Kavieng MP Ian Ling-Stuckey has labeled the Mid Year Economic & Fiscal Outlook Report as false and misleading.
The Shadow Treasurer said this in Parliament on Tuesday when asking the Treasurer, Charles Abel, on funding earmarked for health services, which Ling-Stuckey claims have not been released.
He also called the revenue forecasts in the 2018 Budget as fake.
The Shadow Treasurer once again questioned the credibility of the figures the Government presented, this time in the 2018 MYEFO Report.
He asked Abel to confirm or deny that the Government was struggling to generate revenue to meet its commitments, claiming health services are not being met.
“Why does MYEFO report shows no expenditure on or even warrants release for free health policy? We know this is a fake policy. Money not going into rural health centres.
“Why is it that the K20 million set aside for free health care has had no funds released or spent? continued Ling-Stuckey.
“Why is it that of the K50 million set aside in the 2018 budget for district and rural hospital, not a single kina has been spent?
“Why is it of the K30 million set aside in the 2018 budget for the ANGAU Lae Cancer Unit, not a single Kina has been spent?
“Why is it that of the K50 million set aside in the 2018 budget for the Wewak School of Nursing, not a single Kina has been spent?
“Why is it that of the K10 million set aside in the 2018 budget for the PNG church partnership program not a singly Kina has been spent?”
Abel refuted the claims saying the figures stated by Ling-Stuckey are false.
He said while there are challenges, they are working to meet their commitments.
“In the MYEFO, 40 percent of expenditure in 2018 budget to mid year 30th June, have been met, 44 percent of revenue has been collected,” said Abel.
“It is the second half of year that majority of financing will come to bear, majority of tax collections will come to bear and the majority of dividend collections will come to bear.
“We will make up the balance of the 56 percent of revenue and we will make up that balance of the 60 percent that is outstanding on the expenditure side.
“We are committed to it, these are not fake figures, these are figures we are confident of achieving.”
Abel said he will present to Parliament on Thursday his speech on the MYEFO report to answer some of his queries.