduce their IT program.

Enga Provincial Hospital is to be opened but we had planned to have a teaching hospital for the medical students of our beautiful country, PNG.
These campuses are working in isolation and has its own governing council, its policies and its own management.

Such recommendations of high education institutions in Enga Province contribute to additional costs, compromises the quality of learning and teaching, and does not provide the sustainable development to the sector.

There is also significant duplications of roles and responsibilities, thus, creating inefficient utilisation of scarce resources allocations to the higher educations and training.
Mr Deputy Speaker, it is hoped that the new Innovative University of Enga will address these challenges by unifying high education institutions in Enga Province.

So that the current existing university programs will form the nucleus of courses going forward.
The unification of this higher education institution currently operating in Enga Province and involvement and it will complement the provisions of the Higher and Technical Education Reform Act, 2020, and the Higher Education General Provisions Amendment Act, 2020.

It also corresponds with the Government’s agenda to unify reform and transform the higher education sector in PNG.
Mr Deputy Speaker, a university education with a clear vision and sponsored by a private institution focus is important because first and foremost, it will offer time demanded study courses for aspiring students.

They are far ahead of the State universities in terms of using modern technology in education.

Their curriculum is updated and using digitalised messages and are revised regularly and properly, while public universities lack behind in this respect.
62 Private universities give students the skills required by the job markets which sharpens their competitive edge in employment competition.

The Innovative University of Enga will create a close culture of close teacher-student contact with the provision both of mandatory class attendance and counselling for students by the tutors.

Students will be awarded marks for attendance, just as there for assignments, quizzes, presentations, projects and examinations.
This will ensure frequent interaction between tutors and students, positively impacting the learning process, whilst the provision of extra teaching time strengthens the student-teacher relationship.

The Innovative University of Enga, is committed to quality education to produce competent graduates and will do so by employing highly qualified and established academics.

The Innovative University of Enga will create a continual atmosphere and use its developed systems to sharpen its student’s skills.
The ultimate beneficiaries are the students.

Mr Deputy Speaker, through necessary legislation and monitoring actions, the regulatory body which is the Ministry of Higher Education Research Science and Technology can create an environment in which, all universities to come into healthy competition with one and other to improve the quality.

48/03 In this way, State universities and private universities can deliver results in the best interest of this country.
Mr Speaker and honourable members, in 2014, the Papua New Guinea Government passed a legislative framework on Public Private Partnerships (PPP).

This national Public Private Partnership Policy provides for such arrangement.

This policy states ‘Public Private Partnerships, under the approach, Government’s ensure value for money and share the risks in the private sector in a partnership approach.’ The higher education sector is not a burden to a nation but it is a long-term investment.
What can we do and what do we say in response to the aspirations of our children?

Do we have answers to our children with high hopes for the future, with dreams of quality education?

Are our people destined to pursue poverty to poor quality institutions, to lack of opportunities for a better future or to failure.
We think not, this partnership between Innovative University of Enga 63 and the Government can help find solutions to those challenges, and facilitate a positive change in the higher education sector.

As we strive to locate the national resource and the authority to change the current situation, we now have an opportunity to invent a better future by investing in higher education sector.

As Stantin stated ‘development is about transforming the lives of people and not just transforming economies’.
Part of that transformation results from quality higher education that opens up minds to the notion that change is possible, that there are other ways of organising production.

As it teaches the basic principles of modern science and elements of analytic reasoning and enhances the capacity to learn.
Mr Deputy Speaker, the task force on higher education and society was organised by the World Bank and UNESCO to bring together experts from 13 countries to the purpose of exploring the future of higher education in developing countries.

They concluded their research by publishing what has become a seminal document titled ‘Higher Education Developing Countries Peril and Promise.’ In it, the author stated ‘the greatest desire of the taskforce is to catalyse dialogue in countries around the world’.
While the benefits of higher education continue to rise, the cost of being left behind is also growing.

Higher Education is no longer a luxury, it is essential to national, social and economic development.

That’s from 2014 to 2020.

Mr Deputy Speaker, university education leads to higher earning for individuals.

Often referred to as graduate premium.

It also leads to more taxes, revenue and the magnitude to these effects on economic growth is very enormous.
There is a vast amount of literature concerning investment in higher education.

And remarkably, there is a high degree of agreement that investment in higher education represents a good investment.

The proposed Innovative University of Enga Bill is a response to the Governments conviction that investment in higher education sector is important.
It calls for economic growth, social and poverty reduction in the delivery of Papua New Guineas ambitious vision of a smart, wise, fair, healthy and a happy society by the year 2020.

Mr Speaker, with these remarks, I now commend the Innovative University of Enga Bill to Parliament.

Thank you 64 49/03 Mr DON POLYE (Kandep) – I will support the Bill and support the initiative taken by the Grand Chief Sir Peter Ipatas in establishing the Innovative University of Enga.
Mr Deputy Speaker, important projects like this can be affected by the relationships between governors and the open members of Parliament.

I would like to admit here that this project is one that must be supported by all people and leaders of Enga including Papua New Guinea.

Mr Deputy Speaker, this university is solely the initiative of the Governor of Enga, Sir Peter Ipatas and the Enga Provincial Government.

It is a precious and worthy project.


I am very happy and I commend the Governor for bringing this project before Parliament.

I commend you for a wonderful job.

When you have open members of a province not working with their governors, such important projects do not get the necessary support hence the delay in delivering the much-needed services to our people.
However, here is a governor who has been very persistent and strong in his leadership that we see before us a project seeking the endorsement of Papua New Guinea.

I say this because I am one of those open members from Enga Province who has not worked closely in the political space with the Honourable Governor.

Mr Deputy Speaker, it was just recently that the Governor and I have started working together.

I have come across many wonderful things that the Governor has been doing.
I did not see those things when I had a lot of political differences with him.

I was blinded by my own political interest and rivalry.

What I saw was his personality and not the work he was doing for the people of Enga.

I believe this is a similar situation in many parts of Papua New Guinea.

I was recently introduced to the buildings and infrastructure he built.

I was told of the courses and the programs that he intends to be taught in this new university.
I am impressed of the work he has done and I commend him for that.

We have people in the province complaining about where the university should be located but these are very trivial matters that drain our energy, time and effort.

The lesson here is that we should be looking at the bigger picture rather than our own little interests.

Let us put them aside and work for the greater good of everybody.

I as the Member for Kandep am supporting the Governor’s bill for this new university.
Let’s work together to lead our people to a prosperous future.

Mr Deputy Speaker, I would also like debate about our human resource.

This country cannot move forward without our human resource.

I am one leader that always argues that we give priority to our human resource rather than infrastructures.

I want us to look into the human being and tap the 65 gold mine in him or her.

How do we cultivate the resources in that human being?
Let us bring that out and develop it for us to use in helping us move forward.

When a Papua New Guinean is developed into a smarter human being, then we will see a lot of changes coming back to the society and the country as a whole.

50/03 You will find that Papua New Guineans become smarter and that will boost the country and society to be smarter, enlightened and awakened to reality and we can compete at international level by producing scientists.
For instances, during the Covid-19 period, we criticized the Prime Minister for funding certain people to develop a vaccine.

But that is a move in the right direction to develop these things or even scientists so that Papua New Guineans can compete at the global science and technological world.

ICT is now more advanced compared to any other programs.

The justification from the Governor of Enga in building university is just spot on.
And the Bill has been introduced at the right time where we have to start considerations on developing it.

I also want to emphasis more on the technical institutions and building more universities but we have to strengthen technical institutions.

I sometimes feel offended when the Office of Higher Education, Science and Research Technology strive to send Papua New Guineans to Australia, New Zealand or other countries to be trained to gain technical skills.
Whilst we have our own institutions here; for instances, Mount Hagen Technical College, Lae Polytechnical, Goroka, Port Moresby Technical College, Arti Agriculture College.

These are very important technical colleges that exist but we over look them.

We should build these institutions because as the Governor mentioned 32, 000 grade 12 students graduate every year and only 10, 000 are accepted at the universities and what happens to the rest.

The word he used was ‘misfits’.


There are technical colleges for carpenters, mechanic, transport load operators, excavator operators, truck drivers, auto electricians and even agriculturist who can even go out and train our people to do piggery, poultry and so forth.

We are running out of skilled people and so we have to place our attention in those areas.
While we look at universities, lets also develop this middle sector because they are the ones who really into small to medium-term enterprises and it grows.

66 My third point is the accreditation of universities in PNG.

While we establish the University of Enga, we would like to make it accredited at the international level.
We would like to see all our institutions here must meet the requirements of the international standards; for instances, the Sydney accord, USA accords and other international accords that universities must be built upon and capacities like lecturers, students and faculty taught.

As articulated in his presentation of the Bill, the Governor mentioned early childhood learning courses and English.
We have been taught through the Outcome Based Education curriculum with the small children speaking their mother tongue in class.

We have to change those things because we are now heading into more commercial technological scientific language and so we have to master English.

These are the courses in demand that will be offered at the University of Enga but we must make sure that we meet the international standards.
For instances, UPNG, PAU, Divine Word University do they meet the international standards or do they not?

This is the challenge that we have and in the next Parliament we must look at how we can make our universities meet the international standards because it’s not functioning well today.
I support the Governor in this Bill and the provincial government, and by doing so, in Kandep we are establishing a school of excellence and we have upgraded our only existing high school to secondary level to be aligned with the Innovative University of Enga.

And also, we establishing two new high schools in Kandep to align with what the provincial government is doing.

51/03 So, what we need to do is to focus on integral human development in all facets the province and district we need to work together.
Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker.

Motion – That the question be now put – agreed to.

Motion – That the Bill be now read a second time – agreed to.

Bill read a second time 67 Third Reading Leave granted to move the third reading forthwith Motion (by Sir Peter Ipatas) proposed – That the Bill be now reading a third time.

Motion – That the question be now put – agreed to.

Motion – That bill be now read a third time – put.


The Proposed Bill requiring an absolute majority of 56 Members as required by the Constitution, Mr Speaker ordered that the bells be rung.

The Parliament voted (the Speaker, Mr Job Pomat in the Chair) – 52/03 (Voting in progress) 53/03 AYES – 67 NOES – 0 The Proposed Bill passed with the concurrence of an absolute majority as required by the Constitution.

68 Bill read a third time.


MOTION BY LEAVE Mr RAINBO PAITA (Finschhafen – Minister for Planning and Monitoring) – I ask leave of Parliament to move a motion without notice.

Leave granted.
Leave granted.

SUSPENSION OF STANDING ORDDERS – REARRANGEMENT OF BUSINESS Motion (by Mr Rainbo Paita) agreed to – That so much of the Standing Orders be suspended as would prevent the Prime Minister from presenting the P’nyang Gas related Bills being brought forthwith; CUSTOMS TARIFF P’NYANG LNG PROJECT (AMENDMENT) BILL 2020 First Reading Bill presented by Mr James Marape and read a first time.

Second Reading Leave granted to move the Second Reading forthwith.
69 Mr JAMES MARAPE (Tari-Pori – Prime Minister and Minister for Bougainville Affairs) – I move – That the Bill be now read a second time.

Mr Speaker, the Customs Tariff Act 1990 is proposed to be amended by (1) Inserting a new spectrum 9(d) exception for P’nyang LNG Projects that provides (a) in Subsection 1(e) definitions of operations delegates P’nyang LNG Gas Agreement project entity, resource operations and resource company.
(b) in subsection 2, the exemption of Customs duty from goods and others are imported solely for the construction of the facilities to be used in the carry out or to support the carrying out of the resource operations of the resource company as the project entity or operations delegate (c) in subsection 3, the precedent that the terms of the P’nyang LNG Gas Agreement shall take over the providence of this Act or the Customs Act, in the event that the terms of the P’nyang LNG Gas Agreements conflicts with that of this Act or the Customs Act.
Mr Speaker I commend this Bill to the Parliament.

Motion – That the question be now put – agreed to.

Motion – That the Bill be now read a Second Time – agreed to.

Bill read a second time.

54/03 MESSAGE FROM THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL Message from His Excellency, the Governor-General Dated 20 April 2022 recommending the expenditure of public monies in so far as the Bill relates to provides for such imposition and expenditure.

70 Third Reading Leave granted to move the Third Reading forthwith.
Motion – (by Mr James Marape) proposed – That the Bill be now read a third time.

Mr KERENGA KUA (Minister for Petroleum and for Sinasina-Yonggamugl) – Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker.
I want to make a short comment in support on this series of P’nyang related on the Bills, that the Prime Minister is moving now, this House will re-called that in 2019,the O’Neill Government sign up the Papua Gas Agreement in April of that year, and then in May, there was a changes of Government and they have no opportunity to passed the consequential Amendments to the various legislations required under the Papua Gas Agreement Bill.
The Marape-Basil Government have respected sensitive of contracts accepted the responsible to prepare, to bring it to NEC and this Parliament for the phases of all the necessary Amendment to all that affected legislation, the National Executive Council and the Parliament graces gave all the support that was necessary, those Bills were passed which became Law, has a result.
Mr Speaker, they paid the way for the developer to move the project, Papua LNG Project into the development phase starting with pre-seed which we are arranging now.

In June and July, Mr Deputy Speaker.

The project will move into seed states which will take about twelve months which when all the designs for the projects will be settled, by the middle of 2023, the projects will be move into construction.

So, that projects are now on contract and its making predict good progress at the moment.
Now the Marape-Basil Government also have the privilege and the opportunity to negotiated with its own project agreement, which now refer to has the P’nyang LNG Project, the series of Bills we have here.
Are also in connection with that particular project, like the Papua Project the project agreement that we have sign, also necessitate, the phases of various amendments to existing legislation on the Floor of Parliament, this is exactly what is the Prime Minister is doing now, the only point that I want to emphasise is that this Bill will not lead to the erosion of the total benefits packages that the states is contracted to take under the project, that remains completely un-affected, 71 this bills timely facility in nature and will allow the project to move to the next states after the project developer or when the Bills are passed and the project developers are ready.
The additional point I should make in this P’nyang agreement under the leadership of the Prime Minister himself we’ve been able to achieved the highest total benefits taken payable to the states at 65 per cent.

55/03 Mr Deputy Speaker, there was a point in time after six months of rigorous and vigorous negotiations, the State-negotiating team suspended the negotiations because the offer on the table was far less than the 65 per cent that the State was asking for.
And, we were prepared to suspend negotiations for six months.

And in total, the negotiations including the six months of suspended period took 23 months to finally conclude an agreement.

So, you might say, that has been one of the longest negotiated agreements but in the final analysis, and fortunately for this nation, we have been able to achieve a very high level of benefits package for this country.
Mr Speaker, with that in mind, I commend all the Bills now presented by the Prime Minister to this Parliament.

Thank you very much.

Motion by (Mr James Marape) agreed to – That the question be now put Motion – That the Bill be now read a third time – agreed to.

Bill read a third time.

EXCISE TARIFF (P’NYANG LNG PROJECT) (AMENDMENT) BILL 2022 72 First Reading Bill presented by Mr James Marape and read a first time.

Second Reading Leave granted to move the Second Reading forthwith.
Mr JAMES MARAPE (Tari-Pori – Prime Minister and Minister for Bougainville Affairs) – I move – That the Bill be now read a second time.

Mr Speaker, the Excise Tariff Act Chapters 107, is proposed to be amended.
Firstly, inserting a new Section 3(d) extension for P’nyang LNG Project that provides the; (a) Sub-section 1 – definitions of P’nyang LNG Gas Agreement and Project goods and consumables (b) In Sub-section 2 – the extension of extra duty to protect goods and consumables other than cars manufactured in Papua New Guinea or imported into Papua New Guinea, and (c) In Sub-section 3 – the precedence that the terms of the P’nyang LNG Agreement to take over the terms of this Act or the Excise Act 2009 in the event of conflict between the terms.
Mr Speaker, I commend the Bill.

Motion by (Mr James Marape) agreed to – That the question be now put Motion – That the Bill be now read a second time – agreed to.

Bill read a second time.

73 MESSAGE FROM THE GOVERNOR–GENERAL A message from his Excellency, the Governor-General dated 20 April 2022 recommending the expenditure of public monies in so far as the Bill relates to and provides for such imposition and expenditure.

Third Reading Leave granted to move the Third Reading forthwith.
Motion (by Mr James Marape) proposed – That the Bill be now read a third time.

Motion – That the question be now put – agreed to.

Bill read a third time.

GOODS AND SERVICES TAX (P’NYANG LNG PROJECT) (AMENDMENT) BILL 2022 First Reading Bill presented by Mr James Marape and read a first time.

56/03 Second Reading Leave granted to move the Third Reading forthwith.

74 Mr JAMES MARAPE (Tari-Pori – Prime Minister and Minister for Bougainville Affairs) – I move – That the Bill be now read a second time.
Mr Speaker, the Goods and Services Act 2003, is proposed to be amended by inserting in section 2 (1) definitions of P’nyang LNG Gas Project: (a) P’nyang LNG Gas Project Entity, P’nyang LNG Project Operations Delegate and P’nyang LNG Project Petroleum.

(b) Inserting in subsection 19, part 1, a new paragraph (k) that includes the P’nyang LNG Project Petroleum as the supplied goods through which the zero rating shall apply.
(c) Inserting in subsection 20, part 1, a new paragraph (l) to extend the zero-rating percentage charge in a supply of goods or services other than cars to a resource company, that is P’nyang LNG Project NCD or P’nyang LNG Project Operations Delegate, or usually in carrying on its resource operations.
(d) Inserting in subsection 20 part 1, a new paragraph (m) that stipulates that supply relates to a notice under section 158 (k) of the Income Tax Act 1959, or any considerations for or in respect of a transfer completed by the section or such notice.

Mr Speaker, I commend the Bill to the House.

Motion – That the question be now put – agreed to.

Motion – That the Bill be now read a second time – agreed to.

Bill read a second time.


MESSAGE FROM THE GOVERNOR–GENERAL A message from his Excellency, the Governor-General dated 20 April 2022 recommending the expenditure of public monies in so far as the Bill relates to and provides for such imposition and expenditure.

75 Third Reading Bill, by leave, read a third time.

INCOME TAX (P’NYANG LNG PROJECT) (AMENDMENT) BILL 2022 First Reading Bill presented by Mr James Marape and read a first time.
Second Reading Leave granted to move the Second Reading forthwith Mr JAMES MARAPE (Tari-Pori – Prime Minister and Minister for Bougainville Affairs) – I move – That the Bill be now read a second time.
Mr Speaker, amendment to the Income Tax Act 1992, the Fiscal and Taxation arrangement provided for in the P’nyang LNG Gas Project Agreement includes: (a) Establishing a fiscal stability period through our fiscal stability agreement promptly after the project legislative amendments having made are in full force and effective.
(b) Shielding P’nyang LNG Gas Project, its principles and mine operators from the application of any new tax legislation or increase in rates of taxation during the fiscal stability period, except in relation to salaries and wages tax, and except for a limited initial period of tax imposed under Climate Change Management Act 2015.
76 57/03 The Income Tax Act 1959 is proposed to be amended by firstly amending section 4 (1) by adding P’nyang LNG Project Petroleum to the definitions of assessable income from gas operation in subsection 4(1); amending the definition of gas operations to include P’nyang LNG project and P’nyang LNG project operations; inserting definitions of P’nyang LNG Gas Agreement, P’nyang LNG project affiliate, P’nyang LNG Project Entities, P’nyang LNG project Fnancing, P’nyang LNG project operations, P’nyang LNG Project Participation, and P’nyang LNG Project Petroleum.
Secondly, adding a further provision to section 35(2) so that the like exemptions made to the PNG LNG and the Papua LNG projects are exempted from inter-affecting if provisions are extended and interest from the funding of the P’nyang LNG project subject to paragraph (a) part 2 of this definition given on 12 April 2010.
Amending sub section 159 (c) part one to include the rate of 15 per cent for additional profit tax in relation to P’nyang LNG Project, amending section 186( 4 )to exempt P’nyang Project entities from paying interest withholding tax in respect to any interest received under or in connection with P’nyang LNG project Financing.
Number seven, amending section197(a) by inserting a new sub-section 5 to ensure that for the purpose of applying division 15 in connection with P’nyang LNG project itself, be interpreted consistently with the transfer pricing guidelines for multinational enterprises and tax administration as approved by council of organizations for the economic cooperation and development.
Mr Speaker, the eighth amendment, amends section 219 (c) as follows by inserting a new definition of sub-section 1 for approved P’nyang project and; inserting a new paragraph (d) in the definition of eligible tax payer; to include a P’nyang LNG project participant.
After sub-section 14, inserting the following new subsection 15, to ensure that the expenditure incurred by P’nyang LNG project participation in relation to an approved P’nyang project in a year of income maybe transferred by notice in whole or in part such as expenditure not being expenditure which has previously being utilized as a credit the subject of another transferred notice to one or more of its affiliates.
The notice shall entail details of the transfer being the amount in the years which the expenditure was incurred and the approved P’nyang project to which it relates, subsection 16 stipulates that the expenditure for which notice is given to a P’nyang LNG project that affiliates under subsection 15 shall be deemed as expenditure incurred by such P’nyang LNG project that 77 affiliates to an approved P’nyang LNG project being specified here and not to have been incurred by P’nyang LNG project participants.
Part 3, subsection 17 stipulates that the expenditure incurred by a P’nyang LNG project participant or its affiliates shall be deemed in addition to any deemed tax payment under sub section 2 to the income tax paid in respect of the reliability for such P’nyang LNG project participant or its affiliates assessed for the year of tax relating to the year of income limited to the lesser of 2 per cent of the assessable income derived from the 50 per cent of the amount of tax payable.
Mr Speaker, number 4, subsection 18 to enable expenditure incurred under subsection 16 and 17 to be carried forward separately from expenditure deemed to be the income tax paid under subsection 2, and subsections 3,4, and 5 shall apply in the same manner, provided that the expenditure may not be deemed to be income tax for a year of tax that is more than 20 years, after which the expenditure actually incurred.
Number 5 subsection 19; exempting from the application of subsection 5 (b) a P’nyang LNG project participant that is an eligible tax payer in relation to a prescribed infrastructure development or an expenditure incurred for income tax deemed to be paid under subsection 16 and 17 or otherwise in any way to limit the operation of subsection 15, 16, 17 and 18 in relation to and approved P’nyang project.

58/03 Motion – That the question be now put – agreed to.
Motion – That the Bill be now read a second time – agreed to.

Bill read a second time.

MESSAGE FROM THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL Mr SPEAKER – Honourable Members, I have to announce that I have received a message from His Excellency the Governor General dated 20 April 2022, recommending the expenditure of public monies insofar as the bill relates to and provides for such expenditure.

78 Third Reading Bill, by leave, read a third time.
59/03 INSURANCE (P’NYANG LNG PROJECT) (AMENDMENT) BILL 2022 First Reading Bill presented by Mr James Marape and read a first time.

Second Reading Leave granted to move the Second Reading forthwith.

Mr JAMES MARAPE (Tari – Prime Minister and Minister for Bougainville Affairs) – I move – That the Bill be now read a second time.
Mr Speaker, the Insurance Act 1995 is proposed to be amended by firstly, inserting definition of: (1) P’nyang LNG Project, P’nyang LNG Project Contractor, P’nyang LNG Project Entity, P’nyang LNG Project Gas Agreement, P’nyang LNG Project Operations in line with those employed by the P’nyang LNG Project Gas Agreement.
(2) Replacing Section 17 with the new section that provides that an unlicensed persons carrying on general insurance businesses or acting as brokers or lose adjusters may do so as long as the business entails matters in relation to the LNG Project, and or LNG Project Operation, P’nyang LNG Project and or P’nyang LNG Project Operations.
79 (3)Inserting the new Sections 18 (c) that enables a P’nyang LNG Project Entity or P’nyang LNG Project Contractor, from utilising and engaging an unlicensed insurer, brokers or lose adjusters so long as it is in relation to risk or which insurance may be required by a P’nyang LNG Project and or P’nyang LNG Project Operations.
(4) Inserting a new Section 36 (1c) to exempt the application of the Subsection (1) from any risk for which insurance including reinsurance may be required by a P’nyang LNG Project Entity or P’nyang LNG Project Contractor in relation to P’nyang LNG Project and or P’nyang LNG Project Operations, other than workers compensation insurance.
(5) Inserting a new Section 36 (2c) to exempt the application of Subsection (2) of insurance or person as agent broker or insurer arranges insurance of a risk other than the risk of injury or death to an employee that would normally be insured under workers compensation insurance that relates to the P’nyang LNG Project and or P’nyang LNG Project Operations.

Mr Speaker, I commend this Bill to the House.

Motion – That the question be now put – agreed to.


Motion – That the Bill be now read a second time – agreed to.

Bill read a second time.

MESSAGE FROM THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL A message from His Excellency, the Governor-General dated 20 April 2022 recommending the expenditure of public monies in so far as the Bill relates to and provides for such imposition and expenditure.

60/03 Bill, by leave, read a third time.


Third Reading 80 INCOME TAX DIVIDEND WITHHOLDING TAX AND INTEREST WITHHOLDING TAX RATES (P’NYANG LNG PROJECT) (AMENDMENT) BILL 2022 First Reading Bill presented by Mr James Marape and read a first time.

Second Reading Leave granted to move the Second Reading forthwith.
Mr JAMES MARAPE (Tari –Pori-Prime Minister and Minister for Bougainville Affairs) – I move – That the Bill be now read a second time Mr Speaker, the Income Tax Dividend Withholding Tax and Interest Withholding Tax Rate Act chapter 111 it’s proposed to be amended by just inserting in subsection two of the schedule four for the words P’nyang LNG Gas Agreement.

Mr Speaker, I commend this short amendment to the House.

Motion – That the question be now put – agreed to.


Motion – That the Bill be now read a second time – agreed to.

Bill read a second time.

81 MESSAGE FROM THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL A message from His Excellency, the Governor-General dated 20 April 2022 recommending the expenditure of public monies in so far as the Bill relates to and provides for such imposition and expenditure.

Third Reading Bill, by leave, read a third time.


KONEBADA PETROLEUM PARK (P’NYANG LNG PROJECT) (AMENDMENT) BILL 2022 First Reading Bill presented by Mr James Marape and read a first time.

61/03 Second Reading Leave granted to move the Second reading forth with.

Mr JAMES MARAPE (Tari-Pori – Prime Minister and Minister for Bougainville Affairs) – I move – That the Bill be now read a second time.

Mr Speaker, this is the 7th of 11 Bills that I bring today.
This is the 7th one and we have 4 more Bills to go.

Mr Speaker, this is a propose amendment to the Konebada Park Act 2008 inserting definitions to Section 3, subsection 1 of the P’nyang LNG Gas agreement, P’nyang LNG project, P’nyang LNG 82 project area, P’nyang LNG project assets, P’nyang LNG project contractor, P’nyang LNG NCD, P’nyang LNG project operations, and P’nyang LNG project petroleum.
Secondly, it replaces the definition of park use Section 3, subsection 1 with a new paragraph to include the P’nyang LNG project area.

Thirdly, replacing the subsection 3, part 4 with the new paragraph to extend the same exclusion given to the area of land within the LNG project are and the Papua LNG project area to the area of land within the P’nyang LNG project area.
Fourthly, inserting a new section 4 (c) to exempt the application of this Act or any other Act from the application to the P’nyang LNG project.

Mr Speaker, I commend this Bill.

Motion (by Mr James Marape) agreed to – That the question be now put.

Motion – That the Bill be now read a second time – agreed to.

Bill read a second time.


MESSAGE FROM THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL A message from His Excellency, the Governor-General dated 20 April 2022 recommending the expenditure of public monies insofar as the Bill relates to and provides for such imposition and expenditure.

Third Reading Bill, by leave, read a third time.

83 OIL AND GAS (P’NYANG LNG PROJECT) (AMENDMENT) BILL 2022 First Reading Bill presented by Mr James Marape and read a first time.

Second Reading Leave granted to move the Second Reading forthwith.
Mr JAMES MARAPE (Tari-Pori – Prime Minister and Minister for Bougainville Affairs) – I move – That the Bill be now read a second time.
Mr JAMES MARAPE – Mr Speaker, the Oil and Gas Act 1998 is proposed to be amended by firstly amending Section 1, 60: (a) Inserting the words P’nyang LNG project in the heading, (b) Inserting definitions in Subsection 1 for P’nyang LNG gas agreement and P’nyang LNG project participation and P’nyang LNG project PDL, and (c) Inserting a new Subsection 2(a) that provides that the production levy is at the rate of 3 per cent of the oil-head value of all its petroleum produce from the license area for each of the P’nyang LNG participants.
Mr Speaker, I just want to make a point, the Minister for Petroleum in his astute leadership has indicated us negotiating – 62/03 Mr Speaker, I just want to make a pointer.

The Minister of Petroleum in his leadership have indicated negotiating a better outcome in the Papua LNG and PNG LNG production levy is at 2 per cent with many discounts.

This one is a 3 per cent rate achieved at a higher at both PNG LNG and 84 Papua LNG one of the outcomes of us with Zhao Investments.
Mr Speaker, with this I commend the Bill to the House.

Motion – That the question be now put – agreed to.

Motion – That the Bill be now read a second time – agreed to.

Bill read a second time.

MESSAGE FROM THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL A message from his Excellency, the Governor-General dated 20 April 2022 recommending the expenditure of public monies in so far as the Bill relates to and provides for such imposition and expenditure.

Third Reading Bill, by leave, read a third time.


PRICE REGULATION (P’NYANG LNG PROJECT) (AMENDMENT) BILL 2022 First Reading Bill presented by Mr James Marape and read a first time.

Second Reading 85 Leave granted to move the Second Reading forthwith.

Mr JAMES MARAPE (Tari-Pori – Prime Minister and Minister for Bougainville Affairs) – I move – That the Bill be now read a second time.
Mr Speaker, the Price Regulation Act Chapter 320 is proposed to be amended by firstly inserting definitions in Section 1 Part 1 of the P’nyang LNG Project Gas Agreement and P’nyang LNG Project Petroleum and P’nyang LNG PNG Project Services and secondly amending Section 10 by a inserting a new subsection 3(c ) to provide P’nyang LNG Project Petroleum is not and cannot be declared goods and the P’nyang LNG Project services are not and cannot be declared services.

Mr Speaker I commend the Bill to the House.


Motion by (Mr James Marape) agreed to – That the question be now put Motion – That the Bill be now read a second time – agreed to.

Bill read a second time.

MESSAGE FROM THE GOVERNOR–GENERAL A message from his Excellency, the Governor-General dated 20 April 2022 recommending the expenditure of public monies in so far as the Bill relates to and provides for such imposition and expenditure.

63/03 Bill, by leave, read a third time.


Third Reading 86 RESOURCE CONTRACTS FISCAL STABILIZATION (P’NYANG LNG PROJECT) (AMENDMENT) BILL 2022 First Reading Bill presented by Mr James Marape and read a first time.

Second Reading Leave granted to move the Second Reading forthwith.

Mr JAMES MARAPE (Tari – Prime Minister and Minister for Bougainville Affairs) – I move – That the Bill be now read a second time.
Mr Speaker, the Resource Contracts Fiscal Stabilization Act 2000 is proposed to be amended by inserting a new section 7 labelled P’nyang LNG Project Fiscal Stabilization Agreement to have a force of law giving the agreement entered into in respect to P’nyang LNG Project the full force of law.

I commend the Bill.

Motion -That the question be now put – agreed to.

Motion – The Bill be now read a second time – agreed to Bill read a second time.
MESSAGE FROM THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL 87 A message from his Excellency, the Governor General dated 20 April 2022 recommending the expenditure of public monies in so far as the Bill relates to and provides for such imposition and expenditure.

Third Reading Bill, by leave, read a third time.

STAMP DUTIES (P’NYANG LNG PROJECT) (AMENDMENT) BILL 2022 First Reading Bill presented by Mr James Marape and read a first time.

Second Reading Leave granted to move the Second Reading forthwith.
Mr JAMES MARAPE (Tari-Pori-Prime Minister and Minister for Bougainville Affairs) – I move – That the Bill be now read a second time.

Mr Speaker, firstly before.

I moved the Amendment we are doing to the Stamp Duties Act in 1952, firstly I would like to say thank you to all the Members of Parliament once again for sitting in, and passing these important Bills into laws.

64/03 I stand here today, wearing a dress that the people of Kove gave me when I visited West New Britain Province.
People have been visiting West New Britain Province, even right now as we speak, but for the past eight years, what have they delivered to the province?

88 They should be sitting here to pass this important Bill to ensure that we build for the betterment of our people through the resources we have in our country.

Mr Speaker, the work of the Parliament will continue on.

I would like to say thank you very much to all faithful members who sat in, including the lenient Opposition Leader.
We argue on policy matters and matters he feels are different or needs be heard from his perspective, but on common grounds.

We sit and work for our country.

I want to commend him, Sir Puka Temu and the Honourable Koi Trape, and every one of us for the work we did, whether there is demand for more DSIPs or services to your electorate.

You must know where you are demanding or where you are taking the money from.
These Bills that we sat through, including the earlier Porgera Bill, are bills that will get more money back into our economy, as a result of hard negotiations.

For instance, the negotiations were led by the Minister for Petroleum and assisted by Governor of Gulf Province as my special envoy.

The negotiations went very hard.

In fact, as correctly stated by the Minister for Petroleum, he walked away from the negotiations and for six months it was on the table.
Mr Speaker, I don’t apologize to anyone, if we delay negotiations when we know it is not good for the country and we could make more.

We are not new to the LNG Project.

I gave full commendation when PNG was not yet a LNG producing nation.

The National Alliance-led Government in 2007 and 2008 progressed a project that was sanctioned in 2009 and that project construction came into Papua New Guinea and grew our economy by K40 billion, and that was one LNG Project.
Our economy was between K30 to K40 billion.

The LNG construction was started in 2010 and was completed in 2014.

By then, we had already grown our economy to around K70 billion plus.

One project delivered and increased the economy by K40 billion.

We are now part of the 60 LNG producing nations.

When we took office, we put a stop to take stock of what we could get from Papua LNG.
When we couldn’t amend fully what was signed because it had a force of law, we squeezed in as far as construction synopses and service sector is concerned, additional pipe tanks from Papua LNG.

Today, we are led again by the fine leader sitting at the back and giving support to this, the Honourable Kerenga Kua.

The P’nyang LNG was our signature project.

We had to do it correctly and right.


89 I want to appreciate Exxon Mobil, from the highest executive teams right down to the PNG Management team for hearing our arguments clearly amongst the many noises that was created by our opponents on the ground and on all levels.

They knew we had to get better so that when we get better, we will tidy the many legacies of PNG LNG Project that were inherent and apparent in our economy because of less going back to our people.
Mr Speaker, one indication was when we secured additional one per cent for development levy with a far better calculation of only two deductions, and not three deductions, as indicate of PNG LNG and Papua LNG.

65/03 Mr Speaker, it goes to show that if the Government puts its foot down especially, when we are no longer green field but in the brown field nation in as far as oil and gas or gold are concerned then it could get back more.

Despite the law that we have.


if we push hard, we could get additional through pure strong commercial negotiations.

I am satisfied as I speak to our nation through this Bill, that your body of leaders who rally at my back stood firm under Minister Kerenga Kua and Governor Chris Haiveta’s leadership.

We were able to secure better.

In fact, with P’nyang LNG, we had secure in a range when productions start.

We will be at 59 per cent then migrate to 63 per cent in project economy once the project matures.
These are all within our government’s policy.

When we took office, we said that any project we negotiated must be within the range of 60 to 65 per cent.

Ministers Kua and Tuke had that mandate; and they went out.

I just want to pause for a moment to convey my apologies to our investors if they felt it was inconvenient.

I know that they are tuned in and are listening.


But you must know and they must also know that if the country gets back more, we keep the environment a safe place for all of us to do business and we will live long in our country.

That was the only reason.


We want to get back more so that we tidy on police, law and order, infrastructure so that the place is better and Exxon Mobil and Total which are the global corporate super giants; you have a good reputation that you have partnered a developing nation well and will leave behind a better legacy.

90 So today, in P’nyang I would like to thank Exxon Mobil and also Santos who came in after Oil Search folded for their understanding.
There is a 10 per cent additional equity on the table for PNG parties.

Actually, there is a 12.5 per cent additional equity on the table and I am thankful for that.

When we put those total benefits pack together, Papua New Guinea benefits in the pie that comes out from P’nyang through the life of the project, we will get everything from 59 per cent to 65 per cent and our investors will get the balance of that.
So, it shows that leaders with strong zeal to fight back and take back more from the resources can achieve something.

Today, I would like to assure the members of the House that the Bills which we are passing are necessary concessions or stabilities that we give to the agreement so, that the agreement runs its full course.

P’nyang LNG is a $13 billion LNG Project.

Papua LNG is a $20 billion LNG Project.

When we sequenced these two together, Papua LNG starts construction late next year.
The preliminary works are taking place as we speak.

The construction will run from 2027 to 2028 then P’nyang LNG construction will kick in.

So, this nation will see a construction boom for the next eight years at the back of Papua LNG and P’nyang LNG squeezed back-to-back.

We also optimised our state game in P’nyang so that our project partners can ensure they remain here and we get back more from our resources.

And so let me commend our Minster for working hard in this area.
These projects will eventually mean that we will be an oil and gas producing nation until 2060.

This extends the life of our country producing oil and gas up until 2060.

That is the reason why my brother leaders, some of us could not compromise a fast game.

We just have to do it properly and history will judge what we are doing today.

As history today, over 12 years since PNG LNG Project was signed, we just begged and said, amidst some inadequacies; we could have done more.
The NA Government did well by allowing a greatest investment in our country and now the PNG LNG is sustaining our economy.
So now for P’nyang LNG sequence after Papua LNG; if one LNG Project which was sized at $23 billion project by PNG LNG grew our economy by $40 billion, these combined $33 billion LNG Project and $13 billion from P’nyang 91 66/03 Economy by K40 billion, this combined $33 billion LNG project, K13 billion from P’nyang and K20 billion from Papua LNG will grow the economy into another K40 to K50-billion economy size so I just want to thank our members for sitting in today and participating in this milestone session.
As I was sitting in 2009-2010 when we were passing similar bills myself, Sir Puka Temu and others who are amongst us today.

I appreciate you all for sitting the long hours today to pass some of the fundamental bills that needed to be passed today.
Mr Speaker, with this I now want to commend this bill and it includes amendments to the stamp Duties Act 1952, it proposes by inserting in sub section 1 the definition of P’nyang LNG Gas Agreement and 2; it inserts a new division 19; called P’nyang LNG project with the following new sections 81 (f) which provides the exemption of any transaction related to the P’nyang LNG Gas Agreement from the Stamp Duty and (b) Section 81(g) which provides the transfer of P’nyang LNG project capital expenditure be exempted from stamp duty.
Mr Speaker, I commend this Bill to Parliament.

Motion -That the question be now put – agreed to.

Motion – The Bill be now read a second time – agreed to Bill read a second time.

MESSAGE FROM THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL A message from his Excellency, the Governor-General dated 20 April 2022 recommending the expenditure of public monies in so far as the Bill relates to and provides for such imposition and expenditure.

Third reading 92 Leave granted to move the Third Reading forthwith.
Mr JAMES MARAPE (Tari-Pori-Prime Minister and Minister for Bougainville Affairs) – I move – That the Bill be now read a third time.

I just want to inform our people from Western Province including the Governor who has always placed the interest of his peoples’ ahead and to the people of the Star mountains and …….. Motion -That the question be now put – agreed to.

Motion – The Bill be now read a third time – agreed to Bill read a third time.
67/03 DIGITAL GOVERNMENT BILL 2022 First Reading Bill presented by Mr Timothy Masiu and read a first time.

Second Reading Leave granted to move the Second Reading forthwith.

Mr TIMOTHY MASIU (South Bougainville- Minister for Information, Communication and Technology) – I move – That the Bill be read a third time.

93 Mr Speaker, firstly I want to thank the people of South Bougainville for giving me this opportunity in representing them in this Honourable House.
Secondly, I want to thank the Honourable Prime Minister, Honourable James Marape for giving me the opportunity to be the Minister for Information, Communication and Technology for this last two and half years.

Mr Speaker, it gives me great pleasure and distinct honour to stand before this Honourable House as the portfolio minister to present to Parliament the Digital Government Bill for an act.
This bill is a significant piece of legislation designed to bring government closure to the people through effective governance, improved service delivery and inclusive social and economic development through the use of digital technologies of ICT.
It will pave way for prudent coordination, deployment and use of digital technologies within the public sector that will: (a) promote collaboration, interaction and participation within government, between government and the citizens and the government and businesses, (b) promote innovation and learning, (c) provide and open and transparent government, (d) provide citizen-centred services.
The Bill is the result of a rigorous policy development and key stakeholder consultation process as part of the implementation of the PNG Digital Transformation Policy approved by the NEC decision No.

252 of 2020.

68/03 Mr Speaker in this era of evolving technological innovation that improves operational efficiency in private and public sector like economies of the world have and are moving into adopting digital government programs to improve efficiency in service delivery.
I recall and remind the House for our recollection on post-independence public sector management structural reforms that impact our country positively.

Mr Speaker, two pieces of legislation namely the Organic Law on Provincial and Local-level Government 1998 and the Public Finance Management Act 1995, essentially brought into the public sector, private sectors management control systems (MCS) that enable operational efficiency, accountability and transparency for good governance.
94 The difference between the Organic Law on Provincial and Local-level Government and Public Finance Management Act to this digital Government Bill is that once the bill is enacted will cause a reformation to digitialise and enhance the implementation of the two law predecessors more effectively and efficiently.

It is anticipated to trigger acceleration in service delivery and hereby simulate economic growth of this nation.
Mr Speaker, MCS is essential for good governances and efficience service delivery in this technological era.

I am confident this bill will cause a third major wave in the public sector reform in PNG through digital transformation.

The Act will enable the private sector management control systems in all the government sector to be integrated and harmonised for efficiency service delivery through special and essential data sharing to cure the effect of costly information system dialogue.
It will ensure data integrities maintained and secured but shared in compliance with international best practice standards service delivery.

Mr Speaker, as the result of this digital framework I anticipate most of the public service manual processes processed to be digitalised and automated for efficient service delivery whilst maintaining control and oversight for security safety and good governances.
Mr Speaker, the policy position, digital technologies are internet, mobile phones, digital devices and all other tools to collect, store, analyse and share information digitally have steadily integrated into the everyday lives of Papua New Guineans, businesses and government, digital technologies make routine transactions intensive stuff dramatically cheaper, faster and more convenient and are here to stay.
Papua New Guinea in its digital transformation journey has the opportunity through learning from other countries successes and experiences, for example, in Estonia, a tax return is prefilled and will only take three minutes to complete with a button click.
But let me stress here that there is a greater need for a properly coordinated approach towards procuring, deploying and utilizing digital infrastructures and services within and across of the public sector, right now all agencies of government are doing their own things dealing directly with technology venders of their choice to procure and deploy technology and even getting private firm on retainer to sustain their operations.
This practice comes with greater risks and consequences including cyber security risks associated with the protection of confidential government data and information procuring substandard and immature technology challenges of standardizing government systems to enable interoperability sharing of information and collaboration across all government and high cost 95 amongst others.

These are challenge’s our government is facing and one that it plans to meet head- on through the introduction of this Bill.
69/03 Mr Speaker, the Bill now provides a pathway for proper coordination across whole of government.

It will enable further strengthening of existing infrastructures, systems and services through what is called Government Shared Services.

So, that infrastructures and services that are common across all our systems does not need to be duplicated across all departments and agencies resulting in high cost.
These services such as official email and cyber security services can be established and coordinated centrally for whole of government for the purposes of efficiency and economist of scale.

It will ensure government systems are secured, integrated and computable.

So that they can talk to each other from national to provincial and district level.
And the information can be shared in real time across whole of government for better-informed decision making and most importantly making sure that our critical digital infrastructures systems and services that we operate are safe and secure from cyber threats and attacks.
Therefore, through this Bill we anticipate that it will; (a) Improve the efficiency, effectiveness, and the quality of government service delivery, (b) Increase access to and sharing of information, (c) Allow better use of government infrastructures and resources, (d) Improve governance, (e) Enhance the participation of private sector, (f) Increase transparency and accountability, (g) Reduce operational cost among others, Mr Speaker, the existing legislative framework of our country does not adequately cover digital government or if not are outdated and overwhelmed by the immersing new and sophisticated latest advance technology.
Therefore, this piece of legislation is necessary to set the foundation for adoption of digital technologies across the whole of government.

IV.

The Digital Government Bill 96 Mr Speaker, let me now take the House through the objectives of the Digital Government Bill 2022.

As earlier stated, developments of the Bill is one of the PNG Digital Transformation Policy Objectives.
The policy was endorsed by government in 2020 and sets out the guiding principles and the basic elements that formed the basis of developing the bill.

These guiding principles and guidelines were drawn from stakeholders’ sentiments through consultation and from the expert technical advice of the partner international organizations such as the United Nations, International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and others that suit the Government Digital agenda.
Mr Speaker, the important mission statement as set out in the Digital Transformation Policy are intended to enable greater coordination in the procurement, deployment, and use of digital technologies in the public sector that will result in a better trustworthy and secure ICT environment.
Considerable thought was put into ensuring technical terms in the Bill are technologically neutral and functionally equivalent properly defining using sufficiently broad wording and terminology that will enable easy understanding and implementation.

Mr Speaker, let me emphasis that the Bill is in no way design to circumvent the on-going initiatives of the government departments and agencies who have a well establish digital systems.
In fact, the Bill will pave way for these systems to be enhanced and integrated with whole of government network for inter-agency collaborations and interactions online in the safe and secure cyber environment.

V. Summary of the Contents of Bill Mr Speaker, having highlighted the policy objective of the Bill and the processes involve in public consultation, I now provide the brief on the content of the Bill.
The draft legislation Digital Government Bill 2020 has eight parts; • Preliminary • Administration • Digital Infrastructure • Digital Services and Related Matters • Electronic Data • Enforcement • Offences 97 • Miscellaneous Mr Speaker, part two provides for Administration matters.
This part anchors the functions of the Department with regard to ICT policy oversight and digital transformation 70/03 Part Il — Administration This part anchors the functions of the department with regard to ICT policy oversight and digital transformation across whole of government.

It establishes the department as the central government agency responsible for all ICT matters within the public bodies including cyber security.
This is to ensure piecemeal and uncoordinated ICT projects costing government extensive expenditure budget are done consistent with the ICT policies and overarching development plans of the Government.

Part Ill — Digital Infrastructure This part provides for digital infrastructure ownership and usage that will be utilized to provide public services digitally using internet or ICT networks by public bodies.

Some digital infrastructures are categorized critical for service provision.
It will require NEC decision to enable the Minister to issue a directive to change or alter what is categorized as critical infrastructure.

Government private network is also established and will be operated by my department hence aimed at reducing ICT cost and public expenditure from ICT costs and provide credibility into private network infrastructure operated by public bodies to ensure compliance with international best practices and standards.
Mr Speaker, all information and data send and transmitted through the Government Private Network will be safe and secured through the secured data exchange (SDE) platform for information and data credibility and integrity.

This technology will enable layered identity authentication and verification for data and information access on government private network.
The department will be empowered to explore opportunities to develop a government private cloud whilst using International Cloud Technology from leading vendors such as Amazon, Google and Microsoft.

The department must explore means of establishing government private cloud 98 infrastructure in the future.

This is to ensure government data sovereignty is maintained for ease of exploring government revenue generation models by use of government data as a utility.
A central electronic data repository will by law establish to store, secure and enable retrieval of electronic data as the main backup for all primary data storage servers of all public bodies.

This will supply data for evidence-based policy development, proper planning and resource allocation budgeting for development.
This provision is designed to address the issue of government information management system silos and install prudent government electronic data governance system across whole of government.

Part IV — Digital Services and Related Matters This part provides for services provided to the public through use of ICT infrastructure or internet primarily such as online applications and online payment etcetera.

It provides for standards and specifications to be complied with to provide online services.
A Government Online Portal as a central online source of all government information shall be created by the department.

The Online Portal will provide single entry point of all government information and access.

To provide online services, the use of open data is vital.

Open data using secured APIs is made mandatory for provision of online services.
The provision of open data is consistent with international open government partnership initiative that our government has acceded for transparency and accountability of government business.

Mr Speaker, this part also provides for Government domain “.gov.pg".

All public bodies providing online services will use government domain and no other.

All public bodies employees will be encouraged by force of the Act to use government email domain for all official business or responses.
To address the issue of misinformation and false information dissemination and often peddled by various social media pages purporting to be official government social media pages, the Act provides for the department to keep an official register of all government social media pages.

71/03 The Bill provides for the Department to keep an official registrar of all Government social media pages.

99 Mr Speaker, Part 5 provides for Electronic data matters in public bodies.
This part provides for electronic data governance that fundamentally enables digital transformation in government business processes and thereby service delivery.

Unlike e-government that encompasses services provided online, data governance enable collecting, storing securing using and reusing of electronic data between different information systems.

It is fundamental to Government digital transformation program.

Mr Speaker, essential to this part of Classification of Data into three parts.
Government data is classified as Restricted Top Secret, Confidential and Public Data, whereby standards and specifications issued by the Department under this Act will provide the detail mechanism of data governance of the three categories of the data, enabling classes of persons capable of accessing those categorized data.

Any person engaged by a public body to conduct data management business with a public body shall comply strictly with approved standards.
Secured data sharing technology will enable sharing of data across different government information management systems whilst maintaining data security, credibility and integrity consistent with data.

Mr Speaker, Part 6 provides for enforcement.

This Part takes a proactive approach to ensure the Department enforces the Act.

Part 7 provides for offences.

Offences under this Act for breach of this Act are both civil and criminal in some cases.
Part 8 provides for other miscellaneous related to ICT use within public bodies.

It details the types of Regulations, Standards, Specifications, Guidelines and Rules and all being subordinate legislation will derive their legal basis from this Act.
Mr Speaker to conclude, the decision of this House to pass this Bill will set the legal framework to incorporate technology driven Management Control System (MCS) practices in the private sector into the public sector for digital transformation of public services.

Systems will be integrated for selective data sharing for efficient and effective service delivery.
Conventional service delivery processes will be digitalised and automated in a secure and safe digital government ensuring systems management oversight by a central government body for all public bodies.

This I anticipate to set in motion that wave of public sector management reforms in Papua New Guinea.

100 Mr Speaker, before I finish, I want to acknowledge and thank the many people who have helped to put this Bill together.
Again, I acknowledge everyone in the Government at NEC of course, our Prime Minister.

I’m pleased to say the Digital Government Bill has undergone thorough public consultation.

I would like to take this time to acknowledge the following institutions and individuals for their input in the development of the Bill.
The government institutions, the Department of Information and Communication Technology, National Information and Communication Technology (NICTA), Department of Finance, Department of National Planning and Monitoring, Department of Justice and Attorney General, Office of the State Solicitor, Office of the First Legislative Council and National Procurement Commission.
The private and international institutions and individuals, Bank South Pacific Limited, Australian High Commission of Papua New Guinea through Economy and Social Infrastructure Program (ESIP), AWF Australia, James English of Niu Pay Limited, Ellison H Holt ICT Consultant to the National Judicial Staff Services, Michael Wright of ESIP, Judith Ernestine of ESIP and Dr Amanda Watson of Australian National University.

Mr Speaker I present the Digital Government Bill 2022 to the House.
72/03 Sir PUKA TEMU(Abau) – Mr Speaker, I want to make a very short comment on the very hard-working Minister who is knowledgeable in the industry himself, so we really thank the Minister for providing strong leadership over the last two years under his leadership.

A lot of improvement changes has come about, so I really highly commend the Minister for this excellent Bill that he presented before the House.
Mr Speaker, I would had thought, it would be a proper if the Bill was named PNG Digital Bill rather than Digital Government Bill, because of my strong opinion that ICT and the technology is a pivotal private sector technology, therefore the strong partnership with the sector and the government is key to advancing the technology in our country, But none the less are very strong need for the Public Sector to harness the digital error as we all experiences during the APEC meeting here in the country, so that the Minister is taking the very strong role.
I think all of us are 100 per cent fully convene that the next error for our country to be transform through the ICT sector.

101 The strong leadership provided by the Minister is highly commended by all of us on this floor of this House.

The minister always echoing greater need for e-government, e-commerce, e- education, e-agriculture, e-health, and etcetera.
Therefore for the greater need for the ICT infrastructures to cover the entire Nations, because you know that there are black spots all around the country that is why I’m saying that it should be a PNG Digital Bill covering the government sector.

I am of the strong opinion that both the energy and ICT coverage of the entire country will improve health and business directly, because they will excess portable energy and ICT.
My concluding remark are, Mr Speaker; the Education Sector to me will hold the key to advances in the Human Resource Development, so, I strongly believe of the one-laptop per child concept, which is the UN-concept.

So, the future generations must be 100 per cent IT literate; in fact, our grandparents are now beating us in terms of how to handle the mobile telephones.
So, I really believe that the leadership by the education sectors in creating a highly ICT literate society through one laptop per child by 2025.

To me, it is one of most transforming things that digital era can bring, so God bless our country.

Thank you Minister for your leadership, thank you Prime Minister for appointing the Minister to provide very strong leadership.

Mr Garry Juffa (Northern) – Thank you, Mr Speaker.


I just want to add my comments to the very relevant comments made by Sir Puka Temu in regards to the presentations made by the good Minister who’s been a breath of fresh air.

He has been an active Minister and he has travelled most of Papua New Guinea, visiting and attending to his duties.

We have so much potential here in Papua New Guineans who are operating in Papua New Guinea, which we can invest on.
I agreed with Sir Puka, we must do so especially through the education sectors, 73/03 I just wanted to make a few comments in regards to moving forward, in particularly, the cyber space area.

Mr SPEAKER – Honourable Governor, let the Chair interrupt you first.

I will ask the Leader for Government Business to move a motion and then I will allow you to debate.
102 MOTION BY LEAVE Mr RAINBO PAITA (Finschhafen – Minister for Planning and Monitoring) – I ask leave of Parliament to move a motion without notice.

Leave granted.

SUSPENSION OF STANDING ORDDERS – REARRANGEMENT OF BUSINESS Motion (by Mr Rainbo Paita) agreed to – That so much of the Standing Orders be suspended as would prevent; (a) (b) The Parliament sitting beyond 5 o’clock p.m. this day, and The Parliament adjourning on a motion to be moved by Minister at any time.
Mr GARRY JUFFA (Northern) – In regards to the presentation made by our good minister; we need to seriously consider the cost of operation in this space.

Let me read out just a few interesting figures; In Samoa, you pay $50 for 40 gigabytes.

In Fiji, you can get 60 gigabytes for $20.

In Papua New Guinea, for 50 gigabytes, you are paying K230.

We have to address these costs.

What can we do to bring these costs down so that the internet is accessible by as many of our people as possible?
That’s one of the areas that I want to comment on in relation to your presentation.

The other comment I want to make, is in relation to Telikom; Telikom provides the best services in Papua New Guinea, but unfortunately, it has been abandoned.

It’s like our own child but we have cast it out of our house and we are running around embracing everybody else that is coming into this country.

This organization provides some of the best services.

Why can’t we invest into it?


I want to propose here, perhaps a very radical proposal; that all the governors and provinces would to participate in investing into Telikom.

For instance, we could own the towers.

The revenue that is generated from the towers can come back to the provinces and contribute significantly into our internal revenue.

103 And we could thereby, reduce the cost of internet for our people.
We could harness the opportunity to help educate our people, to improve in literacy, to preserve our languages, health, education, law and order would all be significantly improved, if we open up all areas of this country so that we can have access to internet services.

Mr Speaker, we also have to look at what is happening with giant organizations in this space, such as SpaceX, Google and Amazon.
These giant organizations are embarking on very radical efforts that would significantly reduce cost for internet and they are also spreading out into areas that are prone to disasters.

Have we made an effort to reach out to them?

We must do so.

Mr Speaker, we had a conversation with executives of SpaceX some time ago.

They are still very keen to come and operate in Papua New Guinea in some ways, shape or form.

We have to reach out to them again, re-engage and see what can be done.
Google and Amazon are also keen, but we need to make an effort to reach out to them and understand that we are connected to the rest of the world.

Mr Speaker, my other comment is in relation to cyber security; the recent hacking of the finance system that has basically paralyzed many of us.

Provinces that are reliant on IFMS have suffered significantly and therefore, our people have suffered.
Programs and services are held up because of the hacking activity that took place, which for some reasons we know very little about even now.

This happened because we do not have a national cyber security plan in place.

We need to have a proper, thorough and effective national cyber security plan in place for this country, and all government departments and State-owned entities should come under this particular policy.

There should be a uniform effort to manage all of our internet services.
Right now, various government departments and entities are engaging whoever they want and at sometimes at very exorbitant costs.

Well that has to stop and I am sure that you are addressing this, Mr Minister.

I have seen your documentations and efforts 74/03 I have seen your documentations, efforts and your engagements that you are making out there.

It is very commendable.

I am just adding this so that we take note and continue in this area.
104 In regards to the public sector and the reforms that you are wishing to undertake, we need to carry out a thorough audit of all the people who are actually able to use the internet in the public sector.

There are so many who even still do not know how to operate an e-mail or a laptop but, they are in key positions.

They are the ones that are impediments to progress in many instances.

Well, it is time for them to move on.


If they are not willing to learn and change, they need to be put out to the pasture so that they can make space for the new wave of young innovative Papua New Guineans that are coming through, which are more IT literate and are capable of manning our public sector positions or key areas.
Mr Speaker, thank you very much; those are few of my comments in regards to this wonderful effort undertaken by our good Minister; a very active Minister and I must put on record here that, he has done very well in this particular Ministry.

I commend him for his efforts, thank you very much.

Mr JOE SUNGI (Nuku – Minster for Public Service) – Thank you, Mr Speaker.
As this is the last day for the Tenth Parliament of the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, I would like to take this opportunity to thank my people of Nuku, for giving me the mandate for a second time.

I would like to also wish everyone a good and a fair election in 2022, and may we all go our own ways to our electorates and see each other in the next two months.

So, I would like to wish you all the best before I speak on the Bill.
Mr Speaker, it is a very important Bill because it relates to my Ministry and I think that this is the way forward.

I would like to commend the Minister and this government because, we are now in the process of making sure that we cut down the public service in the administrative sector.
We will cut down in terms of costs but the main thing I am seeing now is cutting down the manpower, particularly the administrative positions, in order to save on manpower costs in order to recruit more teachers, more health workers and more police and security personal.

I think that is what we need now.

So, in the administrative sector, we will look at recruiting more IT based public servants.
In other words, instead of having three officers on three pays, we can cut down to get only one public servant to do three jobs in terms of cost wise.

105 I am really supporting this Bill because it will help us to, for example; in provinces, instead of getting the Provincial Administrator, HR and all the personal down to Port Moresby for selections, we can now organise to do all this online.

We will do it on video conferencing instead of coming down to Port Moresby.
We can even do it out there in the district levels.

For me, it will really help the public service in terms of, not really cutting down the costs but at the same time, we will transfer that manpower costs to the sectors that really need it; more teachers, more health workers and more police personnel in this country.

So, I am seeing that we’ll cut down a lot in terms of the costs and the way for us to be more organised and to train our public servants to be IT based.
The restructures that are coming now, I would like to appeal to all the governors that when you sit down with your provincial administrations, make sure that they come up with a structure that is administrative less and more on service delivery in the districts.
I think that is the way to go and we will look forward to see the Bill which will assist the public service in a very big way in terms of cost saving and also to transfer the costs to our sectors that need a lot more manpower like in the education, health and our disciplinary forces.

With that I would like to commend and support the Bill, thank you, Mr Speaker.

75/03 With that I would like to commend and support the bill.

Thank you, Mr Speaker.


Mr PILAI NININGI (Imbongu-Minister for Justice &Attorney General) – Firstly, I would like to thank the Prime Minister for giving me the opportunity to serve as a Minister in several ministerial portfolios under his government.

I would also like to extend my appreciation to the former Prime Minister who gave me the opportunity to become the Minister for Higher Education during his term.
Mr Speaker, whilst serving in those ministries, I believe I gave my best and I have never let the people of Imbongu down.

I also thank the people of Imbongu for giving me the five-year term to serve as their representative and I am hoping they give me the opportunity to serve them again in the next five years.

106 I commend this bill; the Minister has worked very hard for it.
Communications is very important but many times when we are making laws, I would like to see that the network coverage reaches all areas of Papua New Guinea because there are areas that are still out of reach.

This will ensure our people can communicate.

Coastal areas, shipping and islands, must have access to the network of telecommunications companies so that they can contact help in times of need or emergency.
Even in the mountains and rugged terrains we must ensure they have access to communication signals.

Another issue is to restrict people from tarnishing the reputation of people on social media using pseudonyms.

We must ensure these people are held accountable through legislation so that people can be responsible when using social media.

Many social media users are just irresponsible and are not held accountable for their profanity, lies and misleading statements.
With that, I want to say the Minster is a very experienced Minister that has done a lot of good things and I hope the people of South Bougainville re-elect you for the Eleventh Parliament.

Mr Speaker, I would also like to congratulate the speaker for his service to Parliament.

I must say you are found to be very fitting for the role of the Speaker and therefore we thank you and hope for your return.
You have shown good leadership amidst the chaos on the Floor of Parliament and many times you were able to correctly interpret the Standing Orders to ensure order in Parliament.

With this, God bless you.

Motion – That the question be now put – agreed to.

Motion – That the Bill be now read a second time – agreed to.

Bill read a second time.


76/03 MESSAGE FROM THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL A message from His Excellency the Governor General dated 20 April 2022, recommending the expenditure of public monies insofar as the bill relates to and provides for such expenditure.

107 Third Reading Leave granted to move the Third Reading forthwith Motion (by Mr Timothy Masiu) proposed – That the Bill be now read a third time.

Motion – That the question be now put – agreed to.


Motion – That the Bill be now read a third time – put The Bill requiring an absolute majority of 56 Members, Mr Speaker, ordered, that the Bells be rung.

The Parliament voted (the Speaker, Mr Job Pomat in the Chair) – 77/03 (Voting in progress) 78/03 AYES – 56 NOES – 0 The Proposed Bill was passed with the concurrence of an absolute majority as required by the Constitution.
Bill read a third time 108 MOTION BY LEAVE Mr RAINBO PAITA (Finschhafen – Minister for National Planning & Monitoring) – I ask leave of Parliament to move a motion without notice.

Leave granted.

SUSPENSION OF STANDING ORDERS – REARRANGEMENT OF BUSINESS Motion (by Mr Rainbo Paita) agreed to – That so much of the Standing Orders be suspended as would prevent Minister for Treasury presenting the Salaries and Remuneration Commission Report.
SALARIES AND REMUNERATION COMMISSION THIRTY- EIGHTH REPORT –REPORT ADOPTED Mr IAN LING-STUCKEY (Kavieng – Minister for Treasury) – Honourable Members pursuant to statute, I present the following paper: Salaries and Remuneration Commission – Thirty-Eighth Report I move – That the report and its recommendations be adopted.
Mr. Speaker, the Salaries and Remuneration Commission or SRC has directed the preparation of the 38th Report of the Salaries and Remuneration Commission to present the Leaders' Pay Review covering the years 2016 to 2022, for the consideration of the National Parliament of Papua New Guinea.

The recommendations in this Report become confirmed Determinations of the Commission upon endorsement by this Parliament.
109 Public Leaders from the three categories of Appointed and Public Service Leaders, Elected Leaders and Judicial Leaders have foregone a Pay Review since 2016 due to economic and political challenges.

This pay review deals with the remuneration and benefits of Leaders from the Local- level Council to the highest offices of the three (3) Arms of Government with the objective of building relativity and parity into the policy regime of leaders' wage fixation.
This has been accomplished over the last three (3) years since 2018.
79/03 Mr Speaker, numerous submissions have been assessed and consultations conducted with stakeholder leaders from the various leader categories with a view to not only recommend and award reasonable and equitable compensation for public leaders but, for proper governance, to also review and where necessary, amend the provisions in the current determinations which provide the guidelines under which the determinations are to be administered by relevant authorities.
The Commission and its Secretariat have completed the first full review of public leaders' remuneration and benefits in more than two decades without assistance from external consultants, saving an estimated K1.5 million for the government.

This has been done through a system of sub- committees that were specifically convened for the review and ceased, having served their purpose.
Mr Speaker, this is the first report of the Commission since 2013 and is detailed to reintroduce the Commission and fully advise Parliament on the activities of the Commission from that last 37th SRC report up to the completion of this report.

This is the first report in what is anticipated to become a tri-annual review of leaders' remuneration and benefits.
This report, once adopted by Parliament, will replace and supersede all prior reports of the Commission and all recommendations herein, will form the 2022 Salaries and Remuneration Commission Determinations and shall remain in force until such time as they are reviewed and amended by the Commission and passed by Parliament.
Mr Speaker, pursuant to Section 216A (3) of the Constitution and the Salaries and Remuneration Commission Act 1988, the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) is responsible for recommending to Parliament, from time to time, at intervals determined by it, the salaries, allowances and benefits, financial and otherwise, of all leaders under its jurisdiction.
The Commission also has the authority to recommend to Parliament the pensions and retirement benefits 110 of former leaders, where the pensions and retirement benefits of those leaders are not provided for by existing legislation.

No other body or individual has this authority.

Once a decision on a particular benefit is made, the Commission then reports it to Parliament in the form of a recommendation for the Parliament's consideration.
The Parliament may accept or reject a report of the Commission but may not amend or alter any part of a Commission Report or recommendation.

All SRC decisions have an immediate effect and run from the time they are made unless otherwise set aside by Parliament.

If an SRC decision is rejected by the Parliament, then it is deemed to have been valid from the date it was effected and ceases to run from the date it is set aside by the Parliament.
Mr Speaker, in this, the 38th report of the Commission to Parliament, the Commission, in its efforts to perform its mandated functions and in accordance with Section 216A(5A) of the Constitution, requests the Parliament to note that the Commission has made the following determinations with immediate effect such that: Increase in Base Salaries for Judicial Leaders On 2 December 2019, the Commission approved an increase in the base salaries of judicial leaders as shown in attachment 2 of this report.
As of September 2020, the National Judicial Staff Service (NJSS) confirmed the full implementation of the awards granted in this determination.

80/3 On 20 May, 2021, the Commission approved the flow-on adjustments to the entitlements of the Chief Ombudsman in accordance with Section 217(3) of our Constitution.

This Determination applies to and is effective from the date of appointment of the incumbent Chief Ombudsman at the date of this Determination.
Mr. Speaker, further, in accordance with Section 216A(3) of the Constitution, the Commission requests that the Parliament ratifies these decisions in retrospect and as a flow-on from these decisions, the Commission, recommends that Parliament approves and endorses the following recommendations: The Salaries and Remuneration Commission and its SRC Secretariat Under Section 225 of the Constitution, the Commission and its Secretariat is entitled to the necessary staff and facilities required to enable and facilitate the proper and convenient performance of its functions as a Constitutional Office.
Understandably, the establishment of the 111 Secretariat within the Parliamentary Service has its constraints and its limitations as the Parliamentary Service has to provide administrative direction for the Secretariat whilst maintaining and keeping with its primary roles, responsibilities, and budget priorities.
For this reason, it is recommended that Parliament endorses: (i)The SRC Secretariat Organisational Structure in its entirety effective 25 September 2019 and that the Parliamentary Service fully implement this structure; (ii) That the Parliament approves funding arrangements for the Secretariat operations equivalent to that enjoyed by Permanent Parliamentary Committees.
Under this arrangement, the Secretary would have some financial independence for the efficient performance of Secretariat functions and, in relation to those funds, be accountable to and under the control and direction of the Clerk of Parliament; and (iii) That the Parliament approves an initial budget for the Commission and its Secretariat of K2.8 million and that this be included in the 2022 Transitional Budget for the Parliamentary Service.
Recommended Increases in Base Salaries That Parliament approves the flow-on base salary increases from the Judiciary Pay Review to the other category of Leaders under the review of the Salaries and Remuneration Commission as shown in Attachments 4, 5, and 6.
The Commission's recommendation for an increase in these salaries is in two parts: Part 1 For the period 2016 to 2019 based upon assumed pay rises awarded by the Government over the same period in various industrial awards in order to compensate for the progressive loss of real value, an increment of 7.5 per cent is applied; and Part 2 For the period 2020 to 2024 based upon assumed annual inflation rates over the period to maintain the real value of 2019 pay, an increment of 5% is applied A cascaded alignment exercise is applied across the Public Sector and Agencies to 81/03 A cascaded alignment exercise is applied across the public sector agencies to ensure relativities established under the 37th SRC Report are maintained between each tier in the grade structures to 112 allow for effective cross-comparison and cost management.
As a result of this exercise, the recommended salary structures as amended for approval are as provided in Attachment 4 (Judicial), Attachment 5 (Elected Leaders), and Attachment 6 (Appointed and Public Service Leaders) respectively.
Mr Speaker, the increases in these base salaries are effective from 1 January 2020 and apply only to the incumbents of each SRC-sanctioned position at the time of this determination; or if their appointment was made after this date, then effect is given only from the date of appointment to that position.

This determination does not apply to previous incumbents of an SRC-approved position or any Leader whose appointment ceased before 1 January, 2020.
(8) The Inclusion of ward councillors, Motu Koita Assembly Members, Deputy Chair of Provincial Assembly Committees, and Heads of Local-level Governments in the Elected Leaders Salary Structure.

The inclusion of Ward Councillors, Motu Koita Assembly Members, Deputy Chairmen of Provincial Assembly Committees and Heads of Local-level Governments under SRC Determinations warrants a realignment and reclassification of the SRC Elected Leaders Salary Structure.
The Commission recommends that this be approved as shown in Attachment 5 (See page 46 of this report).
(9)Heads of Foreign Missions All Heads of Foreign Missions as public leaders representing the country at the international level should be considered or deemed as departmental heads and accordingly be reclassified, and included in the SRC Appointed and Public Service Leaders (AL/PSL) Executive Grade Structure as follows: (a) High Commissioners and Ambassadors to be reclassified to PSL 4 from Grade18; (b) Consular Generals to be reclassified to PSL 3 from Grade 16; (c) Consuls to be reclassified to PSL 2 from Grade 16; (d) That a special provision be included in the SRC Determinations for the application of a Salary Non-Reduction Allowance when negotiating contracts for Heads of Missions if prior to their appointment as Head of Mission they held substantive positions with remuneration levels higher than PSL 4, PSL 3 and PSL 2 respectively.
This provision shall be effective from the date of appointment of the respective Head of Mission.
113 (e) That the revised Overseas Living Allowances for Heads of Foreign Missions as shown in Attachment 7 be endorsed by Parliament with effect from 1 January, 2020 (see page 53 of this report); and (f) The administering authority shall be the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade in consultation with the Salaries and Remuneration Commission and the Department of Personnel Management f 82/03 and international trade in consultation with the Salaries and Remuneration Commission and the Department of Personnel Management.
The Commissioner for Police, the Commander of the Defence Force and the Commissioner of the Correctional Service As constitutional office-holders, the Commissioner of Police, the Commander of the Defence Force and the Commissioner of the Correctional Service be reclassified and included in the Appointed Leaders Salary Structure.
The Commission recommends that, both the Commissioner of the Police and the Commander of the Defence Force be reclassified from PSL 6 to the equivalent Appointed Leader level at AL 7, and that the Commissioner of the Correctional Service be reclassified as AL 6, which is the equivalent Appointed Leader level of an office classified at salary grade PSL 5.
Number of Shadow Ministers That Parliament approves the increase in the number of shadow ministries from 12 to 18 shadow ministries to be around 50% of the current number of ministers of State.

Accordingly, the National Parliament as the relevant administering authority shall budget for the increase in the number of shadow ministers.
Mr. Speaker, in conclusion, the Commission would like to acknowledge with much gratitude the contributions by all members of the Commission and especially, the members of the two sub- committees which drove the review to completion.
The Commission has had the daunting task of addressing a long list of outstanding matters backlogged to 2015, and it is a testament to the will of all members of the Commission and its Chairman for persevering to make assessments and make appropriate determinations on all matters brought to the Commission for its consideration.
114 Although delayed by the Covid-19 pandemic, associated lockdowns and new challenges faced with the advent of the new normal and compounded by financial constraints, the 2019-2020 SRC Pay Review has finally been completed culminating in this the 38th Salaries and Remuneration Commission Report for consideration by Parliament.

I commend this Report to the Parliament.

Thank you, Mr Speaker.

Motion – That the question be put – agreed to.


Motion – That the report and its recommendations be adopted – agreed to.

Report Adopted.

83/03 RUBBER INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT BILL 2022 First Reading Bill presented by Mr John Simon and read a first time.

Second Reading Leave granted to move the second reading forthwith.

Mr JOHN SIMON (Maprik – Minister for Agriculture and Livestock) – I move – That the Bill be now read a second time.
115 Mr Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to stand in this House as the portfolio Minister to the Agriculture & Livestock Ministry in the Marape-Basil Government, to present to this Parliament, the Rubber Industry Development Bill, 2022 for an act.
Mr Speaker, the Rubber Industry Development Bill takes into account and follows the government’s precedence in transforming public service departments or offices through corporation such as, the National Gaming Control Board, the National Fisheries Authority, the National Forestry Authority, the Climate Change Authority, just to name a few.
It is designed to empower the rubber board to effectively discharge its functions like extension services but, mostly to regulate the rubber industry to enable and promote productivity for the economic growth and investment in the rubber sector which is one of the low hanging commodities.

Mr Speaker, this Bill is again, one of the many great efforts of Marape-Basil Government to promote economic growth and development in our nation.

This Bill was first created in 2008.


Over the last 14 years, successive ministers and governments have neglected to create a conducive legal policy framework for the growth and productivity in the rubber industry.

The result of which rubber as a tree commodity, had not reached its desired productivity levels.
The same can be said for other commodities where policy and legislative framework reform is to streamline and align its commodities, administrative functions and powers to effectively regulate the respective industries to stimulate productivity and economic growth in the open sector of our economy.

Mr Speaker, the Bill essentially will repeal and replace the colonial Rubber Act 1953 and save and transit the functions of the Rubber Board Secretariat into a new Rubber Industry Board.
The board will be corporatized, hence enabling its functions and powers to be institutionalised for prudent management and regulations of the rubber industry; under the existing Rubber Act 1953, principles of the good governance and management of the rubber industry which is to be achieved.

The current Act provides for declaration of rubber plant, appointment of inspectors with very limited or not ambitious powers.
Inspections of rubber for the exports and appointments of a rubber board, basically is a main problem of the Department of Agriculture and Livestock currently.

This over the years had contributed to dysfunction of the rubber programs.

116 The Rubber Act has served its purpose during that time.

It was adapted to form part of the laws of this nation.

However, the changing circumstances and the development in the rubber industry warrants a change in the law.
84/03 Mr Speaker, this legislative change is well overdue, and I am pleased that this Marape-Basil Government, of which I humbly stand here today as the portfolio Minister, presenting this Bill to the esteemed members of this House of Parliament, is serious in reforming our economy, not just in the natural resource sector, but also in the agriculture sector, where majority of our citizens participate in small scale household farming.
Policy background Mr Speaker and esteemed members of this Parliament House, the enactment of this Bill as I stated is well overdue for reasons that various national policy documents have identified and recommended for change of the current Rubber Act.
To enlighten the members of this House, the Vision 2050, the PNG Sustainable Development Plan 2010 - 2030, the Medium-Term Development Plan Ill, and the National Agriculture Development Plan (NADP), calls for economic development and empowerment of our citizens.

Our national policy goal enshrined in these policy documents is to revitalise the rubber industry.

This will enable increased participation of smallholder growers and consequently increase export earnings of rubber products.
Rural growers or smallholder farmers will earn additional income from increase productivity of their rubber The PNG's Medium Term Development Plan Ill, Volume 2, policy objective for the rubber industry calls for rejuvenation of potential that exists within the agriculture sector for improving quality and increasing quantity of agricultural produce.
For the rubber industry, the objective is to: (a) rehabilitate run-down plantations which should be prudently manage to boost export volumes; and (b) establish strong governance and administration system with clear policy guidelines to drive the sector forward.

The Rubber Industry (Development) Bill is designed as a means to deliver our national policy objectives.
117 Mr Speaker, rubber as a commodity that has been cultivated in theis country for over 100 years, but its contribution to GDP remains marginal.

As many as 40,000 hectares were planted with the same tonnage produced and exported annually however, only 18,230 hectares still exist, and from this 6000 hectares or less is used in active production.

The remaining 21,000 hectares of rubber estates is unproductive due to none attendance and neglect by farmers.
This illustrates the necessity to have this Bill enacted for government intervention to resurrect the declining productivity in the industry.

Rubber on average provides income for more than 5,000 smallholder rubber growers and direct or indirect employment for 20,000 people.

The smallholder sector contributes 50 per cent of the total natural rubber output.
At present there are three major estates in Western, East Sepik and Central Provinces, managed by smallholder rubber farmers and private sector investors.

Rubber Board aims to increase rubber production by promoting downstream processing and encouraging more farmers to venture into rubber cultivation by effectively discharging its extension services of rubber seedling and nursey program.

The proposed Act will anchor the functions of the Rubber Board to enable and continue this program.
Rubber productivity will dramatically increase when the industry is rejuvenated and developed through putting in place a robust regulatory framework.

This is the policy intent of this Bill before the Parliament today.

Mr Speaker, I would also like to draw our attention to the NEC approved and sanctioned FER 2014 (Functional and Expenditure Review of Agricultural Commodity Boards and Agencies) of the Department of Agriculture and Livestock in 2014.
The FER 2014 recommended for various legislative and structural reforms within Department of Agricultural and Livestock, particularly for the Commodity Boards to be functionally effective to increase agriculture export commodity in tandem with Export Driven Economic reform.

85/03 FER recommended for a new corporatized Rubber Board to be established under a revised legislative framework.

This Bill is informed by these policy objectives of the government.
Public Consultation 118 Mr Speaker, the Rubber Industry (Development) Bill 2022, is informed by various national policy documents, as stated.

Public consultation is an essential part of public policy development process.

This has undergone necessary public consultancy through the referenced national policies recommendations.
Rubber Industry (Development) Bill 2020 Mr Speaker, having highlighted the policy objective of the Bill, and the process involved in public consultation, I now provide the brief on the content of the Bill.

The Rubber Industry (Development) Bill, has 11 Parts all spread out in 95 Sections.
The 11 Parts of the Bill are as follow: (1) Part I – Preliminary (2) Part Il – Administration (3) Part Ill – Staff of the Board (4) Part IV – Finances (5) Part V – Inspection (6) Part VI – Registration of Dealers etcetera.
(7) Part Vll – Licensing (8) Part Vlll – Small Holders and Rural Growers Marketing Services (9) Part IX – Funds and Bounty (10) Part X – Offences (1 1) Part Xl – Transitional and Savings Part I – Preliminary Mr Speaker, this part contains standard introductory provisions to ensure compliance with the Constitution.

The Preliminary part sets out the purpose of the act and contains the definitions used in the act.
It also provides the powers of the Minister to declare a plant to be a rubber and further provides that the act is not limited in its application in so far as rubber industry development in concerned.

Part Il – Administration Mr Speaker, this part creates and corporatizes the Rubber Industry Development Board and defines its functions and powers and general objectives of the board.

It also imposes obligation on the authority to comply with government policies.
119 The Administration part also extends to define the composition of the bembers of the board and defines the corporate governance mechanism to deal with issues of the board and the industry.

Powers of the board, quorum for meeting, timing for the meeting and reports are also defined in this part.

Part Ill - Staff of the Board Mr Speaker, this part creates the office of the chief executive officer who is also the managing director and defines the functions of the CEO.
It further defines the method in which the staffs will be employed by the Board.

Part V – Finances Mr Speaker, this part provides for application of Public Finances (Management) Act, the Audit Act, Income Tax Act and National Procurement Act to ensure financial accountability is maintained and the implications on national budget is minimal.

It also provides for rubber funding by the State, loans by the State and bank accounts of the board.
Part VI – Inspection Mr Speaker, this part provides for appointment of rubber inspectors and defines the inspector’s functions and powers.

The inspectors will have powers to inspect and mark rubber to certify it for export and may downgraded a qualified rubber for export based on standards.

The inspectors will also have the power to inspect rubber farm and extract rubber for compliance and impose fines, penalties and charges where necessary.

Part VII – Regulation of Dealers etc.


Mr Speaker, this part provides for registration of rubber dealers, exporters, processing and manufacturing facilities.

A person intending to be a dealer, exporter or who wishes to own a processing or a manufacturing facility will be required to be registered with the board and pay a certain minimum registration fee.

Part Vlll – Licensing Mr Speaker, this part provides for licensing mechanism for rubber industry participants.
It provides for governance mechanism of issuing and cancelling a license and the process to appeal cancellation of license (if any).

86/03 Part IX-Small holders and rural growers marketing services 120 This part provides for smallholders and rural growers marketing services.

It imposes an obligation on the rubber board to provide extension service to maintain services in rural areas to promote quality of farming and thereby increase productivity.
It effectively implements the policy goals, objectives and strategies of MTDP III and National Agriculture Development Plan and the FER 2014 with respect to developing and increasing export earnings of rubber as a tree crop commodity in PNG.

Part X-Funds and Bounty Mr Speaker, this part imposes industry levies or funds on industry operators to ensure quality is maintained and price is stabilized to maintain productivity.
It has divisions one to five as followings: (i) Division 1 – establishes the management levy to enable the board to impose levies on rubber products as a principal income generating means of the board.

(ii) Division 2 – establishes the rubber industry fund to provide for price stabilization, credit facilities for produces and investment promotion.

(iii) Division 3 – establishes the research fund to support scientific research and projects to increase rubber productivity yields.
(iv) Division 4 – establishes the extension fund to support any rubber extension project of an estate holder or smallholder growers.

(vi) Division 5 – establishes the rubber price stabilization fund to provide price stabilization when global rubber price market decreases as an incentive to the growers to continue to farm and produce rubber at an attractive market price.
Part XI – offences This part provides for monetary fines and imprisonment as penalties for persons who – (i) supply false information to an inspector.

(ii) obstruct an inspector to carry his duties.

(iii) fails to comply with standards made under the regulation.

(iv) export or sell rubber not consistent with sample provided and approved by the board.

Part XII – Transitional and savings Mr Speaker, this is the final part that provides for transitional and savings.
It allows the board, members of the board and its officers that exist under the repealed Rubber Act 1953 to be saved and continue to exist in this new Bill.

121 This part will also have a section that will repeal and replace the Rubber Act 1953 (Chapter 222) and Rubber Regulation of 1953.

Mr Speaker, this Bill will pave way for increased productivity to generate additional export revenue both for farmers and the economy as a whole.
Therefore, I take this opportunity to call on the Members of this House to support this Bill.

Mr Speaker, I present the Rubber Industry Development Bill 2022 to the National Parliament.

Motion – That the question be now put – agreed to.

Motion – That the Bill be now read a second time – agreed to.

Bill read a second time.

87/03 Third Reading Leave granted to move the third reading forthwith.
Motion (by Mr John Simon) proposed– That the Bill be now read a third time Motion – That the question be now put – agreed to.

Motion – That the Bill be now read a third time – put.

88/03 The Bill requiring an absolute majority of 56 Members, Mr Deputy Speaker, ordered, that the Bells be rung.

The Parliament voted (the Deputy Speaker, Mr Koni Iguan in the Chair) – 122 AYES – 54 NOES – 0 There being no absolute majority, motion negative.
RESCISSION OF VOTES Motion by (Mr Rainbo Paita) agreed to – That the votes on the proposed law be rescinded 89/03 MOTION BY LEAVE Mr RAINBO PAITA (Finschafen – Minister for National Planning and Monitoring) – I ask leave of Parliament to move a motion without notice.

Leave granted.

SUSPENSION OF STANDING ORDERS – REARRANGEMENT OF BUSINESS Motion by (Mr Rainbo Paita) agreed to – That so much of the Standing Orders be suspended as would prevent Notice No.339.
ELECTRICITY INDUSTRY (AMENDMENT) BILL 2022 First Reading 123 Bill presented by Mr Saki Soloma and read a first time Second Reading Leave granted to move the Second reading forthwith.

Mr SAKI SOLOMA (Okapa-Minister for Energy) – I move – That the Bill be now read a second time Thank you Mr Speaker for giving me this time to present a speech.
Mr Speaker, I made a ministerial statement in a parliamentary session early last month and informed members in this Honorable House of the reforms being currently undertaken in the electricity industry and the energy sector through the enactment of the National Energy Authority Act 2021 and Electricity Industry Amendment Act 2021.

This legislation enables the establishment of the Independent Energy Regulator, the National Energy Authority and the transfer and performance of regulatory roles and functions.
Mr Speaker, given the background on the legislation o 21 April 2021, this honorable House enacted the National Energy Authority Act 2021, number 6 of 2021 and Electricity Industry Amendment Act 2021 number 1 of 2021.

That legislation became operational upon gazettal on 6 July 2021.
The publication of the notice in the National Gazette gave effect for the establishment of the National Energy Authority which is now effectively responsible for the regulation of electricity supply industry and the energy sources sector as well administering and performing the policy technical and economic regulatory roles and functions.
90/03 Mr Speaker, today, I take this opportunity again to present to this Honourable House a minor amendment in the subsequent legislation and that is the Electricity Industry Amendment Act 2021.

No.

1 of 2021 relating to a minimal error.

Mr Speaker, the minimal error is rectified by making amendments to the Electricity Industry Act Chapter 78 which was previously amended under the Electricity Industry Act 2021, No.1 of 2022 as a subsequent amendment to the National Energy Authority Act 2021, No.
6 of 2021.

124 Mr Speaker, the amendment is referenced as the Electricity Industry Act 2022 instead of referencing the Electricity Industry Act Chapter 78.

The amendment will repeal the Electricity Industry Act 2021, No.

1 of 2021 which contains the citation or omission, inserting the proper title of the principal legislation.
Mr Speaker, more importantly, by repealing the amendment Bill, this will correct omission and insert the appropriate title of the principal legislation with new definition of the economic regulator destinated by the National Authority Act 2021, No.

6 of 2021 to perform the economic regulator roles and functions.
Mr Speaker, the entire amendment made in this amendment Bill with the correct sanitation is to rectify omission or error issue, I commend this subsequent amendment Bill today to this Honourable House for its deliberation.

Mr Speaker, in addition, I would like to give a brief status update work of the independent energy regulator in the National Energy Authority for first quarter, January to March 2022 before we rise for election.
Mr Speaker, in this transitional period, the energy regulator has continued to interact with key line agency of Government, state-owned entities, the private sector, other important stakeholders and donors – a bridge that so far worked.

As I will outline in the following: Administration Mr Speaker, the energy regulator has moved into a new office, accommodation Building called, Goada Era House at Garden Hill, Central Waigani along the main Waigani drive.
It continues to collaborate with the Department of Petroleum and Energy on matters relating to human resources, finances, and policy initiatives.
Funding This Honourable House must know that the new energy regulator has not been given funding on this fiscal year 2022; however, it has pulled itself through and continues working during this transitional period with minimal resources, as well as continues to consult with the respective Department of Treasury, Finance, and National Planning and Monitoring regarding finance and the funding subjects.
Mr Speaker, we are grateful that our national oil Company Kumul Petroluem Holdings Limited has committed K10 million to support the transitioning and structural set-up for NEA.

125 • Green renewable energy is the future and as such all major players in the oil and gas business are moving into the transition and future energy mix thus KPHL support is very timely.

Staff Mr Speaker, the board of the energy regulator has already convened and held two meetings so far.
During the board meetings, amongst keys submissions approved by the board including the first phase of NEA recruitment which is currently done by Vanguard, for all the executive management positions including the managing director and the deputy managing director.
Code of Conduct Mr Speaker, the board also approved a key document, the code of conduct, which has correctly been implemented to improve performance of the staff, while attempting to move them away from normal public service work, culture and also the organisational logo.
Liabilities Mr Speaker, all conceptual liabilities of the provision of Goods and Services, and the legal matters from previous administration of the Department Petroleum and Energy has now under the energy law been transferred to the NEA regulator as stipulated in the National Energy Authority Act of 2021, process of due diligence has been applied and is ongoing for clearance and settlement pending funding.
91/03 Policies and Planning Mr Speaker, a number of subsequent policies are currently lined up for development and launching in 2022.

The solar policy has been released for internal consultation to be followed by hydro-policy, the ammonia and hydrogen policy and geo-thermal policy.

The regulator will follow, what is going to be a policy development process, specific to all sub-sector energy policies and shall comprise of five stages, the fifth being the launching stage.
Mr Speaker, the regulator is also progressing discussions with key developers like FFI, on the policy requirements and what needs to be done.

The regulator is also progressing its co-shared responsibility with the Climate Change and Development Authority (CCDA) and all article six matters, including the development of its own natural GHT inventory for energy project.
126 The regulator is also exploring global discussion forums where it can raise issues of importance on energy transition methods, including under the Climate Change Forum, as well as APEC.

Mr Speaker, the regulator has also shared a key responsibility.

As the chair of the energy sub- technical committee of PNG, our responsibility co-shared with CCDA.
Mr Speaker, the off-grid small power systems regulations have been developed by NEA, with the assistance of United Nations Development Program resident office in Papua New Guinea.

Upon final analysis by the UNDP, this important document was handed over to the regulator a week ago.

Mr Speaker, this is a milestone achievement for our young entity, such as the National Energy Authority, even though it is still in transition to become a fully-pledged independent energy regulator.
Mr Speaker, my ministry wants to thank the UNDP for assisting our new energy regulator, in putting together this important regulation document.

The regulator document is currently going through the statutory compliance requirement for approval and gazettal before use.
Projects Mr Speaker, the energy regulator has continued its monthly meetings or consultations with 43 featured industries on the items identified in the master development agreement, which were signed recently in Glasgow, Scotland, a few months ago.

These items will set the basis for planning, pre- feasibility and feasibility studies, matters of local content and landowners engagements, as well as other key propositions.
Mr Speaker, there are small macro programs that the energy regulator has identified to work with certain State agencies to roll them, such as the renewable solar power energy activities, et cetera.

Challenges Mr Speaker, in conclusion, I want to respectfully inform this Honourable House, that it is very challenging given the difficulties in the transitional period.

With this new energy regulator to get off the ground, it has done a lot tremendously with less resources.
Therefore, it is important that we should appreciate that the regulators work on the reforms do come with major challenges, especially changing all institutional structures, system and processes and the re-organization and movement of human capital to ensure the administration is set to focus on new renewable energy programs and projects, as well as clean energy going forward.
127 Mr Speaker, the regulator is tasked with a small team of very well experienced technical and policy officials, who have a strong work ethic and a good attitude towards the mandate of the authority.

The authority has been branded with a new logo, official emails with its own government domain with a web site currently under development, and work shouldn’t be long.
Mr Speaker, for an organization that has only existed for the last nine months, with little resources, we believed we have served the intention of this Honourable House well, by the progress we have achieved so far and will continue to do so.

Mr Speaker, let me acknowledge those who have gone before me in starting this ministry.
I must again commend the leadership of our Prime Minister, the Hounorable James Marape, and for recognizing me personally and ensuring that the new independent energy regulator, the National Energy Authority is properly established, as an independent energy regulator to perform both the economic and the technical regulatory roles and functions over the electricity industry and the energy services sector.
92/03 Mr Speaker, in hindsight, I must also commend several great leaders such as the late Ben Micah, Honourable Kerenga Kua as Minister for Petroleum and Energy, Honourable Sam Basil, Honourable Rainbo Paita and Honourable William Onlgo who were appointed as pioneer Energy portfolio ministers before me.

Thus, initiating the foundation for the reforms and being responsible for progressing the changes in the electricity industry and the energy service sector.
Mr Speaker, in closing, I thank you again, for me giving me the opportunity to speak to this Honourable House.

I commend the amendment Bill to correct a minor error in the law to transfer the economical regulatory role and functions for the National Energy Authority to perform.

And so, I humbly appeal for the support of the members of this Honourable House to deliberate and approve this amendment, Bill.

As such, I commend this statement to Parliament.

Motion – That the question be now put – agreed to.


Motion – That the Bill be now read a second time – agreed to.

128 Bill read a second time.

Third Reading Bill, by leave read a third time.

PROCEEDS OF CRIME BILL 2022 First Reading Bill presented by Mr Bryan Kramer and read a first time.

Second Reading Leave granted to move the second reading forthwith.

Mr BRYAN KRAMER (Madang – Minister for Immigration and Border Security) – I move – That the Bill be now read a second time.
Mr Speaker, and members of this Honourable House, it gives me great pleasure to introduce the Proceeds of Crime Bill 2022 on behalf of the Minister for Attorney-General and Justice.

The Bill is a consolidation of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2005, Principal Act and a Proceeds of Crime Amendment Act 2015.

Mr Speaker, in 2005 the National Parliament passed a Principal Act which was certified on the 23 January 2006.
After being in an operation for almost six years, there was a comprehensive review of the Principal Act in between the year 2013 and 2014.

In addition to this, the ASIA Pacific group of money laundering and World Bank conducted a review of PNG Anti-Money Laundering Legislative Regime and provided their findings in a mutually evaluation report for PNG.
129 93/03 Subsequently, based on the multiple reviews conducted in the preceding years, a further amendment was passed by the National Parliament in July 2015 and so the enactment of the amendment Bill which was certified on the 20 January 2016.

The notice published and gazetted on 4 February 2016 to effect the commencement.
Mr Speaker, the Act legislated for a broad range of provisions to the principle act which included: • strengthening the provisions concerning cross-border movement of currency and other items of value.

• Adding new powers to the confiscation regime, strengthening of existing provisions of confiscating regime.
• Repealing the money laundering offences which were repealed from the principle act and inserted into the Criminal Code by the Criminal Code Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing (Amendment)Act 2015.
• Repealing part two, measures of combat, money laundering which included the service and functions of the financial intelligence unit which was in the Royal PNG Constabulary, this has been repealed and replaced with the new Anti-money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Regulation and Supervision Regime of the Anti-Money Laundering Counter-Terrorism Financing Act 2015.
During the course of preparing the amendment for certification and commencement, the legislative drafting identified errors or irregularities that were made when the amendment Bill was drafted.

The errors and irregularities that were identified primarily relate to numbering and order of divisions and typographical errors.
It was advised that given the high importance of this legislation, the Principle Act must be reviewed together with the amended Act with the views to repeal and replace with the new Proceeds of Crime Bill 2022.

Mr Speaker, currently both the principal act and the amended act contain irregularities and structural defects, specifically the numbering of sections and that require redrafting of the law.

This has not in any way affected the application of the substantive provisions however remains disorderly.
Mr Speaker, at this juncture, I put forth the two-underlying proposal of the Bill.

130 Firstly, upon the amended Act coming into operation, there were irregularities contained in the Principle Act in terms of the structure, specifically relating to the numbering of the provisions.

This has impacted the effective use of the law in its entirety.

Secondly, the principle act was not consolidated to indicate the amended provisions and creating more ambiguity into its application by the relevant authorities.
Mr Speaker, because of these reasons, my then department, in consultations with the relevant stakeholders’ commenced legislative reviews to consolidate the Principle Act and the amendment Act to correct the structured defects.

Mr Speaker, by consolidating the Principle Act and the amendment Act by operation of this law, it will consequently affect the repealing of the two pieces of legislation in its entirety upon the coming into operation of the Proceeds of Crime Bill 2022.
Key features of the revised Proceeds of Crime Bill 2022.

This bill will address technical errors and irregularities, produce a user-friendly consolidated version of both principle and amendment acts and will make further amendment easier.

By repealing the Principle Act and the amendment Act, the section numbers along with the subsequent numbers will change to fill empty sections.
Basically, the Proceeds of Crime Bill 2022 will capture the necessary transitional and application provisions and all other consequential amendments.

Furthermore, it is proposed for the Proceeds of Crime Bill 2002 to be applied respectively and in relation to conduct that occurred on the 4 February 2016, date in which the Proceeds of Crime Amendment Act 2015 came into force.
This does not raise the concern for the retrospective criminal liability because all offence provisions by the Proceeds of Crime Bill 2022 have been in force since 4 February 2016.

Mr Speaker, the only difference is the proposed Bill will have the different sections because of the missing sections and subsections that were repealed and never replaced under sections of the Proceeds of Crime Bill.

This will need to be renumbered to ensure there are no empty sections.
This will affect cross referencing within the bill and other pieces of legislation, therefore cross-reference within the Proceeds of Crime Bill and other pieces of legislation that make reference to the principle act will be updated together with minor technical defects to be addressed and subsequently through these amendments.

Unexplained Wealth orders.


131 Mr Speaker, the Proceeds of Crime Bill also covers provisions of unexplained wealth orders which provides for the current or previous wealth of a person under this regime.

The unexplained wealth provisions will be used against a person whose wealth exceeds that which can be explained by the legitimate income.
The State would need to demonstrate to court that it has legitimate grounds of suspecting that a person has unexplained wealth to which the person suspected of having unexplained wealth must provide an appropriate explanation and prove that the wealth inflation was accumulated legitimately.
94/03 Mr Speaker, the key features of the unexplained wealth provisions are as follows: Unexplained wealth provision will apply to public officials as given the meaning under the Organic Law of the Independent Commission Against Corruption or ICAC.

The State may apply to court for an unexplained wealth order against a public official.

This application may be made in conjunction with an application for a restraining order under the Proceeds of Crime Bill 2022 or any other time.
This is a restraining order that does not need to have been made in order to apply for unexplained declaration.
The court must make an order against a public official if the court is satisfied that there is reasonable suspicion that the public official has engaged in one or more indubitable offence related activity or has acquired without giving sufficient consideration properly derived from the indubitable offence related activity of someone else whether or not the person you suspect derived the property from illegal activities.
Lastly, any of the public official’s current or previous wealth was acquired unlawfully.

Mr Speaker, the value of the unexplained wealth is calculated by subtracting the persons lawfully acquired wealth from the total wealth.

The amount calculated must be paid to state under the Proceeds of Crime Bill 2022.

Mr Speaker, with that I now commend the Proceeds of Crime Bill to the Parliament.

Mr GARRY JUFFA (Northern) – I commend the Minister for his efforts to bring this Bill to the Floor of Parliament.
In fact, I do commend our Government under the prime ministership of Honourable James Marape for making a significant effort to address a lot of this outstanding issues in regards to tightening the noose around corruption.

132 Mr Speaker, we are known for passing a lot of very good laws in this country.

Unfortunately, the enforcement part of it is the part that we sometimes lack the drive or effort.

As such these laws look great but if they are not enforced then what is the point of having them.
This is something we must ask ourselves.

For example, money laundering and proceeds of crime such as unexplained wealth are all tied to transnational crimes.

But do we have to have the capacity to investigate these crimes and deal with those who perpetrate these crimes.

Mr Speaker, when we talk about these things, it is not just the small fish that are involved.
We read in the papers and watch on television about people being caught and prosecuted; however, the bigger fish are still swimming freely out there.

They get away with these crimes.

For instance, a bank may be the recipient of a crime so what happens to that bank?

What happens to people who run those banks?

Are they taken to task?

I am not only talking about that UBS Loan but other institutions and organisations that are very powerful that seem to escape our laws.
No one pays attention to them maybe because they are huge.

For example, companies that are in the business of extracting our natural resources.

They obtain permits and licenses through various suspicious means.

They probably attained these permits and licenses through means that are perhaps criminal.

Then the profits that they make are deemed to be tainted therefore proceeds of crime.
If they then deposit these proceeds of crime into certain banks who go through the processes of placements, layering and integration, then it defines money laundering.

Mr Speaker, what is going to happen to them?

They are also culpable.

Who is going to investigate these complex crimes?

Are the people responsible adequately equipped?

Do they have the capacity?

Have they been adequately trained?

Many nations are moving very fast to do this but we are lagging behind.
They are all driving nuclear-powered SUVs and we are still pushing an old rusty wheelbarrow.

95/03 What are we doing about this?

So, whilst we pass these great laws, which must be passed then we must also match this with the capacities to be able to enforce these laws.

We must be able to give the resources that are required by those who are expected to enforce these laws.

I take note that, we are about to bring the creation of ICAC – very much needed.
And the people that are going to work in that organisation must be people who cannot be tainted or bribed.

133 They must be adequately remunerated and they must be very good at what they do; investigations, auditing, forensic accounting, prosecution or whatever it is required so they can function in the best interest of our country and people.

They must be adequately remunerated and well taken care of.
They cannot be at such a level where a single file can go missing, documents and vital evidence can suddenly disappear.

Even witnesses are unwillingly to turn up to court and cases are dismissed or thrown out and this is happening, there are real efforts that are undertaken.

Mr Speaker, in this country it seems that prosecution only occur when there is someone who is deliberately pursuing such prosecutions.

In many instances, if no one is deliberately pursing this prosecution then it won’t happen.
If we did an audit of all the cases that have been investigated such as the serious crimes and not crimes against a person who is in the process of holding up a service station he will be charged and jailed for ten years or more.

I am referring to people who walk out with K900 million and leave this country then what’s going to happen to them?

Who is going to pursue them and who is going to recover this K900 million and ensure that they face justices?
These are complex crimes and that requires people who know what they are doing and these sorts of people don’t come cheap.

We have to have the capacity to accommodate, recruit and ensure that they go after serious criminals, transnational criminals.
There are many of them in this country and this economy, slithering around doing whatever they want at will and whim, building empires and seizing up a lot of revenues that should be used to build this economy, yet sending it offshore to build empires in other countries.

I want to make mention of some of these countries, because some of them are very good at educating us about corruption but they themselves are happily accommodating this type of criminals.
We have to ensure that they too do their part as signatories to the convention on transnational crimes which we all supposedly signed after 2000.

We are a signatory of that and I believe it was around in 2007.

But we have not done much to actually enact the laws that are required.

This is just one of laws out of the 20 laws that are needed.

Laws needed to protect your people, smuggling of our people and these are much needed laws.
I commend you, Minister in your efforts as the former Justice Minister for doing the best you can in the very short time.

You have introduced a lot of laws here and gave much support for the Government and that’s very commendable but for all of us here, we must make sure that we have the capacity.
134 I am talking about this because as long as we create this laws but don’t develop the capacity, then the gates to this economy will remain wide open to all these sinister criminals who will be making a bee line for this economy because they know this is where they can enrich themselves at the expense of our people.

We the guardians of the gates of this economy cannot fall sleep but should be on watch at all time as long as we are here.

We must also scrutinize our public sector.


I can tell you, those who are in charge of the departments are very weak and only about 30 per cent are actually doing their part to protect this country but 70 per cent are not doing their part.

They are unwilling to discipline their staff by sacking and charging officers who are corrupt within their organization and departments.

We are also not doing our part because we let them continue in their positions and that must stop.
Many times we are always praising Singapore and now Rwanda on how we want to be like them.

If we really want to be like them, we need to study what they did to get to where they are.

96/03 But I can tell you what they do, they enforce the laws that they pass and ensure that they have the capacity to enforce those laws.

And they don’t accommodate any criminal that comes into their country and disrespect their laws and people.

They treat them with utter contempt and that’s what we don’t do here.
We accommodate all manner of criminals and not too long ago, we accommodated an Interpol fugitive.

For example, we welcomed and embraced him at the airport, gave him citizenship and a wrong passport, not only that, we even did business with him, my goodness.

We are not careful and there are all manner of such criminals in this country in our economy that are operating at will and whim plundering our natural resources, seizing up our funds and sending it offshores to build empires.
There are institutions in this country that are helping them by doing this, laundering money for instance.

So, it’s all very well to pass these laws but we must develop the capacities and we must also have the will and whim.

We must harness that will and whim and we must direct where it should go on behalf of our people.

That is why we are here apparently.

There are several departments in our country, they are happily accommodating these types of creatures, let me tell you.
They are building empires at our people’s expense.

The price is paid by the most vulnerable –our people in rural areas who go to an aid post where there’s no medication, 135 where they don’t have a doctor and not even a medical person to attend to them.

So, they have to go back with the corpse of their child, this is actually happening.
Why, because those monies that are supposed to go to these organizations, aid post, and health institutions to fund these type of services have been deprived, stolen and taken out of this country, like the K900 million that went, like the K300 million that we spent on Seabed mining for example, and many other such schemes and scans.

So, let’s pass these laws but let’s also ensure that we have the capacity to enforce these laws.

Let’s do it aggressively and assertively.


This country is such a beautiful country, it is worth protecting and fighting for, our people deserves us to stand up and fight for them all the time, we don’t do enough of that.

Anyway, Mr Speaker, thank you, those are my comments.

Mr JAMES MARAPE (Tari- Pori-Prime Minister and Minister for Bougainville Affairs – Thank you, Mr Speaker.

I will make few remarks and we can move on.


This law is a good law because just yesterday, we debated on the UBS report and wondered where this huge amount of money went.

Many times, we hear about huge sums of money that went missing in our country and our police and the investigation team have limited powers to carry out their duties.
The law we passed today gives more power to police and IRC to question the public servants on their methods of wealth acquisition, like owning ten cars and three properties.

It gives additional powers to try our best in our country to live with honesty, decorum, and dignity.

I just want to thank the leaders who are present here.

Many people thinks that politicians will not pass this types of laws.

They assume we are corrupt and will not pass the law of corruption.
This is the Tenth Parliament and we are still sitting here.

Papua New Guineans take note of your leaders who vote for this Bill.

They are voting to prevent corruption that is happening.

Many times, politicians are being blamed but there are people working in the public and private sectors who acquire wealth through illegal means.

Depositing huge amount of money less than their earnings.

This law is simple, questioning the assets acquired and money earned according to the amount of work done.
If you stole it, this law will check it.

Similar to UBS report, we passed yesterday.

136 If a house is built without proper earnings, this law can be applied.

How did you build this house and or construct this factory and the law will fill this gap.

97/03 I ask the country to take note of these political leaders who are seated here.

They are passing a Bill to safeguard the theft of public assets.
Today, it is 7 o’clock late into the night, over 60 members are still here to pass in my view one of the most important Bills to safeguard the waste of the public resource in our country.

I would like to thank the leaders for their support in this law.

We have been deemed to be corrupt by many, but the passage of this law proves otherwise.
We are contributing towards the law to fight against corruption in our country at the highest level and I commend the Minister for pushing it very strong and aggressively.

I thank the former Attorney General (AG), the Honourable Davis Steven for assisting me to push through ICAC, very strong and aggressively.

In this Tenth Parliament, I have seen many young leaders emerge now who put the country’s interest first and I am happy about that.
I think the biggest challenge is like what the Governor Garry Juffa has stated, the police does not need to wait for us.

They have to do their work.

Many laws are already there and this is an additional law we are giving them including IRC.

If one caveman or staff here has ten houses and is illegally paying small tax, check why he pays less tax.

He is paying a small amount of tax, yet his lifestyle shows that he has a lot of money.
This law is one of the good laws that we are passing at the sunset of this Parliament and I acknowledge all the leaders for giving full support to the Minister Bryan Kramer for delivering this law.

Thank you, Mr Speaker.

Motion – That the question be now put – agreed to – .

Motion – That the Bill be now read a second time – agreed to.

137 Bill read a second time.

Third Reading Leave granted to move the third reading forthwith.

Motion (by Mr Bryan Kramer) proposed.


That the Bill be now read a third time.

Sir PUKA TEMU (Abau) – Thank you, Mr Speaker.

I stand to support the Bill but, my problem is, I don’t want the people to feel afraid.

I want those who make a living and have become wealthy because of their efforts to have no fear.

This is because I know of cases where mistakes have been done using laws, freezing bank accounts, investigations and then it takes a long time to recheck.
And as the Honourable Governor for Northern Province has rightly said, we really don’t have the capability to effectively administer such complicated legislations.

If you look at the actual intentions of the law, as I read it, “provide regimes for declaration and investigation and also provide the regime for restraining orders”.

Imagine, a good citizen has put up two or three houses and somebody suspiciously goes and report it to under this legislation, the good name of the citizen will be tarnished.
So, I do not want us to feel that we are creating a holy society.

I want citizens to be comfortable that this law is good for all of us.

But, in the administration, when mistakes are done, then, because we want to create millionaires.

98/03 We want people to go out and freely create wealth.

Administration is very important because I am aware of citizens whose lives have been deprived.

ICAC and Ombudsman are very good until politics interferes.

We are still living on earth, we are not in heaven.
That is why we have to pass laws where we have the capacity to effectively administer them.

We are creating fear in the society and this is one legislation that might do that.

But I want to assure our people, do not fear.

As the nation is moving towards this era that some of us predicted, that the decade 2020 to 3030 will be a decade of great economic prosperity.
As one of the national leaders sitting in this Honourable House, I want citizens to be free to pick up the wealth that is going to be created in the next twenty years.

138 Most of the times these types of laws cause us to look backwards.

We don’t look forward and so we don’t progress.

Mr CHRIS HAIVETA (Gulf) – I would like to raise a few issues; this is a very good law, it is not creating new institutions.

The Police Force has been here longer than the creation of this country.
We have not done much to reform it, but these laws empower the Police Force, ICAC and the Judiciary to fill a gap that is lacking in our society as we move forward.

However, I totally concur with Sir Puka’s comments, we do pass laws that have good intentions but in the latter of law, if we do not really define things properly, then that law is open to abuse.

So, I would like the former Attorney General and Immigration Minister to answer a few questions for me while it is in the final stages.
In section 2, its very contradictory that the Acts binds the State, but it does not make to State liable to be prosecuted, can you to explain to us, what that means.

Secondly, Section 48, undertakings of a State as well as Section 148 and then Section 76 (3) can you clarify the meaning of that and Section 120 which I am afraid is open to abuse.
Under Section 120, it states that any police officer can ring, can fax and can send emails and obtain a search warrant that in my view is open to abuse to any magistrate.

These are the kind of issues that I want you to clarify.

And the last one Section 123, a reasonable force to break the door of a house down or a compound down.

What is reasonable force or to arrest someone who refuses arrest?

It’s not put here and in many cases.

Mr Kerenga Kua – Point of Order!


Mr Speaker, I think the Standing Order states that nobody in this Chamber can give legal advice and opinion, what the good Governor’s questions are alluding to is to require the Minister to interpret the sections and provisions of the proposed Bill and that is legal advice.

That should be kept for another occasion.

Thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr CHRIS HAIVETA – We are trying to pass a Bill; I want to understand.
Mr SPEAKER – Honourable Minister your Point of Order upon advice from the Clerk is only applicable during question time.

139 Mr CHRIS HAIVETA – Thank you Mr Speaker, I’ve finished my questions to the Honourable Minister.

Thank you 99/03 Mr BRYAN KRAMER (Madang-Minister for Immigration and Border Security) – Thank you Mr Speaker, and I also note the many comments made in debate by the Governor of Northern, also the Member for Abau and questions raised by the Governor of Gulf.
These provisions of law provides that this order can only obtain from the National Court.

So, regardless of where a police officers want to exercise it, he must provide reasonable suspicion, he must provide sworn evidence, he must go to court and he must convince the court before he can exercise provisions under this laws of unexplained wealth.
On the area of reasonable force, that is not necessarily defined in the Act but it is actually defined in case laws on where person will use reasons by force, because every circumstance will be different.

So the court provides its interpretation where someone uses reasonable force, just like reasonable grounds to believe a crime has been committed.
So I cannot actually provide the specific definition of what that is why it is not provided in the Act because then it is a matter for the court to interpret depending on circumstance of its case.

So the police cannot abuse their powers because most of these powers that they might derive from the Unexplained Wealth Act, they must seek permission from the court then the court will assess the merit of their case and the merit of their evidence, before granting them the orders they seek.

Thank you.
Thank you.

Motion – That the question be now put – agreed to.

Motion – That the Bill be now read a third time – put 100/03 The Bill requiring an absolute majority of 56 Members, Mr Speaker, ordered, that the Bells be rung.

140 The Parliament voted (the Speaker, Mr Job Pomat in the Chair) – AYES – 60 NOES – 0 The Proposed Bill passed with the concurrence of an absolute majority as required by the Constitution.

Bill read a third time.


101/03 LAND COMMISSION BILL 2022 First Reading Bill presented by Mr Bryan Kramer and read a first time.

Second Reading Leave granted to move the second reading forthwith.
Mr BRYAN KRAMER (Madang – Minister for Immigration & Border Security) – I move – That the Bill be now read a second time 141 Mr Speaker, and members of this Honourable House, it is with great pleasure that I graciously take this opportunity accorded to me on behalf of the Minister for Justice & Attorney-General to introduce the Land Commission Bill, 2022.

Mr Speaker, the Government over the years had placed firm emphasis on improving land tender in PNG to facilitate development.
Today, I bring to this Honourable House an important and outstanding land reform.

Mr Speaker, the Lands Commission Bill, 2022 that is being introduced for tabling in this Honourable House intent to repeal the Land Titles Commission Act, 1962 and the National Lands Registration Act, 1977.

The Lands Commission Act, 1962 and the National Registration Act, 1977 are unique pieces of legislation that establishes two separate land tribunals which are administered by the Department of Justice & Attorney-General.
Mr Speaker, the Lands Commission Bill, 2022 is a significant land reform and it is a second land reform introduced by the Parliament.

The Land Commission Bill, 2022 introduces two significant processes aimed at improving land tender in Papua New Guinea.

The first purpose of the Land Commission Bill, 2022 is seizing of settlement payments for land acquired by colonial administration.
The second purpose of this reform is the identification settlement and registration of all lands that is held by the Independent State of Papua New Guinea.

Mr Speaker, this legislation reform was initiated in 2007 and is a policy action derived from the law and justice sector white paper.

Myself as the former current Minister for Justice as supported by the Department of Justice and Attorney-General, had taken great steps to ensure that this law reform takes place.
The policy rationale for this law reform is intended to strengthen the government’s business process legislated by respective land legislations and administered by the Department of Justice & Attorney-General and the Department of Lands & Physical Planning to achieve the following outcomes; (a) Merger of land tribunals.
They need the Land Titles Commission established under Lands Titles Commission Act, 1962 and the National Lands Commission established under the National Land Regulation Act, 1977 into one tribunal which will be established by the Land Commission Bill,2022 and the Land Commission of PNG.
142 (b) Prescribe the mandatory duties, functions and responsibilities of the Land Commission and by extending the Department of Justice & Attorney-General and the register of titles and the settlement of land acquired by the colonial administration and directly before independence.

(c) Identification and registration of all land that is held by the State to protect the State’s interest in land.
Mr Speaker, this legislation reform does not affect other functions administrated by the Land Titles Commission, such as the tender conversion of customary land for customary landowners into titles through their Land Tender Conversion Act, 1965.

Determination of the distich of a land in areas of economic impact projects or subject to other conditions in section 4, the Land Distich Settlement Act.
Determinations described as waste and vacant land and compulsory acquisition applications and compensation claims for compulsory acquired land under the Land Act, which the Department of Lands & Physical Planning cannot conduct because it does not bare a judicial mandate.

Mr Speaker, the Land Commission Bill, 2022 is consistent with the Constitution of the Independent State of Papua New Guinea and other pieces of legislation as bettered in cleared by the State Solicitor.
102/03 And in accordance with the Ministerial Portfolio of the Minister of Justice, and further support the Marape-Basil government intention on removing any ambiguity in land tenure and a process to strengthen delivery of quality and efficient legal services to the government, its instrumentalities, and the people of Papua New Guinea.

With that I commend the Land Commission Bill 2022 to this Honourable House.

Motion – That question be put – agreed to.


Motion – That the Bill be now read a second time – agreed to.

Bill read a second time.

143 Third Reading Leave granted to move the Third Reading forthwith.

Motion (by Mr Bryan Kramer) proposed.

That the Bill be now read a third time.

Motion – That the question be out – Agreed to.

Motion – That the Bill be now read a third time – put 103/03 The Bill requiring an absolute majority of 56 Members, Mr Speaker, ordered, that the Bells be rung.
The Parliament voted (the Speaker, Mr Job Pomat in the Chair) – AYES – 63 NOES – 0 104/03 The Proposed Bill passed with the concurrence of an absolute majority as required by the Constitution.

Bill read a third time.

144 MOTION BY LEAVE Mr RAINBO PAITA (Finschaffen- Minister for National Planning and Implementation) - I ask leave of Parliament to move a motion without notice.

Leave granted.
Leave granted.

SUSPENSION OF STANDING ORDERS – RESCISSION OF RESOLUTION Motion (by Mr Rainbo Paito) agreed to – That so much of the Standing Orders be suspended as would prevent: (a) The resolution of Parliament this day on the Third Reading on the Rubber Industry Development Bill 2022, to be rescinded; (b) The question that the Bill now be read a third time again and be put to Parliament forthwith.
RUBBER INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT BILL 2022 Third Reading Motion (by Mr John Simon) put – That the Bill be now read a third time.

The Bill requiring an absolute majority of 56 Members as required by the Constitution, the Speaker ordered that the Bells be rung.

The Parliament voted (the Speaker, Mr Job Pomat) in the Chair 105/03 145 AYES 59 NOES 0 The Proposed Bill passed with the concurrence of an absolute majority as required by the Constitution.

Bill read a third time.


106/03 Mr JOHN SIMON (Maprik – Minister for Agriculture and Livestock) – Thank you Mr Speaker, I would like to use this opportunity to say a few words before I sit down.

The speaker has already used his discretion to say yes to allow me to say a few words.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Prime Minister and the PANGU-led government for appointing me as the Minister for Agriculture and Livestock, I also would like to say thank you to my other members and ministers who have provided support to me in my short term for only two and half years serving as minister.
I would also like to say thank my people of Maprik for giving me this mandate for two terms to serve as member for Maprik and I would be applying for another five years coming a few days from now.

We have had many good times together, including my brothers on the other side and the opposition leader.
In closing let me also say that we have finally become a very responsive government and have always listened to the cry of our people as in the current situation of the war between Russia and Ukraine affecting the global prices of our goods and services.

We have as a very responsive government looked into supporting the reduction in excess duty and fuel prices.

Speaker in our slogan “take back PNG” times were tough and very difficult when we took this Government, and our Prime Minister never gave in.
He stood his ground as a lion and not willing to be defeated and give up on his own soil.

For the commission of inquiry and others, Mr Speaker we have stood firm and the leaders have shown to make sure any commission of inquiry is brought back to the House.

We are also looking for more benefits for our people in this country, this Government has a stand on that.

Mr Speaker, while saying this I would like to explain a few things about the price of 146 coffee in particular the levy.
The current prices before we took government, coffee was about K4 and we put in the price support and brought the price up to K6 and there’s been a lot of issue about the levy that is added on and for that I’d like to make a bit of explanation for this while I have the opportunity.

The coffee levy was 8 toea, it was imposed in 1991 and has been the same until 2006.

And then it was increased to 10 toea from 2006 to 2021 because of the GST.
The Board of the Coffee Industry Limited by virtue of the powers conferred upon it, pursuant to Section 7 of the Coffee Industry Act decided to increase by another 10 toea levy.

As you can see the price for coffee currently is very good, in fact only 10 toea to support the – Mr Belden Namah – Point of Order!

Mr Speaker, I think, with due respect to the good minister.

He’s achieved the result today, that statement he is reading, he has already read in his ministerial statement.

And it’s a repetition.


I think Mr Speaker you should intervene and allow the Minister to take leave.

Thank you.

Mr SPEAKER – Ruling!

Honourable Opposition Leader, your Point of Order is in order.

Honourable Minister, I thought you were going to say thank you to the members of Parliament but you are making a statement there, so you can make that statement from your chair, you have done what you have.

Thank you, Mr Minister.


107/03 NON-TAX REVENUE ADMINISTRATION BILL 2021 First Reading Bill presented by Sir John Pundari and read a first time.

Second reading Leave granted to move the Second Reading forthwith Sir JOHN PUNDARI (Kompiam-Ambum - Minister for Finance and Rural Development – 147 I move – That the Bill be read a second time.

Mr Speaker, instead of me boring the members of Parliament, I will try and make a short explanation of the Bill.
The Supreme court ruled the Public Monies Management Regularization Act as unconstitutional.

The issues related with that have now been corrected and therefore presenting the Non-Tax Revenue Administration Bill.

The Bill once passed will help ensure that fees and charges that are collected by the agencies of the State; for example, by Fisheries and Forestry will now be collected into the consolidated revenue.
At the present time, those fees are not collected into the consolidated revenue and therefore there is no visibility by the Legislature or the Parliament.

And we are talking about tens of millions of kinas.

Not a small amount.

These monies are laid in the hands of a few board members that are appointed and they make decisions at that level and there is no way, the Parliament has visibility to it.
So, with this Bill, these monies will come to the consolidated revenue and Parliament through its annual money plan or the Budget shall disburse the funds from there.

Just like all the monies that come into the consolidated revenue and from which we make our plans.

At the present time, these tens of millions of kina re budgeted by a few board members and there is no visibility.
So therefore, Mr Speaker, the Non-Tax Revenue Bill, when introduced, it doesn’t mean that those agencies that collect those charges and fees won’t receive assistance, they will still receive support through the normal Budget appropriations just like any other agencies of the State.

We all know their importance and significance so any projects and programs that they have, proper appropriations will be made for them.

So that is the core of the Bill I have brought today.
I ask leave of Parliament to have the rest of the speech incorporated into the Hansard.

The statement read as follows: MESSAGE FROM THE GOVERNOR -GENERAL 148 A message from His Excellency the Governor General dated 20 April 2022, recommending the expenditure of public monies insofar as the bill relates to and provides for such expenditure.

108/03 Third Reading Leave granted to move the Third Reading forthwith.

Motion (by Mr John Pundari) proposed – That the Bill be now read a third time.
Motion – That the question be now put – put The Bill requiring an absolute majority of 56 Members, Mr Speaker, ordered, that the Bells be rung.

109/03 The Parliament voted (the Speaker, Mr Job Pomat in the Chair) – AYES – 38 NOES – 2 There being no absolute majority, motion negatived.

RESCISSION OF VOTES Motion (by Mr Rainbo Paita) agreed to – That the Bill be rescinded.

149 FIREARMS (AMENDMENT) BILL 2022 First Reading Bill presented by Mr James Marape and read a first time.
Second Reading Leave granted to move the second reading forthwith.

Mr JAMES MARAPE (Tari-Pori – Prime Minister and Minister for Bougainville Affairs) – I move – That the Bill ne now read a second time.
Thank you, Mr Speaker, for giving me the opportunity once again to present to this Honourable House and the people of our wonderful country a very important Bill that will have lasting effect 110/03 People of our wonderful country a very important bill that will have a lasting effect in as far as law and order is concerned in our country.

And this is the bill to amend the Firearms Act 1978, entitled Firearms Amendment Bill 2022.
Before I do so, let me thank the police minister, the Honorable William Onglo, the police commissioner, the Justice department, the state solicitor and all the instrumentalities of the government who were able to ensure they respond quickly to put this law together.

To fill in the deficiency we have in our criminal code and in our present laws, especially in the scope of penalty or the harshness of the penalty.
150 Mr Speaker, unlawful activities related to firearms are prevalent resulting in numerous firearms related issues in the country.
In the most recent district court case of state versus Pang for instance where someone had many firearms which were seriously dangerous weapons and his worship, Gary Unjo observed at paragraph 18 in the judgement, ‘that the firearms and ammunition trade in this country is prevalent and large number of people have firearms and ammunition without license and people are using them to kill each other in tribal war fares and other crimes.’ Mr Speaker, the most prevalent unlawful activities that give rise to firearm users are namely manufacturing of homemade firearms to those who are listening out there, especially up in some area where some of us come from and the use of prohibited firearms, illegal possessions of firearms and ammunition and illegal possession and use of firearms.
To address the unlawful activities and issues related to firearms the government increased the penalties of unlawful activities in the most recent amendment to the Firearms act 1978 through the Firearms Amendment Act 2018.
The maximum penalty imposed in 2018 amendment act 2018 is a fine not exceeding K20, 000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 years for the offenses of possessing or carrying a pistol or high-powered firearms without license and most of the offenses under the act are punishable by a fine not exceeding K10 000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years; other penalties are at K1000 fine and below.

111/03 Our government proposes further to increase the penalties.
The proposed life imprisonment as the maximum penalty to the following unlawful activities under the firearms act, namely; manufacturing of homemade guns, section 7a illegal ownership and possessing of firearms, section 6; illegal possession and use of firearms section 7 illegal possession and prohibited firearms section 5; ownership and possession of machine guns section 62.

Let me make some comments; places like Singapore if you throw rubbish, you will be penalized.
If you smoke marijuana, you will have life imprisonment.

Gun is a big issue in our country; now if you manufacture homemade guns, if you possess illegal firearms, if you possess unlicensed firearms, bullets, bombs, etc., this law now calls for life imprisonment without any fine.

151 Last time a perpetrator was apprehended at Century, he had money so he paid a K130 000 fine as per the law, and he was released.
This new law now calls for those who possess illegal arms in the country will be sent to life imprisonment.

The government also proposes to increase penalties for other offences in the firearm act.
The other proposed penalties and the relevant provisions are: fine not exceeding K100,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 50 years, section 27, 38, 45a, 52, 53, 65, section 57, 61, and section 65a; fine not exceeding K50 000 or imprisonment for a person not exceeding 20 years; section 10 offences, section 10, 16, 36, 58, 59, 65, and 78 offences, and imprisonment not exceeding 20 years for section 50 and section 65b offences and fine not exceeding K1000 for section 44 and section 46 offences.
Mr Speaker, we want to grow our economy and we want to a lot of this and that, but if law and order is an issue, we will not progress.

So, these laws intend to see progress.

Today you can underestimate our police but when you have broken these firearms acts and they prosecute you, its life imprisonment for you.

I stand here in this Parliament to remind anyone who is in possession of firearms, life imprisonment awaits you when police apprehends you.
Just because today the police don’t turn up, because of lack of support or manpower, don’t think that you will run away.

Therefore, life imprisonment awaits those in possession of homemade or factory-made guns in our country.

Its about time we tighten our laws.

Mr Speaker, with this, I commend this Firearm Amendment Bill to be passed by this House.

Motion – That the question be put – agreed to Motion – That the Bill be now read a second time – agreed to.

Bill be read a second time.


Third Reading Leave granted to move the Third Reading forthwith 152 Motion (by Mr James Marape)) proposed – That the Bill be now read a third time.

Mr SASINDRAN MUTHUVEL (West New Britain) – Let me keep this brief; Mr Speaker, let me thank the Prime Minister for bringing this bill today even though this is the last sitting.

This Firearm Act 2022 is very relevant for our current especially for the even of the National General Election 2022.
As we have seen, a lot of lives have been lost and properties been destroyed by this illegal possession of weapons.

.

112/03 Even in Kimbe town, it was shocking to see most of the youths holding these homemade guns similar to factory made ones.

Even some of these guns used by the policemen are now in the hands of these youths.

And the policemen find it hard to go to those fighting zones which many houses have been burnt down and more than two to three people have been killed so far.
It’s a major issue in my province especially in Talasea Local-level Government and Kimbe Urban area.

I want to thank the Prime Minister for bringing this amendment in which we can impose fines up to K20 000 to K50 000 or imprisonment for life.

As the Prime Minister quoted some of the rules set for Singapore, we too want Papua New Guinea to follow suit, but when we go to Singapore, we follow their rules very well by not spitting or throwing rubbish because if we do so they will punish us immediately.
But when we are in PNG, we have this don’t care attitude of throwing rubbish everywhere, for instances, after eating a banana we wind the car glass down and throw the skin out.

If we want to be like Singapore then we must observe the laws imposed like what they are doing by simply following the laws imposed.

With that I want to pass my big thank you to the Prime Minister for introducing this amendment to show the seriousness of the Government’s intention to address this issue.
If Australia can do it then PNG can do it also in removing all the illegal weapons to live in a peaceful society because law and order is a very big impediment to attract all the investors and businesses to come to our province.
One basic point is when the doctors and health workers come to this country and are faced with law- and-order issue they don’t ask for Minister for Police, the member or provincial administrator, they 153 protest to the office of the Governor in saying that it’s their basic right to live peacefully in the society.

And why Governor is not providing this avenue for them in such situations.
In reality the police personnel don’t report to the Governor but to the Commander and the Minister for Police and we have little say in that.

With such situation, I think we also must look into this law and amend it.

If we have this power but don’t perform it then people can hold us responsible.

But otherwise, I sincerely thank each and every Member of this 10th Parliament for all your friendship and assistance.
On behalf of my family and people and I also thank all our Parliamentary staff who have assisted us in this term and all our staff in the province and all our Members of Parliament.

It’s a very privileged position and my people of West New Britain have given me this privileged position and blessed me to represent them in this Honourable House.
The group of leaders in this term of Parliament are some of the most active and members where not just passing many laws but I have seen many members of Parliament fighting for resources for their districts and provinces and have really shown their dedication.

I sincerely thank the Opposition Leader, Prime Minister and all the Ministers and all the Members of Parliament.
Whilst I thank everyone, I also feel so bad because some of our senior leaders while we cherish the last term of this Parliament some of them see fit to go and campaign in West New Britain.

Its quite a sad situation and I didn’t expect from those lenient leaders actually sitting in my province and campaigning.

But otherwise, I sincerely thank each and every member of Parliament in this term of Parliament, thank you and God bless.

Motion – That the question be put – agreed to.


Motion – That the Bill be now read a third time – agreed to.

Bill read a third time.

113/03 MOTION BY LEAVE Mr RAINBO PAITA (Finschhafen – Minister for National Planning) – I ask leave of Parliament to move motion without notice.

154 Leave granted.

SUSPENSION OF STANDING ORDERS – REARRANGEMENT OF BUSINESS Motion – (by Mr Rainbo Paita) agreed to – That Orders of the day No.
34, 35, 57, 78, 113, 114, 115, 147, 180, 207, 223, 226, 229, 249, 250, 251, 252, 253, 261, 262, 263, 268, 269, 311, 312, 313, 314, 315, Government business and Orders of the day No.

PPP 68, 63, 65, 73, 84, 184 and 185 Private business being noted by this Parliament.
STATEMENT BY THE SPEAKER Mr SPEAKER – Honourable members, this is the last sitting of the Tenth Parliament and before, I ask the Leader of Government Business for adjournment, I will allow Opposition Leader to make few speeches followed by Prime Minister and the Chair will make few remarks and then we will adjourn.
STATEMENT BY THE LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION – Mr BELDEN NAMAH (Opposition Leader) – Thank you, Mr Speaker, for giving me the opportunity to make a speech on the closing of Tenth Parliament in our country.

Mr Speaker, I have never seen so many bills passed in a single day and it’s seventeen minutes past eight in the night.

I am so proud of many of my fellow members who are sitting in Parliament today to see the day through.
And thank you, Prime Minister under your leadership today, we have passed many bills and enabling legislations.

On Tuesday you delivered a statement, said that you have passed more than 113 legislations in the past three years.

That’s a mile stone.

That’s what the Parliament is here for us to make laws and pass legislations.

The questions are; these legislations are for good or worse only time will tell.
But congratulation Mr Prime Minister for the late consequential legislation which have now become law on Porgera and P’nyang.

155 I can see some light at the end of the tunnel and I believe these enabling legislations will be able to see Porgera come into operation and P’nyang join PNG LNG and Papua LNG to come on stream.

It’s much needed especially, in this time where we do not have any projects that is bringing much revenue to our country, we are leaving on borrowed money.
If we look at it, when the late Grand Chief Sir Michael Thomas Somare left us with K8.6 billion in debt.

The O’Neil government brought debt to K26 billion in the last three years.

Mr James Marape – Point of Order!

Mr Peter O’Neill said K26 billion when they left government in 2018, but after when we audited with IMF, ADB and World Bank, all the secret loans and other known loans adds up to K39 billion.
114/03 So, from there you can carry on and how much loan you want to add and give me, you can, but this the total figure for Mr Peter O’Neill.

Mr BELDEN NAMAH – Thank you, Mr Speaker.

I want to thank the Prime Minister for that correction.

The fact is that our debt to date is about K53 billion and it is a sad case scenario.

My question is, what legacy are we leaving behind?


Mr Speaker, as I rise, and as we all rise to be there in the 10th Parliament and its membership, that is, all of us sited here and those who are not present here in Parliament.

We have had our fun moments and angry moments too.

We have had our loves and tears.

We have come together and parted that company.

In all, we have kept alive PNG’s unique and brand of politics and our vibrant democracy blended with Melanesian culture.

We are a unique country.


We can argue across the Floor but we get out of this House and we are shaking hands and embracing each other and calling each other brothers.

That’s a real Papua New Guinea.

When our students in history and our children looked back on the period between July to August 2017 and June 2022, what will be their judgements of us?

Mr Speaker, that will be our collective legacy in this 10th Parliament.

It will not matter a bit whether we are on this side or on that side of the House.
We in Government or in the Opposition, 156 history will judge us collectively as a group and as Members of the 10th Parliament of our country.

History will judge whether we have been a Parliament or consequence or one of no consequence.

Be sure that the thoughts, words and actions of this Parliament and of our own individuals respectively will matter for the good or for the bad.

Have we done something that will impact our people’s lives positively or negatively in the long run.
Mr Speaker, I stand here and see the vacant chairs of our colleague Members who have died in office in the 10th Parliament.
I see the empty chair of the Member for Kerema, late Richard Mandani, I see the empty chair of the Member for Central Bougainville, late Honourable Sam Akoitai, I see the empty chair of the Member for Middle Fly, late Honourable Roy Biyama, I see the empty chair of the Member for Middle Ramu, late Jonny Alonk, and I see the empty chair of our late Minister and Member for Goilala, Honourable William Samb.
115/03 When I reflect on the death, I think of the founding father of our country, Grand Chief Sir Michael Thomas Somare who left us on the 26 February 2021.

I think of the death of another founding father and founder of my own PNC Party former Prime Minister Late Honourable Sir Mekere Morauta, our country is 46 years old this year and going on 47.

In 2025 we will be 50 years old as a country.


Many of us here are older than the country having been born before the birth of our country, death therefore is going to be a constant visitor to this House, when we return in June or July, or August this year, for those of us who will make it after the elections and for those of you who will not make it, you can watch from the TV or hear from the radio of the next parliament session.
We must draft policies and programs pertaining to wills and probates to retirement and pensions and old age.

Those things will become important for our aging public servants and for our people.

Mr Speaker, what is our role here in Parliament?

If people are to judge us in future, they must decide whether or not we have performed our jobs.

So, what is our job as members of Parliament?

Is it to distribute money?

To build roads and bridges and jetties and wharves.
Is it to pay school fees for our children and coffin boxes for our dear departed ones?

This has been what we have been concerned with in the past five years.

Mr Speaker, when we return, we must first and foremost define what really is our job as members of Parliament and stick to that job.

We cannot run around doing everybody else’s job.

After we have decided what our jobs as parliamentarians are, then we must 157 necessarily focus on what is the job of the Government.
Is it to take up equity in major resource projects in the country, is it to run government owned enterprises?

We should really rethink and have a look at.

The way the government has been performing as a state, we are becoming the referee and player at the same time in the resource field.
Maybe it is time we must exit as an equity participant, allow the landowners and the provincial government to be equity participants in the resources that we develop in the country and let the Government only become the regulation and tax collector.

What is the job of the Government then?

Is it to take up equity?

as I said.

Is it to levy taxes and collect them?

What is the job of the Government, Mr Speaker?

I think we have confused ourselves a fair bit as to the job of this country.
We should seriously look at just being the regulator and tac collector instead of being the equity participant in the resource sector of our country.

The presence of the electorate would fend all businesses concern in our country.

Our confusion as to what the job of the Government has translated to corrupt practices Mr Speaker to insufficient and efficient bad governance in our country and unproductive and costly operations of the Government.
When we find the role of Government and stick to it much of our problems will evaporate naturally.

There’ll be no more corrupt practices, there’ll be no more inefficiency and bad governance in our country when we have identified what our real role is.

116/03 As Parliamentarians and as a Government, we must focus on our people that are number one priority, when we focus on our people, we will live to served them, are we doing that now?

or are we watching the populations growth.


are we watching their movements?

do we know how many people are in this country?

or how many doctors and nurses are there on the field?

This are very important question that we need to asked, we are operating on the guess work all the time that we never conduct our senses in the last ten years and eleven years.
We work on the guess populations, we must determine adjust populations that world of the nations can dis-deeply through-out the country as per pre- humbles of our constitution, our fourth fathers for sins that our country should run.

That’s the only way to determined our dis-issues with our work by having to hesitate the accurate populations of our country.

Mr Speaker, just two weeks ago we broke up and created thirteen new electorate on guess work, that is first class negligence, I repeat again!
That is first class negligence.

We allowed it on this floor of this Parliament to happen, this must never happen again.

158 Mr Speaker, because we operate on guess work by creating thirteen new electorate, now seven going into this year Elections which is never been capture in the 2022 Budget, it gives us extra burden on ourselves, this is not a work of responsible Parliament.
Mr Speaker, or response Government, we let our people down by giving them to much high hopes, we dishonour the otter office when we took the office in this house at the start of this Parliament.

Mr Speaker, I am train security and intelligence man in this country, I must talk about the security of our nations, we must be very cautious that this are times of incenses security treats on the domestics and international frances.
The political interests, economic interest and multi-national crimes have already reached our boarders while censors traps protecting our expensive seas and land boarders.

The border between Trorasea and Wooton is not been patrol properly, our soldiers are not fully equipped, I just went to Daru, and there were twelve soldiers on Daru island.
There are ships coming and pouting fish on the side of our country, we don’t have any good proper surveillance system that will be able to conduct surveillance on our boarders, our tuna have been pouts, our deer has been pouts, our barramundi has been pouts and Gold, vanilla have been illegal traded across the boarded.

Mr Speaker, we must address this treat with compressive re-structuring and reformation of our security appraise in our country, our security needs to be tightened.
Mr Speaker, finally I must push some questions on our economic of our country where all the money has gone?

We have passed so many big budgets where we have billions from Bougainville Copper, Gold from Misima Mine, Ok Tedi, Porgera and Lihir, and from the Oil and Gas from Kutubu Angore, Juwa and PNG LNG.

117/03 Where have the billions in forestry products and tuna gone too?

These are natural resources that we can easily protect and springboard the economy of our country.
We don’t need to be going out there and borrowing money.

We are so rich with natural resources, and if we guard, harvest them and then sell them at the international market price, it will springboard the economy of our country.

Australia alone in support, has given us over K28 billion.

Many more billions have come from our friends.

We cannot account for them and continue to rely on them.
We are 46 years independent 159 and should be now self-reliant and be able to sustain our economy with so much wealth and resources that we have.

Mr Speaker, in a country filthy rich, we are pathetically poor.

We should not go off to see people in Dubai and Singapore and continue to compare ourselves with them.

Why should we do that, when we can sit here in this Parliament and collectively put in ideas to grow and develop our own country to be a first-class country in this region?
That begins with us doing our jobs as legislators and policy makers.

And, that is why I thanked the Prime Minister today, because in the last three years, he has passed so many legislations.

The challenge now on us is how to implement and to enforce those legislations.

What’s wrong with us in this country is, we need leadership that can enforce those legislations to make them work.
Mr Speaker, before I sit down, I want to take this opportunity to express my deepest gratitude to my beautiful people of Vanimo-Green River Electorate, who have given me their loyal support and mandate for the last three terms in Parliament, totaling 15 years.

I live for them and when my time comes, I will die for them and my country because of the love I have for them.
I will continue to fight, whether in the opposition or the government, to ensure that we promote good governance and prudent financial management.

I will continue to fight zero tolerance of corruption in our country.

I thank you, Mr Speaker, your Deputy Speaker and the Assistant Speakers.

We have had our quarrels and it gets exciting when you argue with the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker.

But without quarrels, the Parliament will be boring for us.
I enjoy those special moments, when you quarrel with the Speaker and each other, it makes everything more interesting in PNG Parliament.

I enjoyed my time in this Tenth Parliament.

Mr Speaker, you have commanded a very good leadership in this Parliament, and I want to commend you and your Deputy Speaker.

At least the left side of your eye was not blind, or the left side of your ear was not deaf.
You were listening to both sides of the House, unlike previous speakers who may have deaf left ears and blind left eyes.

That’s the way Parliament should be.

118/03 160 The Parliament should give opportunity for both Government and Opposition to debate.

This is a vibrant democracy and that is the way it should be.

You have maintained quorum and de-quorum of the Parliament, Mr Speaker, and in ensuring that there is order and decent debates on matters of national importance.
Thank you very much, Mr Speaker.

Thank you, Prime Minister for the leadership that you have provided in the last three years.

It has being tough.

I could see how tough it was and facing two Vote-Of-No-Confidence was not easy but, you have the army of members of Parliament on your side who had stood loyally to ensure that you weathered the storm.

That is what leadership is.

When you stick on one, you have to stay committed.

Otherwise, you become a political prostitute here on the Floor of Parliament.
So congratulation, Mr Prime Minister, as we end this Tenth Parliament and the writs to be issued on the 28th of this month, I hope that we stick to the date and not change the date so that we all go into elections then come back to form the next Government.

I also want to thank my Deputy Opposition Leader who is not here with me and Honourable Joseph Lelang.

Three of us have stayed longer in the Opposition than any one of you in this Parliament.
I would like to also thank those who have joined me, the members of the Peoples National Congress (PNC) led by the former Prime Minister, Honourable Peter O’Neill, Honourable Sir Puka Temu in his fourth term (20 years); I think there are about seven of them.

They will be seeking to be re-elected to make it 25 years in Parliament; five terms and I believe that he is going to return by winning the Abau seat.

I have all the confidence in him.

I want to thank my Deputy Opposition Leader Dr Allan Marat.
His not here with me today, who has stood thick and thin with me in good and bad times.

And I want to thank the people of Rabaul for electing such a fine senior citizen of our country, Dr Allan Marat.

I also thank the Clerk and his Deputies, your assistant clerks and the staff of the Parliamentary Services, you have serve the Opposition very well also and I thank the Clerk for being fair in ensuring that my office as the Leader of the Opposition functions.
Though we had tough times, sometimes we do not get the funds that we need to run Parliament and when I normally go complain to the Speaker, he tells me that there is no funds.

I do not know if he is telling me the truth but you know the Opposition continues to suffer.

161 And I wish the Prime Minister, when we return in the Eleventh Parliament, we should look at establishing the Office of the Opposition so that, they get direct funding through the budgetary process.
Because a vibrant opposition will keep the Government in check and makes democracy more interesting and alive.

Mr Speaker, before I conclude, I want to thank my staff of the Opposition; my chief of staff and all the hardworking staff, my family and my friends who have stood by me through thick and thin.

I have gone through some challenging times in the Tenth Parliament.

I went to court.

I got dismissed as a Member of Parliament but then I won my court case.
So I believe that my God is not finished with.

I got a duty to serve this country.

I believe in family and genuine friends.

And I have met some good friends on this Floor of Parliament.

119/03 I believe in family and I believe in genuine friends and I have met some good friends on this Floor of Parliament, we call big or small and I can see Member for Lae, my small brother the Honorable John Rosso smiling, because that’s how we address ourselves.

And we would continue to do so.


I see my brother John Simon is not here, we debate issues and today he was sleeping and dreaming of me, that’s why he didn’t pass the bill the first round so we gave him the second opportunity.

But, thank you all I wish you all the best under 2022 National General Elections and I hope and pray that I see all of you return.

I think we look at the positive side.

I hope and pray that all of us return.


Sometimes it’s difficult to make new friends, but God willing I believe there’ll be a new Government and I can assure you that I will never be in the Opposition again and I want to be in the Government I’ve had enough, fifteen (15) years of my political life I have spent twelve (12) years in the Opposition and I think it’s enough.

The Tenth Parliament is enough.

I want to be in Government.


I want to thank God, the churches all the clergymen throughout the country, the pastors, the lay workers, the citizens of the country who always uphold our country in prayer, one of the reasons why our country is still surviving is because we are prayer warriors out there, we have churches out there, we have pastors, the lay workers who are praying for us every day.
162 We are all not perfect, we are sinners but thank God we have this people who are always upholding the Parliament, the members of Parliament, the country, they go into fasting, we have to thank that and we thank God for blessing this country for making Papua New Guinea a Christian country.

With that Mr. Speaker.

God bless Papua New Guinea, God bless the Tenth Parliament, God bless our beautiful people and I wish you all the best in 2022 National General Elections.

Thank you and God bless all of us.


Mr SPEAKER – Honourable Members.

I understand that Members still willing to give their statements but we have gone past the time therefore I will not allow any Members to continue apart from the Honourable Prime Minister to give his speech.

STATEMENT BY THE PRIME MINISTER Mr SPEAKER – Honourable Prime Minister.

Thank you, Mr Speaker.


I want to thank you for your loyalty for the last five (5) years and to current and more importantly most leaders of this country are still working hard.

Most seats are vacant but they are still working as shown by the number of papers, bills being delivered and votes passed today and statements that reports to the country on what the Government has done for the last three (3) years.
I want to acknowledge as mentioned by the Opposition Leader today and as democracy that needs to be a vibrant opposition.

And if there is anyone in the history of our country who has really signed out as the most vibrant opposition leader in the entire forty-six (46) years, I would say it is the Honourable Belden Namah of the Member for Vanimo-Green.
It’s something we cannot take away from him and it’s good to have a very strong a stood opposition leader to stand on that side to ensure that Government is functioning and the propeller of Government is running in the right direction.

And so I just want to command him and firstly wish him and his family, people of the Vanimo-Green all the very best and his party when he runs to seek election mandate again and I note one thing in his closing remark, he wished all Members successful a return to Parliament.
120/03 163 That statement to me is like a North Pole; and one statement made by the former Prime Minister yesterday is like a South Pole.

Total opposite, one wishing all members a successful return and the other one wishing all members not to return in a typical sarcastic manner as always.

I give it to you the Hon.

Belden Namah, if it was any other clubs, I would have asked you to come to this side; but we are in Parliament, you are in the opposite side and we are on the government side.
We do acknowledge your continual stand for our county in the constitutional office that you maintain.

I also wish to thank Hon.

Sir Puka Temu and Honourable Koi Trape, Member for Mul Baiyer, and all who sat through today.

Whilst this is the final day of our sitting in this 10th Parliament, today we delivered some milestones bills.
Some may seem ordinary bills, but Mr Speaker may I quickly make a reference; for instance, the Treasurer brought in the legislations which we passed which gives a tax holiday to those earning an income of K17,500; these people will not pay tax.

As the Opposition Leader thanked the pastors in his speech; this tax bracket of K17,500 and below are for the lower paid personnel in our country.
For instance, the security guards, the junior officers, the new college or university graduates entering jobs for the first time; the pastors, the church workers.

By passing this bill, we are helping our hardworking simple people.

We also passed a Treasurer’s bills on alleviating some burden on costs of essential household items in the country; like rice tin fish, ox & palm, etc.

The Governor for East Sepik said ox & palm is not healthy but we are still eating it.
So, this bill addresses tries to lower the costs of these essential household items, which also includes the cost of fuel.

We also passed a law on Porgera and P’nyang which should anchor our economy in the next 10 to 20 years.

When this Porgera, P’nyang and Papua LNG are up and rolling, our economy will increase.

We had a focus on our economy to grow from where we are today, to a K200 billion economy.
Therefore, with these three projects: Papua, P’nyang and Porgera; especially where we structured P’nyang and Porgera, where we are getting back more from these resources for the first time.

And we have been honest to our investors, we want more for our country; so long as we respect your rate of return on your investment.

When you have made your profit, that’s enough.

What we can get we will get.

So, with P’nyang, we will get above 59 per cent of the total pie; Porgera would be above 53 per cent.
So, this is the law we passed today, and I thank all the members of Parliament.

164 We can actually get more Mr Speaker, but there is a hole where money keeps going out of the country through corrupt means, therefore, it will only be a waste to get more money.

The Honourable Brian Kramer started this work, therefore I give him the privilege to pass this law.
This undisclosed bill with its amendments, which we have brought in to safeguard monies of this country so that it does not go to waste in corruption.

We also passed the firearm act to address issues of criminal activities so that police are empowered to imprison firearm law breakers.

Therefore, today was just not to sit down and celebrate our last day in Parliament Mr Speaker.

We were and are still at work up until 9.00 pm tonight.

Forming and defending a government takes many hours.
I recall back in 2011 when they tried to defend an illegal government, they stayed up until 12.00 am at night.

121/03 Today we are here to conclude the last sitting of this Parliament and so unlike the illegal government that normally sits beyond 12 midnight but now is the last meeting of the last term of Parliament so we will finish shortly.
I will only take 30 minutes or so to read out my short speech that I wrote, as an address to the nation to report to what we have done so far in the last three years.

The title of my speech and I quote: ‘Government investing in inclusive broad base growth’, developing country as a whole and not at one particular place only, it doesn’t matter the size of a man and leave anyone behind we all have to growth our country together and we have been investing in this space in the last three years.
It doesn’t matter the short period of time but this is what we have been doing.

Mr Speaker, I stand here today and I humble myself on this special occasion on this 10th Parliament to present the kind of work we all have done as government in the last three years.

Before we go for the National Election to seek fresh mandate for our people, our citizens have all the right to be made known on what we the mandated leaders have done for them in the last years we have been as a government.
Therefore, the Marape/Basil Government has led this government in the last three years.

And today I want to be accountable to our people by presenting to them what we have done in our time in the 10th National Parliament.
This speech describes what we have achieved and it is a culmination of many of the challenges that we have faced and endeavor together and let me placed on record my appreciation to all members of Parliament who have stayed with me through the thick and thins in the last two years, I can’t name you but you know who you are, many are still 165 sitting on this side of the House like you did at the first place.

I acknowledge you all and I want to pass my big thank you to you all.
What we have done I will present it now and too what we have planned to do but didn’t do it, I will also share the plan as well.

And if by the grace of God if combination of leaders if returned and I don’t know who will occupy this seat here, its not my birthright or Peter O’Neill, this Chair belongs to the country.

Whoever seats here will continue the good work we have done plus the new ones as well.

With that I want to present the kind of work we did in the last three years.
Opposition Leader, as a mandated leader you have all the right to seat here as the Government too.

It’s not the birthright of one particular person only.

If we all honestly carry out the work and only Father God knows what the future holds.

Mr Speaker, my administration commenced its term in office in June 2019, we knew then that we had only three years remaining or maybe less with the vote-of-no-confidence contest that took place.
We had an economy to fix and my government from the very beginning had to deal with the uncertainty of an economy that was not certain in as far as the financial numbers and books of our government was concerned.

As we were settling in, in 2019, to try to fix the economy, covid-19 hit us hard in 2020, so the issues were compounded.

And covid-19 as we now look back is a once in a 100 years pandemic and it arrived in 2020, and 2021 we lived through the effects of covid-19 also.
And just when we were thinking to reposition ourselves having stabilized the ship in 2019, 2020 and 2021, we now face in 2022, with the increase in prices of goods and services as a result of the crises of war in Ukraine and Russia.

What I am saying Mr Speaker, is that it has not been an easy three years.

We have seen many events that have taken place; global pandemic, international conflicts of war and an increase in geo-political tensions.
We have also experienced that global economic slow down and onset of a global economic recessions; on each of these occasions our country as had to brace itself by taking economic and social measures and interventions to mitigate the impacts so that our economy, country and citizens are sustaining their livelihood and are living through with it.

122/03 These have been costly but necessary exercises.
But by its very necessity, we were also able to ensure that the economy benefited from important financial interventions directly made by our government.

Let me thank the Treasurer, who was at the forefront assisted by Finance, Planning & Monitoring and all economic ministers.

But, the Treasurer was the key man upfront trying to ensure 166 that in those three tough years necessary interventions were made into economy to keep sufficient liquidity in our economy that we are living in today.
I can confidently attest that despite the odds being stacked against us, we adopted and implemented robust plans to navigate through these turbulent times, maintaining a steadfast and unwavering commitment to serve and protect our citizens.

You have run the government in the past eight easy years and assuming that you know everything, but if you have set the country on the right direction it will end well.
The last three years was very difficult because we had inherited bad economy and want to fix it, the outbreak of Covid- 19 and also tension between Russia and Ukraine has affected the global economy.

By the grace of God, we will still survive, our country will not collapse as many people said in the past.

It is not by my power, we are just doing the work and I thank the Lord above.
I am grateful for the work of our team for the last three years, we’ve tried our best to ensure that the country is on right direction.

Mr. Speaker, we would not have achieved our milestones and prudently managed the economy, without the unequivocal bipartisan support from this Parliament.

Both sides are supportive therefore I am grateful for bipartisan.

Some good bills that we passed Opposition supports and they justified for voting against.
For the last three years, we have political infighting and members have rights to contest on the Prime Minister seat but in the big picture, we remain unified for the cause of our country.

I am thankful and privilege that, I am with many young leaders, who are putting country interest first.
The Honourable Henry Amuli, for instance; in Loloata when I allocated him a Ministry portfolio, he declines the offer and said ‘Prime Minister give it to other member and let’s consolidate numbers to form the government’.

This is the bunch of young leadership this country needs to ensure that going forward not self, business interest, but country first whether you are occupying the seat of Prime Minister, Minister, Governor or Member of Parliament only.
I have maintained all along that the generational change in leadership has brought about innovative and transformational ideas that are geared towards improving the livelihoods of our people and ensuring that we taking giant steps to realize our country’s collective developmental aspirations.
167 Mr. Speaker, this has been a government of change, deeply committed to initiating policy and legislative reforms to ensure our people benefit from our development priorities and outcomes, as enshrined in the Eight Point Plan and our National Constitution.

This government, I joined PANGU Pati with my fellow colleague members, we had a vision.

Our fathers showed us the road in 1975 for our country, we have lost that path and went out.

So, we are working to restore us again on this road.
The vision is not new regarding Eight Point Plan and National Constitution stating that fair distribution of goods and services through the entire country.

I understand that my colleague brother and leader of PNC is in Kandrian-Gloucester today and what I am wearing here is from Kover.

123/03 It was only three years for me as Prime Minister and we have built a road to Kove and will to other side of the Kandrian-Gloucester.
I am asking, you were the Prime Minister for the past 8 years and this road should have been built already.

Instead, you were only building super highways and byways around in here and now you hope on a helicopter and go to Kove.

You couldn’t be jumping on a helicopter and go to Kove or to Kandrian-Gloucester.

You should be driving there.

Its only 70 kilo metres to the other side.


You know, we missed a mark in seeking to the cause as set out by the fathers of our nation in 1975 eight-point plan, the National Constitution.

The Grand Chief dying days led by then Deputy Prime Minister who happens to be amongst us today, Honourable Sir Puka Temu.

In 2010, they gifted us the Vision 2050 again to the younger generations.

We lost along the way and they said go back to this direction.
Where the destination is happy, wealthy and wide, every citizen settled and satisfied.

They put to us a benchmark in 2050.


Mr Speaker, when I arrived as Prime Minister, my conversation in making PNG the richest black Christian nation was not a conversation in isolation, that was a conversation deeply rooted in the 1975 eight-point plan and the 2010 Vision 2050 of late Grate Chief Sir Michael Somare who pointed at us the young leaders to walk the right path and we have taken PNG back again from the hands of complacency and corruption.
Whether it is my own manifesto or my own line of thinking or it is a combined Loloata Accord or understanding or the Alotau Accord or whatever it is, but the key must be measured against the Constitution of our country, the Eight-Point Plan, the Vision 2050 and the subsequent medium term plans we have had running in our country.

168 So, in the last three years, when we assembled as a leader I had my own world views.
Many of you know my own manifesto that is, my own personal views in life and nothing collective.

But, the collective outcome, we all assembled together and we established the Loloata outcomes.

It was endorsed by all of us on this side or our government.

Some have left us and we try to make work in 2019, 2020 and 2021 Budgets to ensure that we are moving and achieving some of the outcomes we set out to achieve.
I have made numerous statements on the strategic economic management tools that we deployed to repair the budget to bring back credibility, attract wide spread support to concessional borrowings that the Treasurer was alluding to earlier, which have not secured a long term interest repayment options that many used to go for earlier.

The effect of altering all the budget outcomes in the last three years, we promoted growth and ensure that our economy was resilience in the hard times we went through.
Mr Speaker, we have achieved many things.

Today, as I speak, in the last 3 years, our connect PNG program with over 163 road programs are running all over the place.

If you look at, for instance, Tabubil and Telefomin.

For the first time since 46 years, road now approaching Telefomin in the last 3 years.

When you look at Mara-Muni, 3 weeks ago I was privileged to drive on a road and overnight there for the first time.
It is not a highway to many standards but at least people there have seen road for the first time.

You look at many remotest part of our country like Karimui as we speak and I commend the Honourable Member for Karimui-Nomane who has been fighting for this road.

Today the road is approaching Twa river or Waghi river for the first time to cross over into the Karimui side.

So, in hard times, Mr Speaker, I am just giving you an example, we use 2019, 2020 and 2021 to try to stabilize our economy.
We have been working as a government trying to invest in the inclusive broad base strategy.

124/03 We have been working as a government, trying to invest in an inclusive broad base strategy which is relevant to our cause as it clearly resonates with our government's initiatives, development priorities, and deliverables under the 'Loloata outcomes' to create a conducive, stable and enabling environment to implement broad-based economic growth initiatives.
169 It is a renewal of our development approaches in the way we conduct business now and into the future.

We encourage any government to maintain continuity in these initiatives and development priorities.
We are indeed proud to say that the key policy and legislative reforms of this Government has been translated into measurable outcomes that are here to stay and can be carried on by any government into the future Mr Speaker, there were many recovery programs as alluded to earlier, and let me support the Treasurer’s statements.

The recovery activity in 2021 from the Covid-19 pandemic, is expected to continue in 2022.
The challenges from the pandemic, the supply chain disruptions, high oil prices and inflation, and the current Russia-Ukraine war will undoubtedly challenge the recovery.

That said, higher fuel prices can benefit PNG from increased export revenues, while higher imported prices could lead to rising domestic costs.

The Government has already through the Treasurer announced the interventions to ease the burden of our citizens.

The Bank of PNG forecasts annual headline inflation to remain elevated in 2022.
The imported inflation from higher crude oil and food prices will be largely responsible for domestic inflationary pressures.

Over the medium term, inflation is expected to ease.

The Government will apply the necessary measures to soften the impact,where possible as the Treasurer has alluded to.

The non-resource economy is expected to increase by 3.5 per cent in real terms, with election- related spending expected to provide a boost of activity in the non-resource economy.
The mining sector growth is estimated to grow at 5.4 per cent reflecting the expected recommencement of Porgera and improvements in Ok Tedi Production.

Mr Speaker, inflation in 2022 is expected to be 5.6 per cent this year.

The Government agreed to a second IMF Staff Monitored Program (SMP) to run for six months and which started in December 2021.

The program builds on the initiatives undertaken in the first SMP.Furthermore, many would be wondering, why IMF?
When we took office, instead of politicians like myself or Treasurer accusing those before us that they have run down the economy, we decided to be transparent, open and allow for outsiders to come and look into our books including IMF, ADB and Australians.

Central Bank reforms were made and there was a greater element of transparency in the way we were showing our books and this resulted in not an IMF initiated program but a combined IMF-Papua New Guinea Government initiated programs for us to look at.
How we could improve revenue collection, how we manage our tax arrears, how we could improve our expenditure control and cash flow management, strengthening liquidity 170 management and budget execution, minimize risk to fiscal and financial stability, and fast-tracking some of State-Owned Enterprise (SOE) and its reforms that was deemed necessary.
Mr Speaker, if you look today and the Treasurer and Finance Minister will confirm, in the many years that I have been Finance Minister, I have never seen IRC deliver to a high 96 per cent collection against forecast, last year both IRC and Customs exceeded in fare collection as remanded.

What was forecasted for, IRC and Customs delivered.

It doesn’t happen overnight, we appointed new, corrupt people to those places.
A renowned corruption fighter, Mr Sam Koim went into IRC and in the two years he’s been there, IRC collection started to ramp up efficiency in the systems was built by interventions and appointment of one person was made and the response the organisation gives and the oversight by Treasury and us in Government.

That’s just an example of a transparency that enables us to ensure 2020 Budget and 2021 Budget was retired fully.
125/03 And the Staff Monitored Programs (SMP) were given full endorsement by IMF world Bank, ADB, and by our bilateral partners.

This element of transparency has never been common before, it used to be the treasurer to secretary and the prime minister running the show up there.

But we allowed our books to be open and everyone had looked into what we are doing?

And based on the credibility, we had these soft concessional lending that came into our Budget in 2020 and 2021.
Mr Speaker, the fiscal operations of the Government in 2021 improved mainly due higher commodity prices due to Covid-19 restrictions, but also improved collections of revenue in the Internal Commission and Customers.

our Supplementary Budget we passed in 2021 accommodated in the changing conditions in hard times.

We delivered a Supplementary that had an additional K700 hundred million, the Treasurer may correct me.
In hard times, Mr Speaker, the Supplementary Budget had an increase in revenue, whether borrowed revenue or actual revenue, we increased our collections in 2021 by K700 hundred million.

Mr Speaker, last year when our Treasurer handed-down the budget, he had the thirteen-year money plan.

For the first time with help of all stakeholders in the budget, including those international agencies and the banks, that the Treasurer has looked through a window of 13 years and beyond.
He laid out the money plan and if we stick to this money plan, by 2027 we will have a surplus Budget 171 in 2034, those who will be in the government could be retired from the full debts of the country.

This is the way we project the economy to grow going forward.

Mr Speaker, to reduce the debts to GDP levels below 40 per cent by 2028, we must exercise strong fiscal discipline, continue to seek out cheaper borrowing facilities.
We see the recommence of the major projects as we did for Porgera and P’nyang, we see a five per cent growth in the non- resource sector, this will allow our country to be place in the right directions going forward.

I intend to have a note prepared, so that in the transitional period or in the slow down period on what we must specifically do on the area of economy and getting the economy to move in the directions has the Treasurer has envisaged already when he handed down the budget last year.
Mr Speaker, for 2021, the country’s real growth was 1.5 per cent mainly due to Covid-19 and also the contraction of resources sector; however, in 2022, we expect focus on the real growth to grow to about to 5.4 per cent or thereabout.

This is the work that we are doing, much of this comes at the back of Porgera re-opening.
Let me also point to the fact that we are working in the other major projects, today you saw us pushing P’nyang across the line for P’nyang project, needless to repeat but for emphasis, we have secured P’nyang at the total benefit to our country at 63 per cent.

So, all this in the next 10 years should lift our country to a better place, we have seen some benefits of the government interventions and approach already.
Mr Speaker, when we took office, our economy was worth K83 billion in early 2019, today has we leave, our economy is at K101 million, it has surpassed the K100 billion.

I am proud to say also that it is not just in the resource sector, there’s a substantial increase in the agricultures sector taking place.

The sector increased from K14 billion in 2019, to K19 billion this year, as the World Bank and our Central Bank reported, the agricultures sectors productions has increase by 42 per cent.
This has been assisted by our intervention like the government policy, our price support program, our freight subsidy program, this has all contributed as well as the global price increase in agriculture.

126/03 The Government has assisted in increasing their production, simply by a consistent focus on getting our people back to their land to engage in agriculture.
In the wholesale and retail industries, we expect it to grow into five per cent while the manufacturing space should increase by 3.5 per cent in 2022.

172 The Government has already released K200 million in small and medium enterprise funding, as split between BSP and NDB in an effort to assist in concessional lending for Papua New Guineans out there, to create employment and jobs, and get participation in SME.

That commitment for a K200 million every year for the next ten years will still run.
BSP and NDB remain as good partners.

And also, Kina Bank, without utilizing government assistance has also enabled a short lending facility and it’s currently servicing our small to medium enterprises businesses who are accessing cheap financing to assist in their liquidity to do business in our country.

Mr Speaker, the foreign exchange remains a problem in our country.
However, as the Treasurer alluded to us earlier in his statement, this year, as I speak, there is over K10 billion sitting in Central Bank.

And that is the highest ever our country has ever held in as far as Central Bank holding reserves are concerned.

In hard times, we have the highest level of foreign reserves in the Central Bank.

The Treasurer did point to Mr Peter O’Neill’s time, it was below K5 billion, almost on average.
These are some tangible things our Government is doing to ensure that in the big picture, at the macro-economic level, we maintain a composure so we do not lose sight of our destination and that is to come out and recover economically.

Mr Speaker, needless to remind, we passed more Acts of Parliament as I read through in my speech earlier today.

My notes here tell me, we enacted 136 Acts, of which 102 have been certified.
These are not ordinary Acts; they will assist us to ensure that we live in an environment that is lawful and these laws are to assist our economy and to get the country going in the right way.

Our state-owned enterprises have performed very well under tough times.

You would have noted that we have merged PNG Water and Eda Ranu.
In this merger, there is a policy decision for 20 per cent to be given to the Koiari landowners, 10 per cent to Central and 10 per cent to NCD, so that they have a stake in the water company.

Those are the reforms that we did at the moment.

Eda Ranu is still functional and we still have challenges as we speak today.

My brother, the Member for Moresby-South, always gets on my back, saying that the water is not running in Moresby-South.

We hope Eda Ranu tidied this space.


But, we have claimed and took back the company from the original private investors that built the company.

When the lease expired, we took the company and passed it back to PNG Water.

It is 173 now an enterprise that should have equity by landowners, the two provincial governments, as well as the 60 per cent for PNG Water for the rest of our country.

Mr Speaker, Telikom and Bmobile are examples of some other reforms that we are doing.
Before we took office and I was observant in the last government, there was a fire sell.

There was almost a plunder that was taking place in Telikom and Bmobile assets.

When we took office, instead of separating them, we merged them into one company.

We are trying to restore that Telikom company into a premier company and entity again.
The Minister for State Enterprises, right now, is looking at reform structure where we will off load 51 per cent of the entire Telikom business to one of our superfunds in the city.

We removed the government board control away and replaced it with a private sector board.

We will sit in as a passive investor or shareholder in the board.

That is the reform that is going on as we speak.


127/03 We have also separated the wholesale assets; Telikom and Bmobile PNG remains as a retail aspects and DataCo Limited remains as a wholesale outside.

We currently working on the second phase of the National Transmission Network which will underpin the extension of communication penetration right across our country.
Mr Speaker, PNG Power remains a sick as I speak today but our Government has cleaned up the K100 million bill that was owed for many years was paid.

We have made an intervention of K320 million into PNG Power to ensure grid extensions and the other necessary cleaning up needs to be done in PNG Power is given.

We have opened up many hydros and paid the outstanding land fees in Warangoi; for instance, a K3 million was given and K2 million is still outstanding.
We opened up Divune Hydro and we are looking at extending the Ramu I Hydro Power Station.

These ongoing works will allow for reliable power generations in our country.

Mr Speaker, as I speak the concept of Ramu Two Hydro Power project which should be the largest power infrastructure project is still going on and PNG Power is taking courage of this one and we are waiting finality of this matter.
Our national airline company has been struggling and our Government made intervention by giving more than K120 million during the Covid-19 times.

Today as I speak, Mr Speaker, for the 174 first time they posted a K20 million profit from last year.

This shows that what we are doing and the rebound in the economy that is taking place despite tough times we are living through.

Mr Speaker, in PNG Ports, we have an investment program going on.
I thank the Australian Government for a K1.5 billion investment program across all ports in our country to be rehabilitated.

They have given us at very, very cheap concessional lending, it’s a five- year grace period and should be repaid in 20 years-time and by the time seven of these facilities should be completed including our major strategic ports such as Kavieng, Northern Province, Kimbe and Lae.
At the same time our Government has gone out partnering Korean Government’s Exim facilities and we are looking at ports in Vanimo and Wewak to ensure that some of these are working.

So, investment in the port sector has commenced as I speak.
In the mining and petroleum sector, needless to say, you all know what we have done, we a history of getting more from these resources; mining amendments has taken place, when I took office, we made it clear that these five major projects; Wafi-Golpu, P’nyang, Papua LNG, Pasca and Porgera, will run its course through their existing legislations.
I told investors in Brisbane on 20 February 2020, that by 2025 if no development occurs than we will be moving into new regimes to change law and you will be operating under the new regimes.

This date of 2025 still stands but as I speak, P’nyang is now progressing in a big way and Porgera is moving and very soon, we will go into Wafi-Golpu in terms that is consistent with the present laws we have.
But hopefully in a negotiated outcome, we do secure better for our landowners, provincial government and our people.

In the agriculture sector, we are performing well by increasing production in agriculture by 42 per cent since we took office.

Mr Speaker, in the forestry sector it remains a place of concern for me but we have now placed permanent moratorium on normal round log export by 2025, this date must not shift for anyone who may take office in the next term.
By 2025, no round log export in our country, but, it can only be allowed for landowners.

But present operators in our country must know that time is ticking and you only have three years to migrate from round log into downstream processing of log in our country going forward.
128/03 175 Mr Speaker, there are many things I could say but in the interest of time I wish to summarise my speech and later ask Parliament to have my speech incorporated into the Hansard as a record of what our government has done in the last three tough years.
I just want to conclude by saying to us all that in the last three tough years, we tried our best to be fair; we tried our best to serve everyone; we tried our best to spread development resources in the 89 districts and the 21 provinces, and the special region of Bougainville within what we can do.
One of our greatest achievements thus far was to ensure that we delivered on the Referendum and we are going through the final process; and we have made big clarity on what is the pathway for the Bougainville issue including the establishing in the Wabag meeting, that Bougainville Independence issue would come back into Parliament any time between 2023 and before 2025.

Many things we have done Mr Speaker in tough times.
Let me say thank you very much to all leaders behind me who have given me the mandate to stand as the chief servant of the team, and the chief servant of our country to ensure we try to stabilize the ship in very tough times.

It is never easy to run a country especially during tough times, but we did.
You can run the country in good 8 years, as I said earlier and I repeat again; in the last 3 years, there was bad economy and we tried to steady the ship amidst the Covid-19, and then as we were coming out of it, we were faced with the global economic recession in 2022.

Our God has protected our country.

Our track records show, we delivered our budget in 2019, 2020, 2021 with almost 100 per cent delivery of our major ticket items.
We are now going into the elections and the writs will be issued based on the Electoral Commissioner’s judgement.

Yesterday we had a meeting with him and asked if he was ready, as the Government, we are willing to support him.

The Treasurer had given additional funding in order to support him at all lengths.

We emphasized the importance of vital preparation; to ensure that the Common Roll was okay, that election officials were ready, that he himself was prepared and ready to face any impediments.
The Government pledged its full support so that the Electoral Commission was ready to deliver a fair election for 2022.

Elections will come and go and I want to appeal to all our members of Parliament, that still our country’s challenge remains greater.

We have not reached our final destination which our fore fathers saw in 1975; our Grand Chief, Sir Puka and others saw in 2010.

176 As we set our destination to 2050, we must be a middle-income earning nation.
When I said richest Black Christian nation, I did not mean the richest Black nation on earth.

As a classification, one identity, Christian identity.

We state the destination, we want to be rich as a nation.

I think we have made the first good steps in the two or three years, in the right direction.

I just want to wish all the leaders all the very best as you run for your elections.

We don’t know who will come and the combination of leaders after the elections.

Only God knows.
Only God knows.

However, whatever the combination of leadership is, let us put the interest of the country ahead of our personal interest.

Yesterday we were not accusing one person.

It may seem as we were accusing one person on the UBS matter, but we weren’t accusing one person, we were accusing the manner in which the decisions were reached and how processes were deployed to arrive at the UBS transaction.
That decision made our country lose over K1.2 billion and the loss of opportunity cost that was associated with loss of revenue in 2014 that could have gone directly to our people’s budget but was siphoned off to the UBS transaction by Kumul Petroleum and its beneficiaries.

Therefore, these mistakes must not be repeated in the future.

Let us all work to grow our economy; let us work to connect all parts of our country in the Connect PNG program that is rolling out.
Let us all work to bring back our children into school as we embark on leaving no one behind.

Rolling out FODE to bring the grade eights, tens and twelve dropouts back into classroom m through the flexible open distance mode.

129/03 Let's work to continue on pay school fees for the universities and colleges students.

We thank the Treasurer for giving relief to the parents who have not paid for their project fees.

Let's assists in making our country a better place.
In closing, I just want to appeal to our citizens, that the last three years was not easy.

Your local member tried to deliver; we assisted with about K40 million or K50 million only for the last term.

You know that this money is not sufficient to fix all the districts in our country.

Your member needs a fair assessment on what he has delivered in this time of Parliament.
Your leader needs a fair assessment of what we can collectively do; and as they come to the elections, I just want to firstly appeal to our people, that you don't ask for money from candidates or politicians who are contesting.

177 Vote in leaders on the fair value of leadership.

We will give support to the Electoral Commission to host a good and fair election.

But I want our citizens to not fall for bribery, or tribalism at the gates of voting, but vote for leaders on the merits of good leadership.
And for us sitting members, you have seen us and assessed us in the last five years or some of us now 15 years.

For me personal, I thank you the people of Tari Pori.

People may criticize us but we are still here.

I will go to the elections and it’s their wish whether they want to send me back here or not; it’s their decision.

I will make sure that the discipline forces on the ground keep a watchful eye and make sure that the people cast their votes freely without any intimidation.
Thanks to the people of Tari Pori for mandating me as your leader and it’s on this mandate that I am able to stand here in this house of equals.

I also thank my colleague leaders for appointing me as Prime Minister for this country.

Thank you on behalf of my Tari Pori people to you all.

Leadership is not my birthright; it is for us collectively.

Therefore, I am appealing to all our people to judge each party carefully, especially the new parties.
The established parties are already here; what will this new parties do?

If the old parties, Mr. Treasurer had solutions for our country, this country will be a far better place already.

So, I want our people to judge PANGU fairly, but more importantly, if you are not satisfied with one or two of us, then give considered view to others who are contesting.

They are also leaders, and citizens should be voting fairly on every one of us who are contesting.
Whatever combination of leaders that emerge from this election will hopefully carry on the refining, correct and improve to get going in the journey that we've started and in the direction that we've seen for our country.

So, I just want to wish all of us here all the best.

Thank you so much for us being together during this House and for the support.

As you go out, may I give you this assurance that God is here and He knows.

May His will prevail.


When we all do come back; we will carry on what we have started.

If you aren’t in the government, someone will need to be on the other side to offer constructive criticism; just like some of you have been doing.

Today is a testament on how members can work late hours into the evening and put the interest of this country ahead of theirs.

I wish each and every one of you all the very best in the upcoming elections.
178 Mr. Speaker Thank you very much for looking after us during all the sittings and during the course of this year.

I will now leave it here; God bless each and every one of you, and God bless Papua New Guinea.

STATEMENT BY THE SPEAKER Thank you Prime Minister and honorable members.

I also wish to make a few comments on this final day of sitting, in this 10th Parliament.

I came in as the 17th Speaker during this 10th Parliament, on the 2nd of August 2017.
I wish to thank the former Prime Minister, Hon.

Peter O’Neil, member for Ialibu Pangia who was the Prime Minister then when I was appointed as Speaker.

You and the PNC party believed in me and appointed me as Speaker of Parliament.
I also wish to thank the current Prime Minister and the PANGU government, who during the change, continued to maintain me as the Speaker of this Parliament and for still believing in me and allowing me to stay on for the whole of the five years as the Speaker of this Parliament.

130/03 May I also thank all the members of this House, the Deputy Speaker, and all the Assistant Speakers for working with me and giving me all the support.
May I also thank the Clerk, his deputies and all the staff of Parliamentary Services for supporting me in my work as the Speaker.

May I also thank the people of Manus for giving me this mandate and making it possible for me to become the Speaker of this 10th Parliament.

May I thank my wife and children for standing behind me and giving me the much-needed support.

A lot of times I have complained about not getting enough funding from the government for running this Parliament.
As per the constitution, the Legislative Arm and the Judicial arm of the government need to be supported by the Executive government to be able to function.

In my experience as the Speaker in the last five years, the support has not been forthcoming, and this has hindered the progress of this Parliament.

Today I will leave this Parliament with a lot of debts owed to our service providers.

And unfortunately, the outstanding owed to service providers goes back to the 8th and the 9th House.
179 I appeal to this government, if there is still time, to give us the much-needed funding to at least sort out some of these debts.

If this is not possible in this Parliament, then the new Government must address this issue in the 11th Parliament.

The Parliamentary Committees have not really performed because of lack of funding support.

These are the things that I have notice during my term as the Speaker of this 10th Parliament.
There were times the government did not follow proper procedures in introducing bills into parliament.

I appeal to the next government to please abide by the procedures and systems in place in introducing bills into the parliament.

There are a lot of issues to be addressed.

For instance, there is a need for a bigger carpark as you all have experienced.

We have done nothing in this parliament therefore I call on the government to address this important issue in the next house.
While the ministers have two offices each, you the members without portfolio and the members of the Opposition do not have that privilege.

Therefore, I call on all of you to support the next Speaker in sorting out these issues.

131/03 In this term of Parliament, we had lost seven sitting members as mentioned by the Opposition Leader.

As the Speaker, I am in great sorrow and grief watching this event unfold.
The National Parliament should have facilities setup for the Members of Parliament to undergo medical checkups.

Therefore, I am requesting the government or whoever forms next government to consider this proposal.

We have lost 13 former members in this term of Parliament and one of them is the father of our nation, Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare.

I was privileged and honored to sit on the 11th of March 2021, presided over the casket when it was lie in state in this Chamber.
I also witnessed some of the incident occurred within the National Parliament premises on 28 November 2018.

When the members of the disciplinary forces came and stormed the Parliament building especially, the members of the police force and Correctional Service.

Indeed, it was a sad day for the democracy of our country.

I hope, it will not repeat in the future.


With that, I once again thank all the members of this Parliament for having faith in my leadership and appointed me as the Speaker of this Tenth Parliament.

180 We have worked together and there were times, we got angry at each other, pointing fingers, laughing and so forth.

With that, I want to wish you all the best wishes in this coming election.
History have shown that more than 50 per cent of the sitting members of Parliament never retain their seats and it’s on record.

But, I wish you all happy election and hope that we will have fair and just election to mandate our leaders to represent us in the Eleventh Parliament.

With that, thank you, very much and will see each other if, we are re-elected again or if not, then who ever retain his seats please acknowledge and recognize the former members of Parliament.
On numerous occasions, I have seen former members coming to Parliament we never accorded them with the respect and recognition they deserve.

One day we will become a former member and when we enter Parliament we will expect the members of Parliament to accord us with respect and recognition.

With that, thank you.

Mr RAINBO PAITA (Finschhafen – Minister for National Planning & Monitoring) – Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Before I move the motion to adjourn Parliament, I want to take this time to thank God and my people for having faith, trust and confidence in me.

Mandating me as their elected leader and able to stand on this Floor by God’s providence and blessings from the people who have supported me to become leader.

Firstly, I thank my God and secondly, to my people of Finchhafen for mandating a young person to represent them not knowing what’s the future holds for me.
I want to give credit to my people, who sent me here.

132/03 Voted me as a young man into the Parliament not knowing what the future holds for me and I want to give my credit to my people who have sent me here.

I have given my best and I will share the moments that we shared on this Floor as we go into the new chapter of trying to get another mandate.
Thirdly, Mr Speaker, I’d like to thank the Prime Minister for giving me a fair change and opportunity in Cabinet to share experience and time with bunch of leaders that I have met in my first term as Member of Parliament.

The very honourable men that I have met and shared moments and time in Cabinet.

The government had split and had the Vote of No Confidence and so many 181 moments.
I’d say the best of times and the worst of times that I have shared with the 32 men in the Cabinet and I thank the Prime Minister for giving me an opportunity to be in Cabinet to extend the experience being in Cabinet and at the same time, extending and experience in being the Leader of Government Business to interact with you Mr Speaker, Clerk of Parliament, Deputy Clerk, Sergeant- At-Arms, and those who have assisted in running Parliament for the last 3 years.
When I stand as Leader of the Government Business, I want to state on record my sincere thanks.

Sometimes it’s been hard and sometimes we have different views on how we wanted to run this House and I want to thank the Clerk and everyone who have run this House for us to come this far regardless of all the challenges like the Speaker, Deputy Opposition Leader and the Prime Minister have stated.

We have lived through very challenging times so I place this on record my appreciation.
Mr Speaker, as a Leader of the Government Business I also thank the Opposition Leader and the Member for Abau who are here.

Many times we used argue and get mad at the Opposition, but today, in this sitting, all of us on this side have forgiven all of you on that side.

As you’ve stated in your speech, now as you go into a new time where we are about to go into the national elections, it’s anybody’s game now.

We could be on that side, who knows, you could be on this side when we go forward.
So, I acknowledge you all for sitting through as a Leader of the Government Business to the senior leaders of the Opposition, having the maturity to sit through this Parliament till 10 o’clock in the night.

So, Opposition Leader and Sir Puka Temu, I thank both of you for representing the Opposition and sit through with us and I want to place on record.
The Deputy Prime Minister is not here, I thank the Treasurer, Minister for Civil Aviation, Minister for Petroleum, Member for Goroka, Member for Bogia, Governor for West Sepik, Governor Garry Juffa, Member for North Bougainville, Member for Sumkar, and Member for Ijivitari for sitting through.
I further thank the Member for Moresby North East; the Parliament House is in your precincts and your mandated area and if we were to register we will all be voting for you because we’ve been here for 5 years on this Floor.

Thank you, also to the Member for Kairuku-Hiri, Governor for NCD, Governor for Southern Highlands, Minister for Lands, Minister for Labour, Minister for Tourism, Minister for Energy, and Member for Rigo for staying this late.
I also thank the Vice Minister for Planning, I saw you standing up couple of times but with the patience you sit through so thank you so much for that.

The Member for Karimui-Nomane, you are a senior man but you respected us by sitting through with us so we thank you and your people for 182 that.
I further thank the Governor for Morobe, Governor for Juaka, Member for Talasea, Governor for Central, Governor for Gulf and former leader of the PANGU Pati, Governor for Manus 133/03 I also thank the Regional Member for Bougainville, the Member for Komo Magarima, thank you for being with us.
Communication Minister, well done on passing the Digital Transformation Bill today and is now and Act, Minister for Community Development thank you, Member for Jimi, Minister for Education, thank you for being with us today to end this session.

Member for Daulo and newly appointed minister for Climate Change, thank you, Minister for Fisheries thank you.

Public Service Minister and Member for Nuku thank you and Health Minister, thank you.

I thought you were leaving, but you are still here.
The newly appointed Minister for Commerce and Industry, thank you so much, Member for Sohe.

Honorable Bryan Kramer thank you so much, for being ever present on Parliament, thank you so much for your consistency in Parliament.

The leader from the South side, thank you Minister for Housing and Urban Development.
Minister in charge of National Events, we also note we acknowledge your contribution in terms of the seven members that have left us, you took charge, and we acknowledge your the brilliant organisation from you and your team.

We look forward to working with you if we come back in that capacity again.

Member for Kokopo and Vice Minister thank you.

Senior and Member for Nawae, we thank you for being in Parliament.

Member for North West thank you Lohia Boe Samuel.


Deputy Speaker thank you for being with us, supporting the Speaker, Member for Angoram and I place on record as leader of Government Business you have assisted me.

On occasions when members don’t listen, you help me to calm them down.

Governor for West New Britain, thank you for being with us, Member for Menyamya, thank you for being with us.
With that Mr Speaker, I say thank you to all members and ministers who are here today on this Floor of Parliament.

Those that are not here I place my thank you on top of their tables, my thank you will follow them wherever they are on the Government side and Opposition as well.

Mr Speaker, before I give the number of Acts that we have passed during this session, I would like to give credit to all of here today.
Looking at the list Mr Speaker, we have passed more than 116 Acts, with the latest Bills that we have passed.

It is not fair me to say that the credit is to us Government, the Opposition has on many occasions given support to the Government side on promoting the Acts on the Floor.

And I want to give this credit on both sides.

Without the numbers we haven’t done it.

Mr Speaker, lastly to you, thank you for leading us, shepherding us 183 this long and now we will be entering the elections.
Lastly, I want to say Mr Speaker I am a first time member, most of you a second timers, third timers, fourth timers and fifth timers.

Being a member of parliament is not easy, some would say members from Australia do this, members from UK do this, but being a member of Parliament in Papua New Guinea is completely different.

Members of Parliament from other countries, people don’t go and sit in front of their houses.
You don’t see flowers or butterflies outside the fence, you see people sitting there and then they don’t come to wish you anything, they come with problems 134/03 Mr Speaker, problems in terms of death all these things of stereotype members of Parliament but when you look at it Mr Speaker, in my five years as member of Parliament, its one of the hardest job to do; every day you will see people, your house, car and even fortnightly allowances is for the people and must attend to everyone’s problems.
It’s a difficult thing to be a member of Parliament, no one forced us we volunteered so we will do the same thing now.

So I wish all of us on this Floor of Parliament the best of luck.

As the Prime Minister mentioned we were given enough funding so we hoped that in the new Parliament as mentioned by the Opposition Leader that he is tired of being on the Opposition side so we hope that there new arrangement and we can go forward as a team into the future.
SPECIAL ADJOURNMENT Motion (by Mr Rainbo Paita) agreed to – That the Parliament at its rising adjourn until the date and time to be fixed by the Head of State.
Mr SPEAKER – Honourable Members before we ask Parliament to accept this motion I was in a hurry and I forgot to say thank you regarding two issues and I want it on record; firstly, I want to thank the Prime Minister and the Government and this Parliament for recognizing Manus today for approving this special economic zone, which the Parliament has passed this bill.

On behalf of the Governor of Manus, myself and the people of Manus, we pass our outmost gratitude to the Government for giving us this.
184 Secondly, my biggest thank you to Father God; there were times when things were hard in this Parliament and I needed wisdom to manage it and I used to go down on my knees and Father God gave me wisdom to manage this Parliament during couple of times when Parliament went through tough times.

With that, I want to say thank you to Father God for giving me his wisdom to seat here and manage Parliament.

ADJOURNMENT Motion (by Mr Rainbo Paita) agreed to – That the Parliament do now adjourn.
The Parliament adjourned at 1.05 p.m. 185