Parliament Sitting - August 2016

Pruaitch said the Government is closely monitoring the current economic condition and will table the budget before Parliament raises in this sitting.

The Treasury Minister was responding to questions from Goroka MP Bire Kimisopa in this morning session.

The Goroka MP questioned when the Government will introduce the Supplementary Budget.

Kimisopa said if it is delayed until the November sitting it will breach the country's law and also the supplementary budget will lose its utility.

He said his discussion with Australian Immigration Minister Peter Dutton yesterday (Wednesday) highlighted some of the issues.

They discussed whether the refugees will be transferred to a third country or moved back to their original country.

However, O’Neill said the implementation of their transfer has been complicated as most of the refugees do not know their countries of origin.

Prime Minister Peter O’Neill when meeting with the Australian Immigration Minister, Peter Dutton on Wednesday said it is  important that this process is not rushed but carried out in a careful manner.

“This must take into account the interests of the people of Papua New Guinea and the well-being of asylum seekers and refugees," O’Neill said.

He said both Papua New Guinea and Australia are in agreement that the centre is to be closed.

The disagreement over mine royalty and allegations of pollution led to a decade of civil war by the customary landowners and the PNG Government.

"The opening of the mine will depend on the wishes of ABG and Bougainville people," Prime Minister Peter O’Neill said in Parliament today.

The PM also put on record that the transferring of 17.4 percent shareholding in Bougainville Copper Ltd is not a compensation payment.

BCL are the owners of Panguna Mine.

Minister for Justice and Attorney General Ano Pala today in Parliament said the aim of the Centre is to promote the work of village court officials in the rural areas.

He said the officials are now being paid fortnightly and the Centre will be used as their go to venue for information.

Pala was responding to the Obura-Wonenara MP, Mehrra Minne Kipefa, regarding the issue.

Announcing the transfer today in Parliament, Prime Minister Peter O’Neill said the Government is acutely aware of the torment and pain that the people of Bougainville have endured and the transfer of shares is the right thing to do.

"My concern is the health, wellbeing and prosperity of the people of Bougainville," said O'Neill. With this transfer, the people of Bougainville will now own a combined shareholding of 53.8 percent of BCL.

Today, he visited Uiaku village, a six hour boat trip from Oro Bay to the beautiful and breathtaking Tufi Fjords in the Tufi LLG.

Juffa listened to his people and was in the village to experience what they are going through.

Juffa also officially opened an aid post and a classroom building in the village.

The occasion was witnessed by chiefs of Kokoda area and the Ijivitari district.

Tufi have a population of more than 20,000 people and such developments are appreciated by people dearly.