funding

The delivery included items such as thermometers, stethoscopes, and wheelchairs.

The support follows Newcrest’s recognition of the ongoing impact of COVID-19 on Provincial Health Authorities and their ability to respond to the pandemic, whilst maintaining routine health service delivery.

Acting Chief Executive Officer of the New Ireland Provincial Health Authority, Dr Joachim Taulo, thanked Newcrest Mining for continuing to support to the province.

Prime Minister Marape and Treasurer Ian Ling-Stuckey agreed to the Landmark Funding Package with Australia.

The PM has conveyed his gratitude to the Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg, Minister Alex Hawke and the people of Australia.

The funding assistance comes after PM Marape’s first state visit to Australia where he had discussions with Australian Prime Minister Scott Morison about the challenges facing the country.

A joint media statement by the Australian Foreign Affairs Minister, Julie Bishop, and Trade, Tourism and Investment Minister, Steven Ciobo, revealed that the funding covers an undersea telecommunications cables project to PNG to deliver a faster, cheaper and more reliable communications infrastructure for the receiving country.

The total Australian official development assistance to PNG will rise from A$546.3 million in 2017/2018, to A$572.2 million in the 2018/2019 financial year.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern promised the money last the month after restating the offer to resettle 150 refugees from Australian offshore detention.

Deputy secretary Jeff Langley from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said there are a number of different ways the money could be channelled including to the Red Cross and other NGOs operating on the island.

He said the ministry is also talking to the Papua New Guinea government to identify needs created by the refugee population on the island.

Gamato told media that the funds were managed by Waigani because in the past, there was poor management at the provincial level. 

“A lot of expenditures were committed at the provincial level without control so there is some expenditure that we thought we would control from Waigani.

“We have also released some operational funds to the provinces to get them ready for polling and counting period.

“As far as we are concerned, we released enough funds to start them off with polling while at the same time managing the key expenditure areas,” Gamato said.

This was made known by Chief Magistrate Nerrie Eliakim recently to Loop PNG.

The country’s Chief Justice Sir Salamo Injia also said this in Wewak during the ground breaking of the new Wewak Sub Regional Complex.

Sir Salamo said both the high and low courts have been assisted by the government but a huge share of the budget has gone to the higher judiciary.

“The lower courts seem to be struggling and the Chief Magistrate only last week gave a full account on the state of affairs in terms of budget support in the lower judiciary.

This is because it has not secured funding for the construction.

On 15 December 2015, the Magisterial Services launched its Corporate Plan 2016-2020.

One of the main priorities outlined in the plan was to work towards having that court complex up by 2020 so all the district court cases can be heard in the same building.

The Australian Government, through its Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) program, assisted the Magisterial Service with the full cost of the master design of the new court complex.

Opposition Leader Don Polye called on the Government to focus on upgrading the universities as they educate the human resource of the country.

Polye highlighted that more funding should also be given to the technical and vocational schools as they develop the skills of Papua New Guineans.

The business, nursing and teachers colleges must also be given priority.

Polye explained that when these areas are overlooked and not properly funded, it becomes a chronic problem.

Dr Ngangan says they have received instructions from Chief Secretary, Isaac Lupari, through the Budget Review Committee to release some funding to both universities.

“By tomorrow (Dec 14) I will get a report where the universities have underspent what is left in their own budget.

“If they’ve overspent we’ll see what other funds are available. But the assurance is that the two universities will get some funding this week,” Dr Ngangan said.

The trial into the country’s worst maritime disaster which saw more than 172 people perish in the ferry disaster on Feb 2, 2012, started in April but ran into funding problems in August resulting in a number adjournment.

The matter returned before Presiding judge, Terrence Higgins on Wednesday this week where an update on funding was given and the matter adjourned to Feb 2017 for mention before a date for the continuation of the trial can be fixed.