Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1698054866692.pdf (Papua New Guinea)
SECOND DAY ______________________ Wednesday 3 June 2020 DRAFT HANSARD _____________________ Subject: Page No.
: QUESTIONS .................................................................................................................................. 1 Bumayong BSP Branch ........................................................................................................................ 1 Funds for Trans-National Highway ...................................................................................................... 2 Police – Recruitment and Training ...................................................................................................... 4 Final Budget Outcome Report 2019 ................................................................................................... 6 COVID-19 Stimulus Package ................................................................................................................ 7 Daru-Orim Road Funding .................................................................................................................... 9 Supplementary Question – South Fly – Vanimo Road Link ..................................................... 13 MOTION BY LEAVE ..................................................................................................................... 18 SUSPENSION OF STANDING ORDERS – RE-ARRANGEMENT OF BUSINESS ...................................................................................... 18 ORGANIC LAW ON THE INDEPENDENT COMMISSION AGAINST CORRUPTION .............................. 18 Second Reading ........................................................................................................................... 18 LEAVE OF ABSENCE – Sir MEKERE MORAUTA .............................................................................. 43 ADJOURNMENT ......................................................................................................................... 43 SECOND DAY Wednesday 3 June 2020 The Speaker (Mr Job Pomat) took the chair at 10 a.m.
There being no quorum present, Mr Speaker stated that he would resume the Chair after the ringing of the bells.

Sitting suspended.

The Speaker again took the Chair at 10.05 a.m, and invited the Member for Kokopo and Minister for Culture and Tourism, Honourable Emil Tammur, to say Prayers: ‘Papa mipela i tok tenk yu long olgeta blesins yu givim lo mipela long dispela biutiful kantri bilong mipela.

Papa mipela i man tasol.


Planti taim mipela i shortfall lo glori bilong yu, marimari bilong yu na fogivnes bilong yu long sins bilong mipela ino sa pinis.

Today as mipela converge long dispela honorabol Haus, papa mipela i askim yu long blesin, gaidens na wisdom bilong yu upon long Praim Minista bilong mipela, tupela members bilong dispela Haus lo givim ol gutpla toktok na stretpela totok we bai i ken gaidim gut dispela kantri bilong mipela Papua Niugini.

Amen’.
Amen’.

QUESTIONS Bumayong BSP Branch Mr KENNEDY WENGE – Thank you, Mr Speaker, for allowing me to speak.

My questions are directed to the Minister for Treasury.

Before I ask my questions, I would like to commend the Prime Minister for doing a good job during the State of Emergency (SoE) regarding the covid-19 and just yesterday, the SoE was extended for another 14 days.

During this time of emergency three Ministers have visited Morobe Province.
Firstly, the Minister for Communication has responded to the people of Nawae and Morobe Province by upgrading and reopening the Kundu radio station.

The Minister for Tourism also opened a provincial tourism office in Morobe Province.

1 02/02 I thank the Minister for Communications for reopening and putting our radio station in order.
I also thank the Minister for Tourism and National Planning for coming to Morobe during the Covid-19 State of Emergency (SoE) period to open our new Tourism office and a new radio station in Bulolo.

My question is in relation to the SoE order; social distancing.

Nawae electorate in the Morobe province is close to Lae city and many citizens of PNG are living there.

My question is, in regards to the queue at the BSP in Lae, the people there are not following the SoE order; ‘social distancing’.
It’s too crowded and people can easily spread the Covid-19 and die.

I have been asked to sit and discuss it with the management of BSP as it is not owned by the government.

I have written to the management but did not receive any response so I would like to ask again on the Floor of Parliament for a new BSP branch to be established at Bumayong in order to serve the people of Nawae electorate and Papua New Guinea.
People of Bumayong are the ones crowded at the Lae branch for banking and I don’t want them to be crowded on a BSP queue and die after contracting the coronavirus.

Thank you, Mr Speaker.

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

I thank the Member for Nawae for his questions.

It wasn’t really that clear but I think what he was trying to ask about the call from his previous question that he wanted a BSP bank in one of the rural areas in his district.
As I have mentioned, Mr Speaker, when he previously asked, the government has no oversight over decisions made by the Bank of South Pacific or any other commercial bank to establish any one bank outlets but would be happy Mr Speaker, to receive any formal request from the Member and then we can sit down and request any commercial banks to see whether they could establish a new bank in his very remote electorate.

Thank you, Mr Speaker.


Funds for Trans-National Highway Mr CHRIS HAIVETA – Thank you, Mr Speaker.

My questions are directed to the Minister for National Planning and Member for Bulolo.

Mr Speaker, I’ve seen that you have allocated K40 million for the missing link program to link the Gulf and Morobe provinces.

My questions are as follows; (1).

Can the minister clarify whether the funds are available to start the work this year?
(2) Can he also clarify how much exactly is allocated to each of these two provinces?

2 (3) Was the money awarded to a contractor whom you favor?

I’ve seen that some people do not have the machineries, experiences, and knowledge to build a road and instead misappropriate the money, and as a result no road is built.
The governors of Eastern Highlands, Gulf, and Morobe province have agreed to hold discussion with both the ministers for Works and Planning in Goroka, once the meeting is over, to discuss how to allocate those funds to the provincial governments.

03/02 We all must liaise and work in partnership with the landowners and the provincial government.

When the funds are made available then the landowners must commence the road work by clearing the portion of the land where the road will be constructed.
The commencement of the road work will connect Eastern Highlands, Gulf and part of Morobe, which the tribe of Hangar are found.

This construction of road will cater for connection of internal roads in Gulf Province to be linked with Malalaua.

Therefore, from that K40 million we all must agree and sign a Memorandum of Agreement so that it will be easier for us to construct the major roads to be linked to each of the concern provinces.
We all must agree for work to commence rather than waiting for the National Government to spend billions of kina in constructing road for us.

(2) Minister, can you and the Minister for Works and Implementation under the leadership of Marape-Steven government agree to work in partnership with members representing the three provinces - that’s if Chimbu Province is willing to join us - so that we all can fix all these internal roads to link all our most overlooked remote districts in each of these provinces.
Mr SAM BASIL – Mr Speaker, I thank the Governor of Gulf for his questions.

Under the Marape-Steven government a budget allocation of K40 million has been committed to start constructing the Trans National Highway commencing at 10 Mile in Lae to Bulolo Section and connect with Gulf and all the way to Port Moresby.

Mr Speaker, from that K40 million, the Department of National Planning has already allocated K5 million to the Department of Works and Implementation.
The onus now is with the Minister for Works and Implementation if he can submit a report for Cabinets approval.

I can’t really elaborate on that, it’s a national function.

We have already allocated funds, and how the funds are being used, the onus is on the Minister.

3 The question on linking a road from Eastern Highlands, Morobe to Gulf, is a good idea.

The Minister for Department of Works and Implementation can take note of it and he can liaise with us all so that we all can proceed on from there.
Police – Recruitment and Training Mr KOBBY BOMOREO – Mr Speaker, I direct my questions to the Minister for Police.

Mr Speaker, as we all know the law and order is a major issue affecting us all.

This issue is here to stay as long as we live on this earth.

Mr Speaker, I want the Minister for Police to tell this House and the country on the number of police personnel recruited so far.

(1) Can the Minister clarify on the latest status of the recruitment and training conducted in Bomana?
(2) Can he confirm the total figures of police personnel in this country?

(3) How many police personnel are attached in each provinces?

(4) How many police personnel are attached in each districts?

Most districts don’t have police presence.

In my district I have built 10 houses with a cellblock to accommodate them.

(5) Can the Minister confirm that once the houses are completed he will give me 10 police personnel to be stationed at my district?
Mr BRYAN KRAMER – Mr Speaker, I thank the Member for Tewai-Siassi for his questions.

04/02 I can answer some of the questions that you have asked now, however, the other questions regarding police personnel from other districts I will have to answer later.
According to a recent report, funded and supported by the Australian Federal Police under the partnership of our Royal Police Constabulary, a true cost report was carried out by Deloitte Accounting Firm and did order all the constabulary assets throughout the country, including all vehicles, personnel, issues in terms of housing and capacity equipment.

So that report will be tabled sometime this year by myself after it has been deliberated by the executives of the Police Force.
We have around 7200 police personnel throughout PNG.

On the question of how many of that recruitment graduating out of Bomana, this year, I understand it is nil and for the reason is, we do not have the recruitment budget.

4 Police requested K420 million, we received K380 million, the highest budget allocation, I believe, since Independence.

On policing on district level and provincial level, the biggest challenge now we have in the police force is disciplinary issues.
We had years of political interference, political appointments and degree of professionalism.

Many good officers have left the force or even been terminated from the force from doing their job.

The Police Force now is going through a transition and I understand many members and governors are concerned and requesting PPCs and officers.
The Constabulary’s concern is to deploy officers to your electorate who are competent, professional and efficient otherwise we will just deploy any officers to your district and then a week later you will complain about those officers not performing.
We have some districts where there is not enough infrastructures for officers to be deployed and some districts and provinces that already built all the accommodation but because of the high risk and issues in those provinces, certain officers are reluctant to be deployed.

An example was in Alotau, Milne Bay Province, when an officer was assigned to take up the PPC role and declined but instead took leave and refused to take up that role.
This kind of attitude has never happened in the past and these are the issues now been faced by the royal Constabulary and under the Marape-Steven government, we are still going through that reform.

We have seen significant reform at the executive level and we are working our way down to the provincial command structure and hopefully then we will have provincial PPCs that are professionals, conduct themselves professionally and held accountable.
For these recent incidences were you see officers asking for allowances.

Now those in charge of these officers must show cause of how the incident happened and what action did they take?

So I am happy if you send the requests for officers to your electorate, I will pass that information on to the Commissioner and hopefully ask him to provide a response.

As everyone is aware now and I have said on numerous occasions, the Minister for Police does not have command and control over the Police Force.
My primary function under the Marape-Steven government is on policy.

All I can provide is advice to the Commissioner in terms of assisting with running the Police Force.

But I will respond to your other questions at a later date for the benefit of Parliament.

5 Final Budget Outcome Report 2019 Mr CHARLES ABEL – Mr Speaker, I would like to direct a series of questions to the Treasurer.
I acknowledge that he is under some significant pressure at the moment, dealing with many of the issues facing our economy, particularly the COVID-19 situation.

Mr Speaker, nevertheless he still has particular obligations at law, in this case, some of the fiscal responsibilities in 2006 to present to this parliament and reports on a timely manner.

That Act is very specific in that instance.

We have some very ambitious budgets before us and the first one was the 2019 Supplementary Budget.
We thought to correct 2019 Budget and significantly increase the fiscal deficit and in fact took the total borrowing requirement to K3.5 billion that formed the basis for the 2020 Budget which added a further K4.6 billion bringing us a total of K8.1 billion in funding that was required to be raised to fund both these budget.
Mr Speaker, under the Fiscal Responsibility Act that I mentioned it is very clear under Section 13 that within three months following the end of the previous fiscal year, the treasurer is supposed to present a final budget outcome report to the Parliament so that we can see exactly what the situation was in terms of our budget.
05/02 So, in relation to those requirements here are the three questions; (1) Why is the Treasurer breaching this important law and not reporting to this House to update the public on the outcomes of the 2019 Supplementary Budget?

(2) When will the 2019 Supplementary Budget Outcome Report be released and will it be in this Session of Parliament, as it is three months overdue?
(3) Will the Treasurer inform the public that he will not interfere with the Final Budget Outcome 2019 Report and that the Department of Treasury will report the facts about the 2019 Budget Outcome?

Thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr IAN LING-STUCKEY – Mr Speaker, I would like to thank the former Treasurer and the Member for Alotau for his series of questions regarding the Final Budget Outcome or the FBL that was required under the appropriate legislation.
Mr Speaker, there is a law that requires the statement to be tabled within three months, which did not occur on this occasion for a number of technical reasons.
In relation to his last comment on the Treasurer assuring this Parliament that the Treasury will not tamper with the numbers completed by the Department, Mr Speaker, this can be 6 assured that the Treasury and my advisors will certainly not be tampering with any numberings, so long as the numbers that come out of Treasury are accurate and consistent with the numbers that have been adopted by this Government as endorsed by the IMF article 14.
So, the key point here is that we use accurate and correct figures.

Mr Speaker, the statement on the FBL will be tabled during this Parliament.

We are proposing next Wednesday and I will lead all of the commentary.

Thank you, Mr Speaker.

COVID-19 Stimulus Package Mr RICHARD MASERE – Mr Speaker, thank you, for recognising the people of Ijivitari.

I would like to direct my questions to the Treasurer.
My questions are in relation to the Stimulus Package that the good Treasurer has embarked on with the Bank of Papua New Guinea in order to support the communities and the business houses that are struggling during this crisis that is affecting the world.
Mr Speaker, the Treasurer is aware that during his discussion with the Bank of Papua New Guinea and its Governor, they were trying to find some ways which the bank could assist by applying certain measures to ensure that our business community continues to function during this turbulent economic times brought about by the COVID-19.
One of those stimulus package that was discussed was to pass some interest reduction rate from the Bank of Papua New Guinea to the commercial banks and in turn the commercial bank can pass those interest reduction to their loan customers.

Now, from my understanding, the interest reduction that was agreed to was around two per cent but I am informed that the commercial banks are not exercising the reduction completely.
06/02 (1) Can the Treasurer inform us whether what’s being passed from the Bank of Papua New Guinea to the commercial banks is not being adhered to, in terms of reduction to customers?

(2) Can the Treasurer also confirm whether there is any agreement in place that the commercial banks will also allow, people who owe money to the banks to have a loan reduction holiday, meaning that over a certain period or for the next few months they will not repay their 7 loans.
And whether that loan amount will be written off by the bank or added onto the remaining balance of the loan?

The other question is in relation to the Superannuation funding support that was agreed to.

(3) Has that agreement come into place, and did the employees who lost their jobs get compensated through their superannuation funds?

(4) Will you consider reducing the income tax holiday for employees that are still working?
People who are being laid off work are struggling to meet their rental payments (5) Will the government put in place a holiday or allow for people who are charging rentals to consider, those who are being laid off and allow, either reduction in the rental payment or give them a rental holiday, so that they do not have to pay for at least a month or two?

Mr IAN LING-STUCKEY – I would like to thank the Member for his series of questions.
In relation to the first one the Government and the business houses expected the commercial banks pass on the two per cent drop in interest rate.

We have asked the Bank of Papua New Guinea to assist the government to continue negotiations with the commercial banks; however, the government has no oversight to determine interest rates for commercial banks.

At this stage, I haven’t received any report on what the banks have passed on.
Mr Speaker, when I receive that I will be more than happy to table it as part of a statement to the Parliament.

To the other questions on income tax holiday; we know that out of the National Government’s revenue of K14.3 billion, some K11 billion is collected by the IRC and that comprises of a little under 80 per cent of our National Budget.
To touch income taxes is something that is going to affect our revenue position and it is something we would look at very closely and use or reduce as our very last resort.

At this point in time there is no intention by the government or Treasury to touch that particular base.

But what we are working on is to look at other avenues to assist struggling businesses at this point in time and some of those measures will be detailed in an economic statement, to be tabled tomorrow morning.
So, I will leave the rest of that to be answered.

Finally, the question on superannuation relief, we have a clear plan and again in the statement I will explain clearly the status of that; suffice to say that the Parliament needs to make some minor amendment to the Superannuation Act, after which we can implement that particular requirement.

8 Mr TOBOI YOTO – Thank you, Mr Speaker, for this opportunity.

My question is directed to the Minister for Works.


You all know that Western Province has contributed a lot through Ok Tedi but has not really been given government project.

For the first time I want to thank this government that has included some projects for Western Province in its budget.

I understand that the Government is financially facing hardships.
07/02 Daru-Orim Road Funding The National Government is facing challenges in securing funds therefore I would like to ask the Minister for Works if there is any funding available for road projects like what the Governor of Gulf asked for?

I have a road project that was reflected in the Government Budget and is called the Daru- Orimamoid Road.

This road has been a great concern for my people over the last 45 years.

Can the Minister inform Parliament if there is money available for this road?
If there is money available, when will the project start?

Mr MICHAEL NALI – I thank the Governor of Western for his question.

Mr Speaker, under the Marape-Steven government, we have come up with a policy called Connect PNG.

Under this policy, all district roads, provincial roads and national roads are all taken care of.

You will realise that in the 2020 Budget, the aim is to build all these roads making sure they interconnect.
Mr Speaker, this particular road from Daru to Moed is in our programme and there is funding in the Budget to cater for it.

I would like all MPs to hear this important point.

In the Works Department, we are carrying out a data survey to identify how many contractors we have in our provinces and districts.

When the Department of Planning releases funding to the Department of Works, the provincial governments with their DDAs will work in partnership with my department.
Mr Speaker, no money will be realised to the provincial governments or DDAs but we will work in partnership meaning that you and I can sit down together and put this projects on tender and identify contractors that have the capacity to build these roads.

The districts and provincial governments will carry out these road projects under the supervision of the Department of Works.

This is to make sure that we maximise the results of the money that we 9 spend on building these roads.
The Prime Minister always said that even if we have to build a kilometre or two, we must do it properly so that overtime we will achieve the best roads.

Mr Speaker, I want to assure the good Governor that we will work together on your road projects.

Under the Integrated Finance Management System, it does not give the Department any right or power to shift money.

It is now properly guided and strict so when it comes to implementation, tenders will be put up when money is realised to fund projects.
Supplementary Question Mr KENNEDY WENGE – I am very pleased with the Minister for Works and the programmes.

Mr Minister, have you forgotten my frames for the Busu Bridge yet?

Can the Minister inform the Parliament if the parts for the Busu Bridge are ready?

Mr SPEAKER – Honourable Member for Nawae, your question is a new one so I will not allow it.

Mr Kennedy Wenge – Point of Order!

I asked my Supplementary Question in relation to the duties of the Department of Works.
Mr SPEAKER – Like I said, your question is a new one; therefore, it cannot be a supplementary question.

You will have to ask a new question.

08/02 Mr Kennedy Wenge – Point of Order!

I came with a supplementary question to do with the responsibilities covered by Works.

One of my bridges over a fast flowing river has been derelict and I want to know if the bridge parts are ready or not.

That was the question.


Mr SPEAKER – Thank you, Member for Nawaeb, your question will be a new one if you continue to ask it.

A supplementary question means that your question must be in line with the one asked previously.

Yours is a new question.

If you wish to continue you can ask a new question.

10 Supplementary Question Mr WIN BAKRI DAKI – Thank you, Mr Speaker.

Firstly I want to thank the people of Papua New Guinea who prayed consistently over COVID-19.
Their prayers were heard resulting in no fatalities in Papua New Guinea.

I also wish to thank the Prime Minister who committed our country to God.

In the Western Highlands there is a missing link.

It stretches from Hagen Central to lower Nebilyer which is my area.

I have put money for work on the Kuta Road and after two years they have not completed this road.

Mr SPEAKER – Honourable Member for Tambul-Nebilyer, this is not a supplementary question.
Mr WIN BAKRI DAKI – No, this is a supplementary question because he said, no money will go to the districts.

He made that statement on behalf of Works.

That’s why this supplementary is raised.

Mr SPEAKER – Okay, you may continue.

Kuta Road Incomplete – Tambul-Nebilyer Mr WIN BAKRI DAKI – With regard to money not forthcoming to the districts, I don’t trust Works because I gave the money two years ago and work on the Kuta Road is still incomplete.

I do not trust the work that Works does.


Member – How much money?

Mr WIN BAKRI DAKI – K1.2 million.

I want him to finish it this week if he does not allow money to go to the districts.

Mr SPEAKER – Honourable Member for Tambul-Nebilyer what exactly is your question to the Minister?

You are making a statement.

Mr WIN BAKRI DAKI – I was not asking a question, it was a supplementary.

I gave the money two years ago and Kuta Road still remains a missing link from Nebilyer to Hagen 11 Central.
They have not completed the work.

Can the Minister explain why funding for road projects will not go to the districts?

Is it because Works has failed projects?

Thank you.

Mr MICHAEL NALI – Thank you, Mr Speaker.

I must admit that this is the first time I heard that he gave money to the Works Department.

There are some districts in the country where the provincial governments, districts and Department of Works signed MOUs and they are progressing very well.
On the question of K1.2 million, I will investigate and inform him where his money is because I don’t know whether he gave it to Works in Mt Hagen or in Port Moresby.

This is the kind of question that many Members raise accusing Works Department of diverting money but when I checked, I find out that they somehow identified the contractors that are working on the ground and who have been paid by the Department of Works but you come here and blame the Works Department.

Sometimes get your facts right.


When I come here and prove that the contractor on the ground has delivered or has been paid it means you are lying here.

So, let’s get our facts right.

This is the people’s house and they are watching through the cameras up there.

So we must be mindful of what we say otherwise we may defame some people, departments or even myself as the Minister.

Mr Win Bakri Daki – Point of Order!

This is the House of Parliament.

Nobody is bullshitting here.


Minister, get your words right, there are no children standing and talking here.

09/02 This is a House of Parliament, we do not have to come and mess around here so, minister you have to get your facts right.

As the Member for Tambul-Nebilyer, I have given funds to the Western Highlands Works Department for the first time for road works to be carried out.
I trusted you as a Minister so that I do not have to get unnecessary contractors from the side because, you have the equipment’s to get the job done.

My questions are; (1)Can the Minister speak to all the provincial works managers and direct them to do their work honestly and must be transparent?

12 (2)Can he also get his facts and provide evidences to be presented in this House tomorrow, regarding the checks I have raised which were given to your Department in Western Highlands.
I had enough of your delays.

Mr MICHAEL NALI – Thank you, Mr Speaker.

It will be done.

I will bring the report to this House on how the funds were used.

Thank you.

Supplementary Question South Fly – Vanimo Road Link Mr JAMES DONALD – Thank you, Mr Speaker.

My question is in line with the Governor and if the Minister is attentive then he will know that the situation is critical.
I would like the Prime Minister, the Minister for Immigration and the National Planning Minister to take note very seriously because when we are talking about Covid-19, the most vulnerable and risky entrance is our border.

That is why, we must focus on our border.

Right now as I speak, our country is not yet secured.

There is no road linking Wiam down to Vanimo.

I rise to ask you this as the Minister for Works; (1)Is there any plans in place to link the roads from South Fly to Vanimo?
We cannot work like this and it is sophisticated Logistic costs are high and people of Vanimo are facing hard times.

We cannot continue to live like this.

(2)Can the Minister speak with the National Executive Council to budget for these important roads to link from areas?

Our Defense Force are struggling and we as a nation must stand strong.

We cannot continue to be like this forever.

Our border must be manned.

Thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr MICHAEL NALI – Thank you, Mr Speaker.


Those concerns raised by the Member for North Fly are very important.

Mr Speaker, I think we are on the right track at the moment.

The Marape/Steven government have initiated a task to connect PNG.

Mr Speaker, I hope I will be lucky to bring in the reforms into Parliament this week for the Department of Works.

In this reform, one of our biggest achievement which we will 13 implement is to connect PNG.
‘Connect PNG’ is to link roads whether in the districts or provinces within this nation.

We must accept the fact that we do not have enough funds to build these roads.

But the Government is allocating funds through the Budget to each provinces and districts including our DSIP’s and we can slowly build roads to connect our country.

By Friday, through the Department of Works, we will all see the first five major connect PNG expression of interest.
The first one will be the one from 9-mile to Wau-Bulolo and to Malalaua.

10/02 The other very important ‘Connect PNG’ is the East to West Sepik starting from Watarais to Bogia and then to Angoram.

Another one is the East to West New Britain and the others are in Bougainville and Manus.

We have awarded the contract already for Morobe to connect Lae with Tewai-Siassi and Kabum, and that is part of the ‘Connect PNG’.
The previous government has started and the current government will continue to fix up the Highlands Highway from Lae up the Mt Hagen and then connect to Porgera, Kopiago, Komo, Telefomin, and that is ‘Connect PNG’.

I would like to thank the Member for Telefomin and Minister for Forest for awarding a contract to one of the local contractors who is currently building the road.

Hip-Weng construction is going from Tabubil and Hopnenga to Telefomin.

That is ‘Connect PNG’, Mr Speaker.


The one from Baiya River all the way to Madang is under the Indian Exim Bank loan.

The one from Gembogl to Bundi and the Southern Highlands to Gulf are part of ‘Connect PNG’ and all these big programs are there.

Between those big road links, we also have the little ones that are coming through the Budget.

I think our government has never forgotten us.

Our problem now is, as the Minister for Works, I will wait for my big brothers from Treasury and Planning for funding.
If they allocate money, then we will carry out the work.

Right now, I am collecting data to identify Papua New Guinean contractors.

Under this ‘Connect PNG’ policy, government is getting very hard on who should be contracted.

We must engage Papua New Guinean contractors.

I don’t want any one of us to talk down on our local contractors on this Floor of Parliament.

Who is going to build our local contractors in this country?

If they make mistakes, we will correct and fix them up.
I tell you, Department of Works has many engineers everywhere in this country.

We are a continent of our own.

14 Mr Speaker, to answer the question raised by the Honourable Member for North Fly, I sympathise and agree that you have not been forgotten.

Your road from Western coming into the Gulf and Kerema is also part of the ‘Connect PNG’ program.

Even for the Oro and Port Moresby to Magi and Hiritano Highway and to connect Alotau.
Many times, Alotau has been a very peaceful place and the leaders from Milne Bay didn’t allow for a road to be connected to Alotau but no, for goodness sake.

Our people need that road and we must build that road when we have the opportunity.

Thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr TOMAIT KAPILI - Thank you, Mr Speaker.

My series of questions are directed to the Minister for Police.
Our police officers who were posted to police stations in various provinces and districts right throughout the country were never rotated and stationed there for more than 4-5 years.

They have mingled around with the people and the community they serve and eventually build relationships with them.

Some get married to a local girl there and stay there as another citizen in that particular police station for more than 20-30 years.

Some police officers have great grand-children there.
They get themselves mixed up with the community which lead to their duties been compromised.

(1).

Can the Minister for Police, through the Chair, rotate the police officers every 4 or 5 years?

Keeping police officers in a particular police station for more than 10 years has caused a lot of problems within our districts and provinces.
Young police officers who graduate from Bomana should be posted to a particular police station for at least 2-3 years and rotate them to another police station in other province.

11/02 Once their term is up transfer them to another province.

In that way, they will carry out their duties accordingly.

But otherwise, policing duties will be compromised when they are stuck in one place for more than 10 to 20 years.
When you drive around the city of Port Moresby, you will never see one police vehicle empty with a driver only.

As for Australia, New Zealand and anywhere around the world a police vehicle is driven by one policemen or women only.

And the rest of the police personnel carry out foot patrol on the ground.
15 As for our policemen and women you will hardly see them walking around in public places like Gordons and Waigani markets doing foot patrol with their radios, guns and batons, but instead they drive around in police vehicles.

Mr SPEAKER – Honourable Member, the Chair wants to inform you that under the Standing Orders, Question Time is limited to 45 minutes only and you have used up your time.

Mr TOMAIT KAPILI – That’s okay!

It’s my turn so let me finish my question, Sir.


In conclusion, can we allow for our policemen and women to carry out foot patrols in all the public places and allocate one vehicle for supervision purposes only.

They are good at giving excuses by saying no vehicles and funds to do their work.

Instead their conduct shows that vehicles and funds are being misused in this sort of arrangement.
(2) Can the Minister instruct the policemen and women to carry out foot patrol mostly around the suburbs of the city and also all the districts as well?

Mr BRYAN KRAMER – Mr Speaker, I thank the Member for Lagaip-Pogera for his questions.

For the benefit of the Member, the actual number of police personnel is 7383.

In regards to rotating officers, this concern has been raised so many times and it’s been discussed by the Constabulary to relocate officers every two years.

Can it be done?
Can it be done?

Yes, this would be a positive outcome.

But the challenge is that it’s not realistic to start moving 7000 plus officers around the country.

The biggest challenge is someone has to vacate the house for another officer to move in.

As you know, some officers stay there permanently.


The focus now is the Commissioner and the Executives aim now is to move PPCs and PSE because some of them live in one area for too long and engage themselves in making businesses such as hire cars and spend time with politicians.

So to kick start this idea, we will move PPCs and they will sign a contract of two years.

And that is the focus of the Constabulary and the policy of the Marape-Davis Government, which the issue of accountability comes.
Just recently you have seen in the media that the Commissioner has excluded 290 officers from the payroll because they have not reported to work and no sign of what they are doing around the country.

Under this arrangement now they have to re-apply and explain in writing to be reinstated on the payroll.

16 This coming Thursday I have a meeting through Skype with an overseas company called Motorola to discuss about bringing Biometric machine.
It will be installed in every station and officers must register to resume duty.

And that will be intergraded into their performances as well as their payroll.

Another initiative that we are considering is that Motorola radios funded by Australian AP during APEC totaling AUD $3.9 million.

These radios have been sitting idle in a rental warehouse waiting for us to rollout.

These radios have GPS tracking system and when officers are deployed in the fields then they can be tracked with their movements.
12/02 Another initiative is body cam, we have a price of K50 000 that is in purchase for a number of bodycams for officers now who will wear bodycams and they will be required to carry out foot patrol and every station will have a command center where they will be monitored and the GPS tracker will state that they were dropped off here and they must walk this foot patrol and get picked up at that location.
Cars will have installed dashcams, where officers can be monitored both inside and outside the car and every station will have a command station set up at the station and they can see everything that is recorded.

That is part of the station of excellence under the Marape- Steven government.

Unfortunately COVID-19 came in and there was significant disruption since some of our prime lines involving those initiatives.
So the question of reposting officers, the focus now is on the command structure and those officers that are unfit, not turning up, compromised if they happen to be put off the payroll and disciplined and possibly charged.

Some of these initiatives will need your commitment through your DSIP where there is a million kina allocated for law and Order.
With the recent SoE, K15 million has been allocated to now shifting and re-fleeting the Police Constabulary vehicles and moving away from hire cars and so there is a number of discussions happening now even with my district.

I passed 1 million in DDA.


I will now pay to the Constabulary a K115 million and they will allocate 1 million so the K1 million for my district and the K1 million from the Constabulary that will make 2 million and we can buy up to 10 to 20 vehicles that will be deployed in my district to address Law and Order.

A number of governors and members and have confirmed their commitment to allocate K1 million.
17 So, if 15 members commit K15 million plus the existing K15 million already allocated under the SoE then the Constabulary can re-fleet up to 153 new vehicles but we can only do that with your support.

Those vehicles will be “Z’’ plated, GPS tracked and deployed in your electorate so they cannot go anywhere, thank you.

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

Leave granted.
Leave granted.

SUSPENSION OF STANDING ORDERS – RE-ARRANGEMENT OF BUSINESS Motion (by Mr Rainbo Paita) agreed to – That so much of the Standing Orders be suspended as would prevent Order of the Day No.

174, Government Business, being called on forthwith.
ORGANIC LAW ON THE INDEPENDENT COMMISSION AGAINST CORRUPTION Second Reading First required opportunity for debate and First Vote from 18 February (see page…) Sir PETER IPATAS (Enga) – Mr Speaker, I rise to make a statement on the second reading on the proposed Organic Law on the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) 18 The proposed law passed by Parliament will establish the office of the Independent Commission Against Corruption.
The primary role of ICAC will be to contribute in cooperation with other agencies in preventing, reducing and competing corrupt conduct in the country.

Mr Speaker, let me begin with the current status of corruption in the country, according to the 2019 global corruption index.

13/02 According to the 2019 Global Corruption Perception Index, Papua New Guinea currently stands at a ranking of 137 out of 180 least corrupt country in the world with a score of 28/100.
This score indicates the perceived level of public sector corruption on a scale of 0 highly corrupt to 100 being very clean/least corrupt.

The ranking has tarnished PNG position and reputation regionally and globally.

The enactment of the ICAC Legislation will change the perception in the region and the world at large.

Mr Speaker, by way of a background, PNG's attempt to establish an ICAC goes back more than a decade.
A draft ICAC Bill was first developed in 1997, but political support was not reached and it fell short of being passed by Parliament.

In 2011, the Government developed new draft legislation to establish an ICAC, however, that legislation was not tabled in Parliament because of the political impasse that existed in the country at that time.

In March 2014, Parliament passed the amendment to the Constitution to establish the Independent Commission Against Corruption.
The amendment to the Constitution has provided the legislative backing for the Organic Law on ICAC to come into operation.

Following from the amendment, a proposed Organic Law on ICAC was tabled on November 2015 for its first reading.

The proposed Organic Law on ICAC was referred to this Committee as part of the process to enact constitutional laws.

The Parliament rose for the National Election hence, the legal advice was for the proposed Organic Law on ICAC to be reintroduced and tabled in Parliament.
Mr Speaker, on 28 February 2020, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Justice and Attorney General introduced in Parliament the Organic Law on Independent Commission Against Corruption.

The primary role of ICAC will be to contribute, in cooperation with other agencies, in preventing, reducing and combating corrupt conduct in the country.
The role of the committee in conducting its examination on the proposed law is to gain a better understanding of the possible benefits that the proposed law may provide and explain any concerns that people may have about the proposed changes.
The examination of the proposed law is based on the four areas whether the Parliament should pass the proposed law, whether the Parliament should amend the proposed law, whether the proposed law has 19 sufficient regard to the rights and liberties of individuals and whether the proposed law has sufficient regard to the institution of Parliament.
14/02 The committee's examination of the proposed law was limited to the due to the coronavirus pandemic and therefore, the committee did not conduct wider consultations from relevant stakeholders and interested individuals and groups.

There was only one briefing provided to the committee.
On Wednesday 20th May, the committee was briefed by the ICAC working committee comprising the Department of Justice and Attorney General, the Department of Prime Minister & NEC, the Office of the First Legislative Counsel and the interim ICAC Secretariat team.

It was an informative briefing provided to the committee.
Mr Speaker, from the briefing, the committee considered the following issues: The committee considers and supports the key functions of the 1CAC and they include the prevention, detection, investigation, referral and prosecution of corrupt conduct, and with working where appropriate in cooperation with other agencies.
The committee also considers and supports the investigative powers of ICAC that include requesting statements from public officials, search the premises of public bodies, obtain from the District Court and execute search warrants, issue notices to produce documents and/or give evidence and hold hearings.

The committee also considers and supports the role of the ICAC investigators who will have only the power to arrest alleged offenders in relation only to indictable offences relating to corrupt conduct.
The committee also consider and support the role of the ICAC investigators who will have only the power to arrest alleged offenders in relation only to indictable offences relating to corrupt conduct.

The committee further notes and support the ICAC power that is limited to indictable offences relating to corrupt conduct and can only be exercised upon a formal written consent by the Public Prosecutor.
The committee further considers and support the organisational structure of the ICAC and related structures that can will provide a sound environment for the functioning of the ICAC.

Mr. Speaker, from the issues considered by the committee, the committee finds that after many years of preparing for the proposed Organic Law on ICAC through consultations and after few attempts to bring the legislation to Parliament, the proposed Organic Law is finally 20 before the Parliament.
What is required now if we are serious to fight corruption is to embrace the passage of the proposed law on ICAC with political will.

The committee thereby supports the proposed Organic Law on ICAC, Thank you, Mr Speaker.

15/02 Mr DAVIS STEVEN (Esa’ ala – Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Justice and Attorney-General) – Mr Speaker, in accordance with Standing Order 222 (b), I now commence the first required opportunity for debate.
Mr Speaker and Honourable Leaders, I am privileged to present the Organic Law on Independent Commission Against Corruption for our country.

Firstly, let me acknowledge and thank the Honourable Sir Peter Ipatas, the Chairman and Members of the Parliamentary Committee on Constitutional Laws and Acts and Subordinate Legislations for the report just presented.

Indeed from the report we can see and I will find help on points that I intend to raise in my debate.
This important work is continuing from past governments.

I therefore acknowledge the efforts of the past governments especially noting that our commitment to the international community was confirmed as early as 2005 when we signed the United Nations Convention Against Corruption.

Our people overwhelmingly supported this law and they continue to do so today.
We know this because as a result of the nationwide consultations undertaken by the Constitutional Law Reform Commission, that point was made clearly.

I note the public engagement of the Constitutional Law Reform Commission was commissioned by the National Government.

Mr Speaker, in 2010, our nation adopted the first ever National Anti-Corruption Strategy 2010- 2030.

That policy document is current and has prompted the important next step of the passage of this Organic Law.
The consultations between agencies of the State including the Ombudsmen Commission, the Police, our courts both higher and in the law judiciary, civil society including Transparency International were involved.

The former Prime Minister and Honourable Member for Ialibu-Pangia championed the amendment required in the Constitution to enable this Organic Law.
In his speech he gave assurance to our people that we will pass the Whistle Blowers Act and that we will deal with the Freedom of Information Act to complement these efforts.

21 Mr Speaker, our current Prime Minister is behind this strong desire to enact the Organic Law to set up the Commission.

We have passed the Whistle Blowers Act and I am glad to say that you have certified that Act and is now in force.
We will endeavour to pass the Freedom of Information Act before this Houses rises at the end of its term.

Mr Speaker, notwithstanding our effort as a nation we are described as a reluctant nation where our commitment to fighting the evil of corruption is concerned.

Statistics from around courts and law enforcement agencies show an alarming situation of almost uncontrolled cases and trend of misappropriation of public monies and official corruption.
16/02 Statistics from and law enforcing agencies show an alarming situation of almost uncontrolled cases of and trends of misappropriation in public monies and official corruptions.

The chairman of the Permanent Parliamentary Committee has referred to the matrix Transparency International Corruption Perception Index released in 2019 where Papua New Guinea is ranked 137/180.

On a scale of zero bring highly corrupt to 100 being very clean, PNG scored 28/100.
This is a very serious public concern that can no longer be ignored.

As a responsible Government, we have demonstrated our commitment to dealing with the endemic and systematic corrupt practices through a number of broader anti-corruption interruptions as described above.
Apart from the ratification of the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) in 2005 and the development of the Papua New Guinea National Anti-Corruption Strategy 2010 — 2030, since 2012 the government has been committed to the Medium Term Development Plan III (MTDPIII 2018 — 2022).
Key Result Area 6.1 of the MTDP III in particular that aims to control corruption by setting the benchmark for relevant State institutions to strengthen and enforce accountability and transparency measures including again the establishment of an ICAO.
Mr Speaker, to address the challenges that continue to undermine our development agendas and respect for the rule of law, the Constitutional Amendment to establish the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) was passed by Parliament unanimously on 19 February 2014.

I’m glad to say, Mr Speaker, that law is now in operation and commenced operation on 29 August 2014.
The constitutional amendment, in particular Division V111.3, whilst establishing the ICAC, provides that there must be an Organic Law to provide for the structure, administration and jurisdiction of that agency and the appointment of Commissioners and staff of ICAC.

Its 22 relationship with other anti-corruption or law enforcement agencies and provides for both internal and external accountability measures to be established to enable ICAC to be also accountable to the people.
The Constitution, Division VIII.3, also provides for the functions and powers of ICAC, in particular prevention, the powers of investigation and also prosecution powers.

Mr. Speaker, in determining the ICAC jurisdiction, the definitions of the terms `public official' and 'corrupt conduct' found in the proposed Organic Law on ICAC are key to clearly defining the type of conduct ICAC is empowered to investigate and prosecute or prevent from occurring.
These definitions ensure that ICAC's jurisdiction compared to those of other existing anti-corruption bodies such as the Ombudsman Commission, the Office of the Public Prosecutor and the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary are clearly demarcated.
Unlike the Ombudsman Commission Which only deals with leaders like you and I, ICAC's jurisdiction is much wider than the Ombudsman Commission it covers all public servants throughout the country at all level (not just Leaders) and those in private sectors who are direct beneficiaries of public funds through service contracts and are causing public sector corruption.
For example, if a voter is causing a Member of Parliament to apply dishonestly public sector assets for personal interests, under the uncorrupted conduct" definition, that person can also be charged.

The scope of the arrest power under the proposed Organic Law is limited only to indictable offences relating to corrupt conduct as defined under the Bill.

The power of the police.


17/02 The power to commence criminal proceedings and conduct committal proceedings is limited only to indictable offences relating to corrupt conduct.

It is intended that the ICAC will deal with the most serious or systemic cases of corruption and refer other issues, less serious criminal matters or disciplinary matters to other relevant agencies for action.
Another safeguard in the proposed Organic Law is that, ICAC can only conduct criminal proceedings upon a written consent from the Public Prosecutor following the Public Prosecutors own assessment and certification.

The proposed Organic Law limits the power to prosecute indictable offences relating to corrupt conduct and only upon written consent by the Public Prosecutor as I have said.
23 Mr Speaker, the composition of the ICAC is broad and includes the Chief Commissioner who is required to hold a legal qualification and two Deputy Commissioners, the appointment criterion of which is broad and is not restricted to persons with legal qualification only.

It extends to persons with demonstrated experience of at least seven years in fields relevant to the functions of ICAC, such as accounting.
Mr Speaker, this is an improvement from the situation under the Organic Law establishing the Ombudsman Commission.

The proposed Organic Law on ICAC was developed after an extensive public consultation process.

Regional public forums were conducted and all comments relating to key issues of the ICAC were considered by the drafting team.

Views of both domestic and international experts were considered, so that the experiences of other jurisdiction that is relevant to us can be included.
The drafting of the proposed Organic Law on ICAC is also supported with proper research around its key features.

More importantly, our people were given the opportunity to provide their views on the establishment of this new constitutional institution.
And our people have responded to establish an institution that focuses its attention not only on investigation and prosecution, but more fundamentally on prevention and educating the younger generation on citizenship values and principles that builds personal integrity and instilling culture of lawfulness within state institutions and in discharging civic duties.
Mr Speaker, lessons from the consultations and international best practice is that for an anti-corruption agency like the one proposed to be effective, it must; • Be independent from the Executive Government (this raises the issue of appointments, operations, decision-making, and staffing powers): • Be well resourced (including high integrity staff) Mr Speaker, since the National Strategy on Corruption 2010 was adopted.
The National Coordination and Monitoring team of the Law & Justice Sector has been focused on training of key personnel who will work in ICAC once it is established.

ICAC must; • Have a strong whistleblower protection (to encourage public confidence to report corruption); • Have strong investigative powers; • Have a strong accountability framework; and • Cooperate effectively with other agencies.

24 The proposed ICAC will complement and cannot duplicate the functions of existing agencies.
The establishment of the ICAC will only assist in bolstering Papua New Guinea's ability to prevent, reduce and combat corruption.

It will assist in restoring institutional integrity and raise public confidence in the various Government institutions and services we deliver.
18/02 Mr Speaker, the proposed Organic Law on Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC), will strengthen the government’s broader anti-corruption effort while assisting in implementing Papua New Guinea’s international commitments to tackle corruption under the UNCAC that I referred to.
At this point, I must also inform this Honorable House that this year, our nation will be subjected to the second cycle of review of its implementation of the convention on United Nations Convention against Corruption by the United Nations, in particular we will be required as a nation to report on the implementation of chapter 2 prevention, and chapter 5 asset recovery.

One of the measures we have been committed to doing in 2015 up on the rectification of UNCAC was the establishment of ICAC.
In particular, article 6 and 36 of the UNCAC, it is mandatory for state parties to establish these agencies.

Mr Speaker, many other countries have established such institutions within their jurisdiction.

In other words, something is happening globally and is viewed to be a vital institution in any progressive country.
PNG through the establishment of ICAC will be seen as a progressive and responsive nation in the prevention of corruption within the global community as well as in compliance with international commitment.

Mr Speaker, establishing the ICAC also raises the need to protect its weaknesses.

PNG has an obligation under article 33 to consider measures to protect persons against unjustified treatment when they report in good faith and on reasonable grounds, corrupt conduct and abuse of power.
Having the whistle blower legislation now complements our government’s efforts in the fight against corruption where witnesses can make protected disclosure without fear of retaliation.

Therefore, Mr Speaker, I take this opportunity to thank this Honorable House for the support extended in the passing of the whistle blowers bill in the last session.

I’m also happy 25 to inform this Honorable House that the Whistle Blowers Act has now been certified and gazetted to bring into force.
It is important for all of us as leaders to bear in mind that the creation on an independent commission against corruption will not be a finisher to dealing with corruption in this country.
It is a very important initiative to tackle corruption, but it needs to operate in conjunction with other existing institutions like our police force and the public service commission, the Ombudsman Commission, the Auditor General, the Public Prosecutor, Non -Government Organizations, churches throughout our country, and civil Society.

We will rely on our vibrant media and of course our own human resource, human capital both within government and in our communities.
Preventing corruption is a shared responsibility.

It is up to every Papua New Guinean to be united in building integrity in our persons and in the accurate eradicate corruption.

We all owe it to Papua New Guineas future to do so.

Mr Speaker, it’s not us who will, if not now, when?

And I commend Mr Speaker, the draft organic law to establish the Independent Commission Against Corruption to this Honourable House.

Dr ALLAN MARAT (Rabaul) – Thank you, Mr Speaker.


Firstly, let me thank the Chairman of Parliamentary Committee on Constitutional Laws and Regulations for the introduction of what the Parliamentary Committee has done in the past in terms of tracing the history of this ICAC Bill.

19/02 The steps that has been taken in the past in order to make ICAC Bill become a reality.

I want to thank him and the Members of the Parliamentary Committee.
I also thank the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Justice and Attorney-General, for the debate that he has just completed on the Floor of this Parliament in relation to the introduction of this ICAC Bill.

He mentioned a number of very important points in his debate.

And I would like to comment very briefly on one and that is the concept of integrity.

Mr Speaker, I don’t know whether many of us know the meaning of it.

But the practical meaning of it is simple.


All of us members believe that we know the laws and we are law makers on the Floor of this Parliament.

We make laws and whether we abide by these laws or break them, I really don’t know.

I cannot answer for other Members of 26 Parliament.

But for me, it’s always a challenge when I have been part of this House that has made the laws, I must uphold the laws.

I must observe these laws and what the letter of these laws say, I must abide by it.
Integrity comes when we as members of Parliament and public servants know what the laws and rules are and the constitutional laws, acts, rules and regulations of Parliament are saying and know them in so far as a static govern the offices that we occupy.

Like the public servants and the Members of Parliament is on the Organic Law on Leadership Code.

These are rules and they govern us leaders and we know these rules.

And when we uphold them then we have integrity.


If we don’t then we don’t have integrity and we are not fit and proper persons to be leaders.

Similarly for public servants and even people in the private sector.

When they do not observe the laws that regulates their offices then they are not leaders.

I stress this point because that’s where integrity comes in.

If we know the rules that we passed and it becomes an Organic Law and becomes part of the Constitution.
If we know and uphold them then we are considered as people and leaders of integrity.

Otherwise, we are here for other reasons and not as leaders.

Leaders are supposed to have integrity.

I just want to comment on the point that Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Justice and Attorney-General has mentioned in his debate.

I speak very strongly about integrity because I support this law.

It has seen its time in the past.


I was involved in this ICAC Bill and left it in the office of the then Speaker, the late Jeffery Nape.

20/02 When I came in the next day to find out whether he handed over the ICAC Bill to the office of the Clerk, I found some very strange persons in his office who were actually unduly influencing him not to progress the ICAC Bill.

Mr James Marape – Call their names!

Dr ALLAN MARAT – I will not call their names.

(Uproar in the Chamber) Mr SPEAKER – Order!

Order!
Order!

Allow the Member for Rabaul to continue his debate.

Dr ALLAN MARAT – Thank you, Mr Speaker, for coming to my rescue.

27 Mr Speaker, since that time, I never heard of this ICAC Bill on the Floor of Parliament, until I started to ask questions.

And thank you Deputy Prime Minister, I asked the question not long ago and you took it up.

I followed your debate and I agree with your debate but I want to say this about ICAC.
Mr Speaker, ICAC will be meaningless if we as leaders don’t take up the task of informing ourselves about what ICAC is saying and abiding by the laws and also encouraging our people, public servants that we oversee to conduct and encourage and observe the provision of ICAC.

Lastly, I want to say it will also be meaningless if we do not take advantage of the law, the information that is around us to help us to observe what the provisions are saying.

Thank you, Mr Speaker.


Mr PETER O’NEILL (Ialibu–Pangia) – Thank you, Mr Speaker.

Firstly let me extend a word of congratulations to the Attorney General, for bringing this important Bill to the Floor of Parliament and of course getting this reading through.

You started this work under our government, when you were Attorney General and I am very proud that you have seen to its completion and that is why you deserve our support.

This is a bill that is overdue as many speakers have said.
It was first mooted in 1997 and it did not have the support of the House.

There were many factors that led to its demise and of course after the 2010 strategy of which we inherited in 2011 onwards, and I want to also commend many of the Attorney-Generals in between who have been able to carry on this task of getting this very important Bill to the shape that is now before us.

Let me also congratulate many of the bureaucrats for their persistence and the work that they have done.
Many a times we talk about negativity all the time in this country, I think we need to commend people who are working hard to make a difference in our country and in our society.

The ICAC Bill deserves support in this House, as the good Attorney- General has stated, if we do not support this Bill today who will support it in the future it will never see the daylight in the future.
We are amongst very few countries in the world when we passed this Bill today that will have an ICAC structure in place There are not many countries in the world have this structure.

It is similar to that time when many of our founding fathers would say, when they introduced the Ombudsman Commission, where leaders mandated by people are subjected to an ombudsman.
We are only very few countries in the world and it is quite unique and we have seen the success and failures of all these institutions and we have to ask ourselves why.

Why 28 are we failing to uphold the intentions of these institutions?
It is largely because of leaders that continue interference in the operations of these institutions, continuous politicization of many of these institutions and continuous wantok system and nepotism in these institutions that is not allowing these institutions to function.

The intentions are noble and ICAC will come under the same demise if we are not careful.

That is why the Attorney-General has given his assurance.

This will be your legacy, do not let this fall off the rails.
People may say, we have angels here in Parliament but we all are sinners.

21/02 Our society is based on hearsay, gossip and political interference.

If you cannot tarnish certain people on one side, you go and find other ways to do so.

This institution must not be used as a tool.

You and I know very well that we will not be on this Floor forever so we must use this as an example.
I am pleased to hear that the framing of this particular Bill is conducted in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution.

Our founding fathers have developed a Constitution that is well leading and it highlights the rights of every human being in our country, which are very specific and that must be respected.

This particular institution must work according to the rights of individuals and must provide evidence when you have allegations.
Also, the appointment of commissioners and people who are going to work in the institution is very important.

There must be no nepotism or people who have obligation to tribalism or politics which will affect the institution.

This institution’s head has to be neutral in order for us to lift the standards of our behaviour in this country that is why when you appoint those commissioners, even some of our most learned people, they will not be compromised.
Mr Speaker, if we have to amend to make sure that we have global leaders who can come and shape these institutions for us, we must make sure that we support them, and that is why there must be demarcation of responsibility as the Attorney-General stated.

We already have the Police Force, Department of Justice, the Judiciary and many other government institutions and everyday these institutions are compromised by individuals who have no shame.
I encourage the Attorney-General to protect this institution and we will give you the support that we can.

I am very happy that the work my government had started is now putting into final conclusion with you and the Government.

I hope that we will all shape and build our country for the betterment of our citizens.

Thank you, Mr Speaker.

29 Mr SAM BASIL (Bulolo – Minister for Planning) – Thank you, Mr Speaker, I join my colleagues to contribute a little bit here as the Leader for the United Party.
Mr Speaker, this Bill was introduced in 2014, some six years ago and I clearly remember, I used to sit in the Opposition and we all supported this Bill, and since then, in every Parliament session the public have been expecting the Parliament to have passed that Bill.

But, thank you very much Attorney-General and I would like to thank the former Prime Minister for his input in the last Government and everyone who is seated here, from both sides of the House who have contributed.
So, today, it is good to see again from the debates that I have heard that this Bill will get full support from everyone.

Mr Speaker, I will not repeat what the others have said because we understand that we do have other institutions such as the Police, Public Prosecutors Office and of course the Ombudsman Commission.

Mr Speaker, I personally think that the ICAC Office should replace the Ombudsman Commission because we will duplicate responsibilities and spend more.
I believe that with the establishment of the ICAC Office we have to be very careful and committed in making sure that we they are funded.

In the past experience with the Ombudsman Commission, it was very disgraceful that the Ombudsman Commission was once locked out and it wasn’t fully funded to carry out its duties so I believe that with the ICAC Office establishment they should take over the functions of the Ombudsman Commission and absorb the costs.
Mr Speaker, the appointment of the Head of the ICAC will be a concern to all of us in respect to past experience of how to appoint the Head of Ombudsman Commission.

I think that it will be proper that once it is established we can bring neutral people from other Commonwealth Countries to Head the Office.
I believe that this ICAC Bill is very fair because it addresses parliamentarians, public servants and all those who are responsible for public assets and I am also happy that this will give a tick on delivering one of the MTDP III.

Last year, we did a 30 per cent cut and this year we are slow in coming and it will greatly affect the delivery of MTDP III under the Planning Department but I am happy that this will give a tick.
22/02 So, on behalf of the United Labor Party we have discussed this in our party caucus and we are support this Bill.

We will stand together with all the parties on the Floor today.

And I 30 commend the Prime Minister and the Attorney-General for bringing this Bill forward.

And of course, the Chairman who gave his report today.
Mr Speaker, we support this Proposed Law and on behalf of the United Labor Party we are committed to join hands together to make sure we pass this historical Bill that Papua New Guineans are waiting for.

And they are happy we have presented it today.

Mr GARRY JUFFA (Northern) – Thank you, Mr Speaker.

I wish to join my colleagues to debate on this proposed law which I support.

I think much has already being said by the speakers before me.
They have all spoke well and said what was on all of our minds but I want to join them in commending those who were responsible, the learned persons and especially the public servants as well.

We tend to often criticize them but as a former public servant, I can tell you that it is a very difficult vocation to try and be patriotic and build the nation or the economy, when you work under some very challenging circumstances.
I want to focus my debate on a few issues that were perhaps touched by some of the speakers but I wish to elaborate a little on those and endorse what most of them said especially in regards to the independence of this organization.

The word ICAC, its prefix is independent.


And it has to be an independent body which is not controlled or manipulated by any force other than those who are employed for the purposes of ensuring that there is transparency and good governance in the administration and the enforcement of the laws that this Proposed Law is putting forward.

In more detail, I would like to propose and I think it has probably been considered by the Attorney-General and all the legal experts who have worked on this Bill.
I would like to emphasize on a very important aspect of any organization that is responsible for investigations, that is to have a high-quality case management and evaluation system in place, so that cases investigated are cases that are not just brought before an organization, for the purposes of witch hunt.

This is very important and we have seen many organizations as alluded to by the Members who debated before me.
Witch hunts have taken place and sometimes innocent people have been defamed, their careers have been destroyed by this type of activities because there is no proper case management system in place or if there is a case management system in place, it has been perverted, misused or abused by certain forces.

So, we need to ensure that this type of case management systems are in place.

The case management system that is used in other countries that also have ICAC.
I refer to what the Member for Rabaul mentioned in regards to integrity.

31 This must also be within the organization, all staff from the tea boy to the CEO must be people of integrity because they will be scrutinizing actions, behaviors and allegations made against citizens brought forth for the purposes of investigations for this organization.

And here I want to mention that we have to take care of the staff that work in this organization.
We have to remunerate them well, making sure they have proper benefits so that they can focus on the work at hand and not be distracted; for instance, threatened, induced or bribed.

I also want to say that, whilst we have established this organization to look at corruption within PNG.

23/02 There are powerful economic forces that can come in here and manipulate an entire political landscape.

How are we going to deal with those powerful characters?

This is just in addition to what we are doing with ICAC.
We will need to look at establishing organisations that also look at this type of organisations and individuals.

Mr Speaker, when I worked with the Internal Revenue Commission, we established an organisation called the Trans-national Crimes Unit.

We worked with the Australian Federal Police and the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary to establish this organisation.

Its purpose was to investigate trans-national crime and was based in Bomana.
We trained police personnel in Australia and Singapore and other countries to come and staff that organisation and be involved in the investigations of these crimes.

Mr Speaker, these are very serious crimes that have a significant negative detrimental effect on an economy of a nation.

However, over the years that organisation was completely ignored, underfunded and dismantled.
Today it is just a mere cell and there is no actual entity responsible for conducting investigations in regards to the activities described as transnational crimes.

I would not like to see ICAC move down this part where we create such an organisation but only to be forgotten and abandoned.

I don’t want it to absorb a significant component of our budget but produces very little to no results.

Mr Speaker, it would be important that we put mechanisms in place that will ensure that this does not happen.
We have to have something that year-in year-out, it receives resources that it deserves and that it is nurtured from the very beginning to become an effective tool for the people of Papua New Guinea to fight corruption.

We must ensure that or we will be just parading it as a badge to show the rest of the world but doing nothing in reality.

32 Mr Speaker, these are some just of the concerns that I have.
I reiterate that often times we are critical of public servants especially police but look at where they live and what they are paid.

We must look at the difficulties and challenges that they face to come to work and be inspired to serve their nation and build a country.

Sometimes only the thought of getting out of bed to go to work is in itself a challenge for these fine men and women serving our country.

We must seriously consider these situations when we are establishing these organisations.
I think everyone will support ICAC but these are just some of the details from my humble experience of having once performed in an organisation that performed similar functions.

I have had experiences of living in settlements and being paid very poor salaries but expected to perform above and beyond.

We have to think about these people that are going to be performing these duties and how they will be compensated or resourced.
Mr Speaker, I commend this Government, the previous Government, the Attorney- General and the previous Attorney-General and all those who have worked hard to bring this Bill to Parliament.

Thank you very much for the opportunity to debate.

24/02 Mr Speaker, if this meeting was conducted in my electorate of Sinasina-Yonggamugl everybody will say enough talking, stop the debates and vote immediately and everybody will support it.

I think Papua New Guinea shares the same sentiments right now.
The entire country feels this way because they are fed up with rhetoric.

I am glad it is my time to talk but thank you for all the advice.

In fact I am not surprised to see that the senior Members of the Opposition were quick off the mark to support this because they represent their people.

So, irrespective of whether you are sitting on this side or that side we all recognise the need to pass this law.
If you have a genuine interest to promote the interest of Papua New Guinea and wish to see it progress smoothly and develop accordingly, this law is a cornerstone.

You must pass it first because corruption is the only thing eating away at the fabrics of society and is denying the development of Papua New Guinea.

The idea of setting up an institution like this one is not new.

It has been with us since 1980, five years after Independence.

Soon after Independence this disease emerged.


People saw it and were talking about how to control it.

I come from the legal profession and I use to hear Late Peter Doing take the lead in the legal profession by advocating the need to bring in this ICAC Bill.

He spoke for over 35 years, died, a new person came in and continued talking 35 years on.

I never knew that I’ll be sitting 33 here, on the Floor of this Parliament to actually take part in the voting to pass this law.
Now I am here and we are going to do it together.

This is a historic moment.

We have to firstly deal with corruption.

Again, to understand how corruption has grown over time, when I joined the legal profession I used to work with many Australian lawyers.

And in their bantering over coffee they ask themselves, is it right to give a tip to the waiter at the restaurant.

A small tip.
A small tip.

Some of them say that it might be seen as corruption, corrupting standards, corrupting procedures, corrupting expectations of the people.

They say this about small tips of 50 toea or K1.00 and so on.

They debate this because they were concerned about the emergence of a new culture where you are getting something beyond what you have earned and are entitled to which is the growth and basis of corruption.
They debate on this minor issue but today this culture of stealing and expectations to steal have now become the new standard.

It is normal for you to ask for commission, kickbacks and bribes which you set up and receive and that’s acceptable.

It is now the new normal.

The people are already sick and tired of this.


Mr Speaker, when I was Attorney-General during the Prime Ministership of Peter O’Neill, I brought in a bill to this Floor for us to amend the Criminal Code Act to introduce more severe penalties.

One of the proposals I took to the then Prime Minister Peter O’Neil was for people who steal more than K10 millions of public funds to face the firing squad.

I said that.
I said that.

That was the discussion I had but upon detailed consideration and to protect the rest of the proposal we had to compromise and that one had to be deleted from that proposal.

However, this is how frustrating we feel and I as an individual leader was so frustrated that I felt that extreme measures had to be taken to protect and defend the people’s interest and rights on the Floor of this Parliament.

That proposal to amend the Criminal Code did not emanate from a vacuum.
We already had cases where leaders have been convicted of stealing millions of kina of people’s money, sentenced to jail and they have served time in jail.

This has now become an everyday fact here in our country.

So we have to do something about it.

This proposed law has been long in the making.

We’ve got to stop talking and we’ve got to pass the proposed law.

And off course Mr Speaker, - 25/02 34 Of course, Mr Speaker, we have preferred to see it done better.
It could have done better, but if we delayed it to building all the things that we want to see in the Bill, we might never bring it to the floor of this Parliament.

For example; we might want to see your half debt.

We build in parts into the Legislation that talks about dealing with unexplained wealth.

Unexplained wealth, Mr Speaker.

That is the new normal.

You will see people these days like an atomic bomb, wealthy.

Out of nowhere and no track record.


If you are a genuine businessman you know that things grow very slowly, organically over a long period of time.

How is it, that people have become so wealthy with very heavy balance sheet?

Unexplained wealth.

How did they acquire it and accumulated it?

You will not see any history behind them and all of a sudden, they are wealthy.

We have preferred to see provisions built in into this sort of issues.
Take the opportunity while we can and build it in their so that, this authority has the power to investigate.

And ask the right questions and say yes, you may have got it legitimately, but, please explain so the people will know.

We would have wanted to see that sort of thing.

Also, we would have wanted to see that the police commissioner or somebody within that organisation is given the power to appoint receivers and managers.

These are provided for under the Companies Act.


So, if somebody all of sudden has unexplained wealth and the police or the ICAC are onto him; to protect against stripping of all the assets and business of that person or company, there must be a receiver and manager appointed to oversee them for protection until the investigation and prosecution are all completed.

And with that also the power to apply to the National Court for liquidators to be appointed where it is proven.
Those are the proceeds of crime but we did not have it.

We could have also afforded that but, Mr Speaker, the more we delay it by talking about it to incorporate all these things, it might never get to see the light by day.

I am glad and very thankful to the Attorney General, who is also the Deputy Prime Minister, and the support of the Prime Minister with everyone on the Floor of Parliament that, this Bill has finally made it to the Floor for us to debate upon.
Once it is passed, we must not be frightened by the fact that there is going to be some conflict between the roles and functions of ICAC, the Ombudsman Commission and any other institution that is interested in the rule of law.

Those things can be reconciled as we move along.

The Ombudsman Commission used to be the front line of the fight against corruption but now, where is that Ombudsman Commission for the last five to ten years?
They just sit around in their offices and are paid by the Treasury Department but there is no outcome of their investigations.

35 How many referrals have we seen?

How many prosecutions before the leadership tribunal have we seen?

Are we to say, therefore, there is no corruption in this country?

Who can agree with such a preposition like that?

There are cases everywhere.

Everywhere you will look there is some corruption there.

How can the Ombudsman Commission say that they have no business?
We expect them to be referring at the rate of five cases a month.

But they haven’t.

To talk about prosecution, we have not seen any.

Perhaps, deliberately they do things the wrong way so that it is liable to successful challenge.

So, the integrity and credibility of Ombudsman Commission as an institution, Mr Speaker, is very much in doubt as I speak at this moment.

We have not seen any outcome of the work they do, but if we do then we will support them.
I used to be a very big supporter of the Ombudsman Commission.

When this thing first came up about ICAC, I said no, Ombudsman Commission must always be preserved to continue to its traditional role.

26/02 I used to be a very big supporter of the Ombudsman Commission.

When this thing came up about ICAC, I said no, Ombudsman must always be preserved to continue to play its traditional role.

But now, I’m on the fence.

I don’t know about the Ombudsman Commission anymore because I don’t believe in them.
I haven’t seen them do anything at all.

They are just sitting there.

They themselves are responsible for relegating themselves to a redundant position and if they are redundant, then the question emerges why do you sustain and keep them alive?

Why do you continue to fund them?

These questions will have to be dealt with when we come back to do a review on the Ombudsman Commission and whether it should continue in tandem with ICAC or whether it should go has now become a relevant question.
The other issue is on the police and a lot of my colleagues have spoken about this.

Police continue to be the traditional enforcers of the rule of law in this country and they will continue to be because we have no other choice.

But from time to time, their functions have been impeded by lack of funding, lack of resourcing, sometimes political interferences by leaders at open members’ level, the governors’ level, even ministers’ level or maybe at a higher level.
All these things impinge upon the independence their functions and their delivery compromises and who gets the blame?

They get the blame because we have the microphone.

But was it really them that are at fault?

I think the actual causes lie outside of the police system, we keep on blaming them.

Perhaps we should 36 recognize that and help them and support them genuinely to do their work so that they can help us to build the country that we all want to see.
Mr Speaker, finally on ICAC, it will be easy to create it.

I think we are harmonizing our views in here.

But the real challenge is, keeping it alive.

Are we going to relegate it down to another Ombudsman level after we’ve created it, to another police level where we deprived them on funds and force them to do or not to do things that compromises independence and integrity and the effectiveness?

That is where the real challenge is going to be.


When it comes to things like appointment, are we going to be really allowing genuine and an independent process of appointments of commissioners?

Those are the challenges that we have.

But, Mr Speaker, first thing first, let us all agree and I am encouraged by what I see and what I hear already.

Let us all unite and pass this Bill and we can deal with all other issues.

We will deal with one issue at a time when we come to those moments down the track.
So, Mr Speaker, I on behalf up of my people of Sinasina-Yongamugl and the National Party give our full support to the passage of this Bill.

Mr CHRIS HAIVETA (Gulf) – Thank you, Mr Speaker.

I stand to debate on behalf of the people of Gulf and the Country Party in support of the Bill.

Mr Speaker, this Bill is long time coming.

As the Minister for Petroleum and other speakers have mentioned, it has its weakness.
It will run into problems with other law enforcing agencies, but its our duty to take the responsibility and enact it.

As the problems arise, it will be the duty of the Minister responsible to sit down with the Police Minister, the Prime Minister and those who are responsible for Ombudsman and other law enforcing agencies to fix it so that; (1).

the independence of the ICAC is maintained, (2).


that the officers and the commissioners who were appointed are totally protected from undue influence by all of us and by the rest of our people.

Mr Speaker, this Bill is not only for leaders.

It is for all of us in Papua New Guinea.

It covers all sectors.

It covers the private sector and it covers the villages in the provinces right throughout the country.

Mr Speaker, we know in the villages there are no policemen.

Public servants are not there.


27/02 37 In terms of customs, ICAC has be simplified to relate with how we conduct our daily activities.

We have to be very careful in gifts giving, performing traditional obligation such as moka, when people die or conducting marriage ceremonies.

How will ICAC officers interpret all these traditional activities which binds PNG together?
The work done by different churches in giving and all these things I want to remind members of Parliament that it’s important that ICAC distinguishes very carefully in its regulations and how it allows our people to carry on the normal life and do allow leaders to give where it is necessary and it is not seen as corrupt activities.

Mr Speaker, as most of the leaders have debated, we do rush into passing laws and heap praises on what we going to do.
But actually, I want to say that my experience is very simple.

We don’t follow agreements we signed in treaties and bilateral agreements with other countries and laws, development agreements with landowners, with provincial governments and with investors.

Whether in forestry, fisheries, mining and petroleum in conditions of licenses, we don’t have officers to enforce the rule of law on projects site around the country.

Mr Assistant Speaker, the onus is on us and not in law.
It’s the responsibility of us individually in each ministry which the agreement is placed.

If you are in charge politically then you must take responsibility to ensure that you enforce the status and the laws that come within the ambit of your ministry.

The law does allow us governors to have these powers.

Mr Assistant Speaker, if we don’t work together this law is bound to fail and subject to abuses; especially during the SoE period, abuses did occurred.
Therefore, I fully support it but at the same time we have to consider all these issues and we work our way through as we pass this law.

Thankyou.

Mr WILLIAM DUMA (Hagen – Minister for Commerce and Industry) – Mr Assistant Speaker, thankyou so much for giving me this opportunity to speak on behalf of the Party that I lead and the people of Mount Hagen Central.

Mr Assistant Speaker, let me commence by saying that all of us were born with sin.
So, if we were to talk about integrity, corruption, lawlessness and so forth, there is no saint on this planet earth.

So, corruption can be regarded in various degrees at the lowest rate right up to white-collar crimes.

Mr Assistant Speaker, the idea of ICAC Bill is long overdue.

Whether a government presents a controversial bill or not or simply gives lip services and sweep it underneath the carpet hoping that it will go away reflects the kind of leadership we have in any government.
38 So, I must start by commending and recognizing the leadership that has been provided by our Prime Minister and his deputy and finally bringing this much talked about and game changing legislation that this country desperately needs.

Mr Assistant Speaker, we have seen ICAC work in smaller Island countries like Fiji and in very advance and bigger states in Australia like New South Wales and Queensland, and it has worked in many ways.
For us as a country our economy is not that strong and the government is not in a position to provide for those who don’t have a steady income.

We rely on our wantok system and that is part of the reason why our law enforcement agencies have not been able to fully enforce the laws.

Mr Assistant Speaker, one example is that a police prosecutor was faced to interview a suspect who was his wantok.
He didn’t have the courage to interview so he disqualified himself on the bases that he had conflict of interest.

He pretended not to know that person and he deliberately allowed crucial evidence to be destroyed.

This is why many serious crimes don’t get prosecuted.

This is an ongoing trend as we all know and I think this is the time that we all must take the bull by its horns and deal with something that has been threating to destroy the very fabric of our country.
Corruption at the highest and lowest scale.

Whether it be at the highest scale or the lowest.

All of us as leaders as we progress in our careers will always have allegations made against us.

And some allegations have credibility and some are brought up by our political opponents.

It comes with a job and it has an occupation asset.

This is a country which can only go forward by the rule of law and the establishment of such an important game changing energy will only help us go forward as a country.
We complain about the inefficiency and inability of important institutions like Ombudsman Commission and Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary to carry out their work.

My view personally is that whether the Ombudsman Commission is able to function properly or the Royal PNG Constabulary simply depends upon the people that we as leaders put in charge of in this organisations.

If we are able to properly and carefully put in qualified persons to run this organisations then the results will speak for itself.
If we don’t put the right people then of course their performances and outcome will simply reflect our decisions as leaders of this country.

I must also at this juncture commend our good Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister for Justice and Attorney-General for pushing this and convincing the Parliament to perfectly pass the Whistleblowers Act.

That of course will complement what we are trying to do.
39 I also give credit to the former Prime Minister, Honourable Peter O’Neill, when he was Prime Minister, we established an entity called the Task Force Sweep.

We all saw an experienced what a certain entity could do provided we let it alone.

Unfortunately, due to our own reasons, this entity was not allowed to carry out its functions.

But I have no doubt whatsoever that this important institution that we are about to set will pave the way for us to move up on the world scale.
In concluding my only comment is that if we are to see that this very important institution functions properly then we must start by carefully selecting those people who will run this very important institution.

If it means that we bring in foreigners to run it then we must do so.

We have nothing to lose and if we were to help this institution become successful then bring in people who will help us in our fight against this disease.
Once again, I commend the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Justice and Attorney- General in bringing this legislation.

I can see this country going forward as a result of this game changing legislation.

Thankyou.

28/02 Motion (by Mr Michael Nali) proposed – That the question be now put.

Mr SPEAKER – This is an important Bill so the Chair will recognise one last debate from the Governor of Morobe.
Mr GINSON SAONU (Morobe) – Thank you, Mr Speaker, for giving me the time to contribute towards this important Bill.

Honourable Members of Parliament, the people that we represent assume that we are the most corrupt or that corruption starts with us.

Therefore, today we must debate extensively so there are informed and aware of our intentions.
Our people mandated us, yet they accuse us of being corrupt so let us have more discussions on this issue of corruption and clarify our intentions and prove to them that not all Members of Parliament are corrupted.

Corruption exists everywhere, not only amongst us, we are just one part of a group of people in this society in the whole country.

40 With this debate on the ICAC Bill, I am sure the people of Papua New Guinea are watching.
By passing this law, we will prove to them that we the politicians are being transparent.

And they will know that we also care for our country.

Mr Speaker, another important point is, we have created a lot of law enforcing institutions but it becomes a challenge to uphold their duties because of our Melanesian culture in caring for our own.
We have the Melanesian culture and the democratic principles; these two ideologies influences our daily lives and our choices, in turn affecting the way we define corruption.

So how do we define corruption and under these two varying beliefs or practices because under the Melanesian culture, some corrupt acts are labelled as not corrupt because of practice of wantok system; however, in democratic practices this, may be viewed as corrupt.
However, we must enact one law where we take the lead in deciding the right way.

I would like to thank the Deputy Prime Minister for introducing this Bill and as a Member of the Parliamentary Committee on Emergency, I have already contributed but I want to emphasise again that as Members of Parliament, our people assume that we misappropriate monies meant for them.

Today, we will show them that this is not so.

Many a times we are coerced by our voters to pay them because they voted us.
It is good that this ICAC Bill will protect us from being coerced by our voters to issue unnecessary contracts or projects.

This is because our voters threaten to elect another candidate should we fail to please them.

29/02 Seriously, this ICAC Bill must have an effect on both the giver and the receiver not only the giver because the receiver is usually the one that gives pressure to the giver.
Many of us Members of Parliament are being forced and we are afraid to lose the elections so we tend to find the easy way out and do the wrong thing.

The people themselves force us to do things and when we do not do them the say that we are bad.

Mr Speaker, this is just my little contribution so just to make it better the first step is for us to pass the bill.
Secondly, the appointments of the commissioner must be screened thoroughly and also the applicants must be of neutral mindset in order for us to see fair and justice decisions to be delivered.

The selection must be done thoroughly to prevent us from appointing people who will not perform to expectation and we will regret appointing them.

This is my greatest fear.


41 The whole world is referring to us Papua New Guineans as 10 per cent country but our Constitution states that we are a resourceful and Christian country.

So, if we want to prove to the world that we are not what they are thinking we have to be good leaders and lead by examples and advise the voters of how the law can affect them.
Mr Speaker, I think that to prevent the future generation from falling into the trend that has already being set we will have to include the ICAC Law into the education curriculum so that they can learn about it and practice it in the future.

They must know what is right and if the laws are not followed they will face penalties.

Thank you, Mr Speaker.

Motion – That the question be now put – agreed to Motion (by Mr Steven Davis) proposed – That the Bill be agreed to without amendments.
The Bill requiring two-thirds absolute majority of 74 Members as required by the Constitution, the Speaker ordered that the Bells be rung.

30/02 (Voting in progress) 31/02 Mr SPEAKER – This is a very important Bill and the Chair supports it so, Mr Clerk, please record my vote.
The Parliament voted (the Speaker, Mr Job Pomat in the Chair) – AYES – 98 NOES – 0 Mr SPEAKER – Honourable Members, in accordance with Standing Order 222E, I now order the Third Reading which is the second required opportunity for debate and the second vote to be adjourned for at least two months this day as required by the Constitution.
42 LEAVE OF ABSENCE – Sir MEKERE MORAUTA Motion (by Mr Rainbo Paita) agreed to – That Sir Mekere Morauta be granted Leave of Absence for the duration of this meeting of Parliament due to a medical check-up.

ADJOURNMENT Motion (by Mr Rainbo Paita) agreed to – That the Parliament do now adjourn.

Parliament adjourned at 1.53 p.m. 43