Opposition

Opposition set up camp

Opposition leader Don Polye revealed this at a press conference in Port Moresby.

However, the venue has not been mentioned.

He said the main aim of the camp was to give chance to other members of Parliament to join them and throw down the O'Neill-Dion government.

Polye said he is confident that MPs will be joining them within the five days.

Meanwhile, Parliament have been set to reconvene this Friday at 2pm after the Court ordered the Speaker Theo Zurenuoc to recall parliament within 5 days.

Opposition hails court verdict on no-confidence motion

In a press conference this afternoon, Opposition Leader Don Polye says the decision was a welcome news for democracy to prevail.

He said the Opposition members are intact and solid and called on other MPs to see this as justice done for the citizens of this great nation.

He called on Parliament Speaker Theo Zurenuoc to comply with the court order and recall parliament within the five days.

“Only then we can confidently say that the Parliament democracy has been followed."

Court: Recall parliament within 5 days

An order was also made to the clerk of parliament to place the notice of motion of no-confidence against the Prime Minister as the first item of business of parliament on the first day of sitting.

In a unanimous decision, Chief Justice Sir Salamo Injia, Deputy Chief Justice Sir Gibbs Salika and Justice Collin Makail granted a declaration that the motion of no-confidence against the Prime Minister complied with technical requirements of section 145 of the Constitution and Standing Orders 22 and 130.

No-confidence Vote motion hearing date set

The hearing date for the substantive application, filed under section 18(1) of the Constitution was set today by the Chief Justice, Sir Salamo Injia.

 The application filed by Leader of the Opposition, Don Polye substantively seeks the High Court to order the Speaker to recall Parliament to debate the Motion of No-Confidence as a matter of national urgency.

PNG Opposition welcomes ACP delegation

In a media conference this afternoon, Opposition leader Don Polye said: “Our people are very friendly as we are the Melanesian people and accept our visitors and friends with open arms.”

He said PNG is an interesting place to visit as there are many business opportunities and friendly people.

This is the second time PNG is hosting the ACP.

Basil hands over position to Polye

The handover of the leadership was done accordingly and followed every process.

Basil welcomes Polye back and handed over the position in front of his other Opposition members this afternoon in Port Moresby.

Polye had stood down from the position after the National Court set aside his 2012 election over disputed ballot boxes.

After a successful election petition by runner-up, Alfred Manase, the court on May 2, ruled that five ballot boxes in Polye's Kandep electorate were not properly counted by the Electoral Commission.

Kua steps away from the ‘crowded bench’ to join Opposition

Vibrant former Attorney General and Sinasina Yongomugl MP Kerenga Kua has stepped out from the crowded government back benches and joined the Opposition bench this afternoon.

In welcoming the leader of National Party, Opposition Leader Don Polye thanked him for making such a move.

“The move by Kua was for his people and not for his personnel gain. We welcome him to the Opposition as he brings with him a wealth of experience and knowledge to the team,” Polye said.

Freedom of speech must be practiced, says Basil

Basil exclusively told Loop PNG that the money that was committed by government for various projects or commitments must be condition free.

He was responding to questions regarding the free education policy which some MPs are claiming to remove if students at the higher institutions take part in a protest to petition the Prime Minister to step down.

He said when MPs make commitments or sponsor students through various scholarships, the money used were public funds so cannot be given with conditions.

Signatures on no-confidence motion to be checked

“The permanent parliamentary committee on private business resolved in a meeting that the VONC presented be required due diligence checks to ascertain the compliance with parliamentary practice and ensure that procedural qualifications have been met,” Acting Speaker Aide Ganasi wrote in a letter to the Opposition Leader Don Polye.

Ganasi is chairman of the parliamentary committee.

Opposition calls on Govt to sell OSH shares

Opposition Leader Don Polye in a  media  conference yesterday said the UBS loan  and other commercial loans are liabilities to the state and must be addressed as a matter of urgency.

He said this single loan engagement, K3 billion UBS loan was a big mistake that impacts badly on PNG’s economy today during a global economic recession, creating a domestic economic crisis and fiscal operation nightmare.