Prime Minister James Marape

He agrees this is a commercial transaction that has been concluded under the present regulatory environment, which encourages investments in the sector. 

The PM welcomes the investment of up to K4.9 billion (Au$1.85 billion) and stated that all Government and regulatory approvals will take their normal course for the acquisition to be completed.

He acknowledged the massive involvement of Export Finance Australia in this transaction. This was expressed during a recent meeting between the Prime Minister and Telstra Chief Executive Officer, Andrew Penn. 

The reason for the removal of Taureka, after 20 months, was tied to the performances of KCH and State-Owned Enterprises and missed national project deadlines. 

Prime Minister James Marape in a statement explained that the reforms of the SOEs were endorsed by the Government in October 2019. 

“We see it as the most-significant reform programme to be instigated by any Government since the corporatisation of the State utilities and the creation of the Independent Public Business Corporation (IPBC), now the KCH. 

“If PM Marape thinks my words with a sense of direction and advice taste sour, he should simply ask Treasury to release a report on the cheques printed at Treasury and Planning buying political support. 

“Your big and rough footprint is all over the Treasury, Planning and Finance. Is this what you call economic stimulus package? Is this what you term as economic management?” O’Neill asked.

He explained that the loans the Government obtained is clearly stipulated in the budget spreadsheet in bold letters for public interest and knowledge.

He also announced that the Government is committed to ‘free and fair’ elections.

Prime Minister Marape said on Thursday, October 14 after a briefing by Electoral Commissioner, Simon Sinai to MPs on preparations for the elections.

During the briefing the Electoral Commissioner told the Prime Minister and MPs that PNGEC would require K400 million to hold the 2022 elections, compared to K399 million in 2017 and K235 million in 2012.

In the 2017 elections, K278 million was used by the PNGEC on election costs, while the balance of K121 million was spent on security.

The projects are Rural Housing Programme to supply roofing iron; Upgrading of Menyamya Health Centre to Menyamya Rural Hospital; Menyamya Station Water Supply; Staff housing for the hospital, and Police Housing.

The Prime Minister also announced assistance to various institutions in Menyamya, from the National Government.

He said this at the State Funeral of Sir Silas, the seventh Governor-General at Sir Hubert Murray Stadium in Port Moresby recently.

Sir Silas, also a former Goroka MP, passed away on September 16th as the country celebrated 46 years of Independence.

Prime Minister Marape said an example of this was during his last meeting with Sir Silas, at his village at Kabiufa outside Goroka, for the recent Goroka by-election.

"While vaccine remains optional I am encouraging everyone to get vaccinated. Vaccines save lives. 

“There is a relative increase in vaccination, but it is still a tiny margin. We still have a long way to go before we reach that satisfactory target many countries have already reached for their people.

Also, in recognizing the dangerous operating environment health care staff work in, the Prime Minister further directed the Department of Health to immediately identify and implement health insurance options for all frontline health workers.

This includes getting the Government to look into insuring frontline healthcare workers - doctors, nurses and those directly involved in handling the pandemic response.

He immediately met with his key ministers and members of the National Pandemic Control Centre upon arrival from New York last Sunday to be updated on the status of the pandemic during his 11 days of absence in the country.

They are the Papua LNG Project, New Porgera Mine, Wafi-Golpu Mine, P’nyang LNG, Pasca LNG and Pandora LNG.

Marape announced this when responding to the Ministerial Statement by Treasurer Ian Ling-Stuckey on the ‘2020 Final Budget Outcomes (FBO) and 2021 Mid-Year Fiscal and Economic Outlook (MYEFO) and the Way Forward’ on Wednesday.

“We are working very hard, and in just two years, we are discussing Papua to ensure that it takes off, Wafi-Golpu, New Porgera, Pandora, Pasca and P’nyang.

He said Treasurer Ling-Stuckey’s presentation updated Papua New Guinea on the state of the economy during the ongoing war against COVID-19.

Marape also commended the Budget Management Committee (BMC) spearheaded by Treasury and Finance for keeping ‘MV PNG afloat in rough seas'.

“If they (BMC) hadn’t done this, we stood every possibility of sinking, but the Treasurer and his team stood strong.

“There were so many lies and deceit spun by the Opposition that we relied on overseas advisors.