Parliament Sitting | Live | Thursday 28th May 2026

Added: 2026-06-01

[00:21:44]All members you may get coral minister call this morning Just believe that Papa, thank you.

[00:23:31]So this is people bringing this people down people prime minister deputy prime minister all the ministers or members of parliament opposition leader deputy opposition leader all the members from opposition government thank Thank you parliament.

[00:24:05]He must respect him and you are in our midst and you are therefore the only God.

[00:24:22]Bless him speaker now. Bless him all because House department duties with humility, with obedience, with diligence.

[00:24:53]Love for you, Father. Thank you. Thank you, Lord. Because you give me plan of saving you in order.

[00:25:02]Thank you papa.

[00:25:06]Lord's prayer now. Our father Honorable members of public grade school province.

[00:26:18]Now grade seven on behalf of extend a warm welcome to you all ice over five minute.

[00:26:58]Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

[00:27:06]I direct this question to the prime minister, Mr. speaker because it involves uh the responsibilities of two different ministers.

[00:27:15]Speaker, early this year, we held an inquiry into the country's election preparedness for 2027.

[00:27:22]Several important issues arose that require urgent government intervention.

[00:27:28]As you know, we are now 11 months out from the issue of risks.

[00:27:34]The first question uh which I would like the prime minister respond to is the delays in the appointment of a permanent electoral commissioner. Could the prime minister inform this house and the people of Papan Mcini as to the reasons why uh we have yet to see the permanent appointment of an electoral commissioner.

[00:28:01]My second question is around the issue of the implementation of uh the special parliamentary committee 70 recommendations.

[00:28:13]Is the government prepared to bring legislation to support some of the recommendations within the remaining 11 months uh of this uh parliament? Mr. Speaker, my third question is, I believe far more important and that surrounds the funding of the 2027 general elections.

[00:28:35]Uh, Mr. Speaker, in our inquiry in 2023, we uncovered that the last election cost the country around 1 billion kina.

[00:28:48]We urged all of the agencies responsible to submit budgets for this year so that a significant part of the funding of preparedness of the 2027 elections would be funded this year.

[00:29:06]From the agencies, we gather that they submitted almost 600 million uh to Treasury for consideration.

[00:29:15]Mr. Speaker, they were only allocated 25% or one quarter of the amount they requested.

[00:29:22]In our recent inquiry early this year in questioning the Secretary for Treasury, he indicated that they would be sitting down later this year and I assume that should be happening now to consider more funding for the general elections to those responsible agencies and that they would seek NEC approval for this funding which I assume would be somewhere in the tune of 400 million.

[00:29:52]Given the recent response by the minister responsible for I believe rural development uh the honorable Joseph Leang who informed this house a couple of days ago that 1 billion kina has been cannibalized from the budget uh for fuel subsidies.

[00:30:12]I would like to ask the prime minister to inform the house about where the government plans to find the additional 400 million uh to fund the agencies for their preparedness for the 2027 elections. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

[00:30:34]>> Honorable Prime Minister.

[00:30:37]>> All right. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

[00:30:41]again also question is a big important question in relation to uh the elections that is coming up next year where our people will get to exercise their conal section 50 rights to vote for leaders of their choice. Uh Mr. Speaker in first question on the permanent uh electoral commission uh process and I run uh I have issued my instructions to uh chief secretary to report to me uh that uh try to expedite the process get it completed at the very earliest. The current acting ele commissioner uh we have uh extended time to be uh in acting capacity uh sorry can holong acting capacity until the appointment commissioner complete. Uh from what I was advised the uh process is almost near in completion.

[00:31:51]uh once it is complete the elector of commission appointment committee will sit now uh in the midst of many of uh people who try to misconrue uh what is facts from what is not fact I want to inform this house and and the country that local commissioner is not appointed by prime minister prime minister is part of a committee that sits a committee members constitute the opposition leader, the chief justice, the public service commission chairman and the commission commissioner chief commissioner five plus down one local short list offices picking up elect commissioner country. So the process has been done at this point got interest from inside. uh so I want this process to be retired a oras because I'm in the interest of all of us to have certainty and leadership over the important constitutional office and can start making work for preparation for elections number two question whether recommendations where committee working on committee leadership honorable governor bed one of parliamentary committee members only making good work.

[00:33:46]Uh those recommendations that we need to plant into parliament from the committee's funding will will will be certainly brought in. We got two or three more parliament sittings this year and we have possibly two sittings next year and I I have called for a meeting uh of all political party leaders.

[00:34:09]uh using this question may also confirm be possibly next week Thursday or Friday you meet bipartisan from the opposite as well as from the government uh and uh committee chairman uh governor bet you and committee member can sit on your meeting brief from electoral commission as to where they are in terms of preparation for election 2027 so all of us are in in the loop or informed uh at the same place at the same time and uh we all have equal preparations but certainly the recommendations that uh the committee has put forth the body that should carry this in is the uh minister team responsible for the administrative oversight of these consensual offices. So uh those are being processed through cabinet process right now as I speak terms of funding uh Mr. Speaker, last election uh from mitigation by spending over a billion kina.

[00:35:11]Uh election is a very expensive exercise to but uh as we live through a tough financial year once again uh we have faced domestically cyclone hit him on eastern parts of our country including especially the island island communities. Uh you may you got the issue of fuel price rise externally happening right now through our government subsidy we are second lowest in the Pacific Southeast Asian region terms of fuel price where people pay me at the fuel besa you looking fuel blow and double the price of fuel PNG double the price for fuel PNG they're paying half the price we are paying today. But uh we on this side of the house coalition do not feel it offensive and borrowing uh governor vett's own word cannibalize the budget.

[00:36:13]We don't feel it offensive to cannibalize the budget for the sake of helping our people to help our people.

[00:36:19]We might as well cannibalize the budget.

[00:36:22]Budget low side budget people help more people than facing hard time.

[00:36:28]We must help in pocket ball and keep him light.

[00:36:33]So just like finding money long helping people election this year putting money in 50 million kina in budget once they asked for 600 million kina people are putting 50 million in budget.

[00:36:46]I've heard word out to electoral commission electoral commission I need clear visibility on where you are spending this money where you are spending money the country deserves for you to tell the country based on your experience in the past this life All cost items go detail not headline details but go into details of details because we must give money appropriately they too must be prudent in the spending correctly so we deliver safe fair free election for our people next year so Mr. Speaker Bon country this government will not decide to resource electoral commission properly but electoral commission not just a commissioner acting commissioner whatever the entire institution of central office provinial office where you got to come through you know when the election come around suddenly so many high car bills and so many things creeping so we want to get through all item cost including security Sorry Jimmy using some good government money from places instead of using opportunities like this national events like this for cashing activity of office.

[00:38:18]So finally this budget stops come up because next year is so we will make sure that every itemize correctly itemize spending where commission police need security supporting is not an issue for ill run elections as we've seen in 2022 2017 2012 27 2007 2002 f election come up with some love so even like let's just repeat 2027 I think as part of our 50th anniversary going forward uh we must all have a fair go election opportunity fair for all parties all people have a fair opportunity of transport we're looking at the security of products too of high expressly one day polling creates tension the one day polling creates tension when in a m r to complete voting in one day sometimes people second the process instead of one day Each province must be given a fair opportunity two three days start security now instead of block vote or cla like how much member of the day where mascot because he was popular with the right to vote he was able to cancel that's a circumstance force on our people when you have only one day to vote helicopter brings into remote areas 11:00 helicopter have to uplift by 2:00 What do you expect a thousand people to do?

[00:40:03]So they have to say all right agree to claim vote must about time you break this. So we will make sure security is properly states and protected sanction sanctified right of people to vote at section 50. Every person must be given a right to vote in 2027.

[00:40:22]November 10 voting.

[00:40:39]We are we are equally we are equally popular in our own right.

[00:40:46]nothing you know my brother it's okay but me I get stigmatized all the time so we want to make sure that that stigma is removed by popular vote two three vote good people good man people like him come one day one person one vote of Question time is very limited. So prime minister really should focus on the answering the very clear simple questions rather than going around from Bay to Dar and so please time it's only got one minute left. Please stick to the questions.

[00:41:43]>> Mr. Speaker thanks we will we'll end up governor B committee will remain relevant mask stop position committee law remain relevant assist election proper so next year people vote you vote in our local I don't want to be going to the election under s of doubt. We must have a fair vote in place for everyone to contest.

[00:42:19]So governor's committee will be functional to make sure that we are we we are all doing the right thing going forward. All this recommendation or some you put in place next week and what is good for our country of major in politics. I give him one of the greatest gift to me from one person one vote in 2027.

[00:42:59]>> Thank you.

[00:43:01]If you look at today's notice paper and you look at notice 65, the special parliamentary committee and 2022 elections, it was introduced to this parliament on the 5th of October 2023, not yesterday.

[00:43:26]So my supplementary question is three years have gone After the 2022 elections, there was a lot of criticism against the last election. So the prime minister in his own wisdom and supported by all of us. The committee was established. The committee has done his job. 70 recommendations very very clear. You don't have to go and look for the answers. They are all in the report. My question is Mr. Speaker to the prime minister. Why hasn't your minister responsible made a submission to cabinet to start using the executive powers to implement a very very important recommendations? Why hasn't that been done? Up to now 3 years ago this committee worked very very hard presented the report in very good time and the minister the prime minister is now saying two weeks time or next week we are going to have a party leaders meeting this is not acceptable Mr. Speaker thank you >> prime minister >> uh Mr. Mr. Speaker, we like to talk good supplementary question asking good writing writing better. Thank you for member.

[00:44:59]>> Thank you speaker. Good morning. Good morning to you. Supplementary for me to the prime minister. I want the minister for administrative service to take note because the good minister who travels the whole world all the way to India down to Australia to CRA to everywhere to adopt a system of voting.

[00:45:28]May I have a point of water?

[00:45:31]>> Just to correct, there are several agencies under my responsibility as the minister and as as a result of that when I undertake those journeys or those trips, they are representing those different industries or agencies are my responsibility. So just so that the not understands. Thank you.

[00:45:50]role member will not play with the supplementary >> I'm spending taxpayers money or travel asking but to the point uh Mr. uh Mr. The question is that all the work that his minister has done and what is the government's recommendation to the cabinet or to his government?

[00:46:18]What's the way forward for our voting system next year? Is it a biometric or one system? This minister must talk to his prime minister of the cabinet to this house that this is the methology we are using for next year's election.

[00:46:42]That's what he always says or I don't know.

[00:46:58]trial box. So we need to be as in this house and to the country what method by using next year or this good vote must come up and I ask the prime minister please inform the house of his cabinet of his government's way forward for next year election me by Thank you sir.

[00:47:25]>> Uh thank you Mr. speaker again another good question I would ask the member of concern to put in writing I maybe question everybody else's time and uh certainly next week when uh we meet the party leaders the committee will be there we'll give an update to everyone I think the party leaders forum is important all of us being attendance we'll get the electoral commission to update all of us so we all in in the loop the good member also alluded to elections being rigged in the house I want to dispute that it is not rigged uh people people uh decide what to do up there and uh people do vote. If you're concerned about the the the highlands or more so the labeled upper islands, there's only 22 seats out there in the four provinces.

[00:48:14]All the uh if you take Hela, South Islands and there's about 16 seats or 17 seats.

[00:48:23]That's not super majority of this country.

[00:48:26]The rest of the country sit over 100 seats or 100 seats uh in as far as next election will be concerned belongs to rest of the country that is labeled world proper. So that means the majority go through the proper process. If it means the other three up there does fail they belong to minority. A corum of a parliament could be formed without the three provinces up there. For those of you political parties, if you don't feel you can contest out there, you got rest of the countries to contest to win big majority to form governments. Let's not remain ascribing. Get yourself organized, win the majorities elsewhere and you can have opportunity to form government also. But the election will be prepared well for all of us. I want to give that assurance and I next year when we go to elections hopefully you have seen the preparation because our voting environment is pre same and prevalent right across our country. We want to give the fair voting circumstances right across all parts of our country. We've inherited this problem just like every other problem we're trying to fix. Join us. Let's all fix this together so that next year we give every party, every candidate available to contest so that the best performing candidate can win in his or her electorate to represent his or her people. Thank you.

[00:49:57]honorable member Middle for police.

[00:50:20]Uh I'll go straight to my question. So question number one, can the police minister tell this honorable house and the people of Panini the status of the rape allegation against the commissioner of police of status law. This is the allegation.

[00:50:46]Question number two, has the commissioner been cleared of this serious crime?

[00:50:54]Question number three.

[00:51:06]Yes, she has questions. The commissioner is not here to be respected.

[00:51:15]Let me let me repeat again. The commissioners with respect the commissioner as a person is not here to answer these allegations.

[00:51:29]Uh there are areas to take it to process and it will be Improper to raise this question like this. Please rise your question and out of order.

[00:51:44]Honorable honorable minister out of order and member of middle question.

[00:51:58]Uh fly you ask him ask him.

[00:52:02]>> Thank you min. Uh thank you speaker and uh I'll uh complete my question. The minister is here and he's going to be responsible to answer this question and it's very important for this country.

[00:52:16]So my question number I think I stopped at question number three when is the police minister going to take action to clear the good name of the police force? And the last question, we have the national election in 2027 next year. Is the police commissioner who has failed to enforce law and order going to run the election?

[00:52:42]Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

[00:52:45]Minister of Police.

[00:52:54]Uh thank you, Mr. Speaker.

[00:52:59]The the questions the questions, Mr. Speaker, serious uh because they uh because they concern the uh the integrity of the office of the commission.

[00:53:19]The Royal Papini Conabulary belongs to the people of Papuini.

[00:53:29]And uh Mr. Peter, since the uh the meta is now raised uh on the floor of parliament, uh let me also inform parliament that u that uh uh the letter was also raised uh by the media in one of my u press conferences and uh as a result, Mr. Speaker, I have to inform the parliament and uh and the people of Papuini that uh as the responsible minister for I have uh researched the issues I also have, Mr. Speaker uh uh legal advises to the uh uh the issues.

[00:54:25]Uh Mr. Speaker, I will uh I will have the matter or the uh the facts presented to the prime minister.

[00:54:38]Uh now that uh the matter is raised in the people's house.

[00:54:46]Uh we will also have the matter discussed with the deputy prime minister and our colleague ministers of of cabinet.

[00:54:57]Uh the government uh Mr. Speaker is committed to uh to uh new processes and uh and uh transparencies and uh Mr. Speaker, I will uh then report to Parliament uh with uh with full answers to the questions maybe uh in a sitting in this session or parliament. so that Mr. Speaker this matter is dealt with uh once and for all.

[00:55:31]Mr. Speaker, in conclusion to the answers to those questions, uh I must also state that no one is above the law.

[00:55:39]Uh the consular is the uh face of the law in this country.

[00:55:46]It is the uh enforcing agency of the laws of this country and uh uh Mr. Speaker, we ought to ensure that uh policing standards are above reproach and and Mr. I commit uh to the uh honorable us and the people of this country that uh I think we need to help this matter so that once and for all so as to ensuring that there is there is uh no more discussions about this also uh in the social medias and I believe as minister please this is the right call for me to do and uh and sitting of parliament in this session. I will come with the answers. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

[00:56:51]Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

[00:56:57]Mr. speaker minister of education but uh since minister of education and the the responsibility are taken care of by minister of law high education science and technology uh concern is in regard to the it's one year since transition of uh education system OB obs education system transition into standard based system in the country.

[00:57:39]Teaching books or text minister was only district.

[00:58:03]We sacrifice our Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

[00:58:26]Minister, thank you speaker and uh thank you uh member question.

[00:58:36]uh in terms of OBBE uh the transition happened in uh CBO sorry uh in 2015 to uh standards curriculum or SBC all the teachers were trained to use that SPC uh so all the teachers trained already in terms of curriculum we have three uh basic components so they are the syllabus teachers guide and the students uh textbooks Um in terms of the syllabus and textbooks or DG uh for all the subjects uh in terms of textbooks we have delivered at least one textbooks to and teachers as well maths and science for grades three to six. uh for other subjects again uh it will cost around 600 millions a lot of money so we are doing it slowly by face I thank the government for the support of 11.8 eight billion starting next year.

[00:59:46]Make sure people are frontloading textbooks. So again, it's a big memorable task. It's taking time to do it. So district will come in and a few other districts, but we'll make sure that happens in the next few years.

[00:59:58]Thank you, >> honorable member.

[01:00:05]Good enough.

[01:00:08]>> Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

[01:00:11]Mr. Mr. Speaker, with the recent uh cyclone miler hitting parts of province and the Nina Islands, I believe it has become an eye opener and has opened the minds of uh authorities the difficulties our people face in remote islands of PNG and Uh before I continue, I'd like to take this opportunity, Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the people of Milbe, the people of K are good enough to thank the government, the donor agencies and our international partners, the friends we have within our country and our citizens for the immediate and urgent uh attendance to the needs of our people after the devastation.

[01:01:18]Mr. Speaker, my qu my three questions are directed to the prime minister and I'd like the minister for works and highways to take note and for the prime minister to inform the house and our coastal people at large cuz I believe connect PNG also includes maritime provinces and districts as well.

[01:01:48]And the reason why I directed my question to the prime minister and not to the minister for works and highways is because during the devastation during the uh cyclone disaster, the prime minister thankfully spent almost seven days in Mil Province visiting the islands of Samarua.

[01:02:17]the Alatal area and also list in uh my electorate as well. So, Mr. Speaker, given number one, given that Mil has well over 400 plus islands of which 16 plus islands are inhabited and are heavily dependent on sea transport, Mr. What portion of the connect PNG budget has been allocated to maritime infrastructure such as jetties, ws and coastal shooting support compared to our road programs.

[01:03:05]Number two, Mr. Africa. What measures has the Department of Workers put in place to ensure marine provinces and districts are included in the connect PNG pro projects and programs.

[01:03:24]Mr. Speaker, coastal and island communities in Milbe remain isolated without reliable transport and infrastructure.

[01:03:38]I sincerely ask the prime minister and minister for works and highways to provide clarity so my people would know when and how they can benefit from the connect PNG program which is a wonderful and good program for mainland PNG. What about connecting the remote islands of our country to the rest of Manium PNG? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

[01:04:10]Honorable Prime Minister, Mr. uh Speaker, I want to appreciate the good question by the leader of People's Progress Party and the member for Kir Enough. It was my honor and privilege to visit some of the remotest island communities in our country uh that cycl took me through. Uh I I want to say reorientated my mind if I thought isolation was in the islands and isolation also in the farflung island communities of our country. Uh places like Sudes that I ride, they take about almost 30 hours, maybe not 48 hours to travel from Sudas to Alata Island hopping in between for rest and a little place called Bury Woody Buddhy Island.

[01:05:04]That was the epicenter of the cyclone Maria. Cyclone concentrated seven days in a small island. Uh only 400 people.

[01:05:15]uh they still remain in isolation as we speak. Uh that's why we support Stalin because Stalin could be present in those sort of areas for for ICT connectivity uh because they are unconnected to us by radio by telephone or by transportation mode. Uh and so Mr. speaker to answer and keep the uh reply short. Uh our web to embrace uh connecting our people who are in island communities will will uh will be amplified as we go forward into the future. The balance of connect uh connect PNG uh will also be looked at linking up with island communities. uh MDP4 speaks about this uh but we'll make it come big as we live to adjust with uh climate change related uh issues and challenges to our people 5 hopefully should pick up connecting our island communities in a big way has many islands the islands of Abu region the atles and islands of province and new province uh so substantially isolated from rest of our country and so I want to speak through this question that uh those are out there in remotest island should be linked up but we studying I think the district's concerned districts like Northville have in the process of having a shipping line connected through them and they purchasing a boat as we speak using or ship as we using the DSIP I saw the member for Asala launching his ship for this university. Following member for Pomeo who have invested in this member for Kendrick Gl invested in this. Uh I think me speaker yourself as a member for Manus with the governor have worked on something like this accommodations to all of you but utilizing the resources we give to districts and provinces and as a whole of central government I want to give commitment to this house connect PNG will have a chapter or a program dedicated to linking all our island communities going forward. Thank you Thomas.

[01:07:37]member of Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

[01:07:45]My two questions without notice are for our good deputy prime minister, Minister for Lands to respond to.

[01:07:59]Mr. Speaker, physical land at the world level throughout the country is no longer enough to sustain the population growth pressure.

[01:08:12]Disputes between customary land owners and sometimes needless deaths arise from those disputes.

[01:08:21]Crimes like stealing and other law and order issues arise because of land shortages and disputes.

[01:08:29]But Mr. Speaker, when we fly from one center to another in Papa New Guinea, you can only marvel at the vast tracks of undeveloped forest areas below and wonder if these vast tracks of land, undeveloped forest areas could be converted to farmlands.

[01:08:53]My first question, Mr. Speaker to the honorable deputy prime minister and minister finance. What is preventing an amendment to the definition of public purpose in the land act to include resettlement of people needing land for agricultural purposes.

[01:09:24]Second question, once the definition of public purpose is legally amended, would the legal definition of compulsory acquisition need corrective action too so that the population growth pressure is slowly removed and the whole land mass of Papu converted into farmlands.

[01:09:49]Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Honorable Deputy Prime Minister.

[01:09:56]>> Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I'd like to also thank a good member for the very uh good questions.

[01:10:06]Land, Mr. Speaker, as we all know, is a very sensitive issue relating to all of us. It is what we as Papa Nigerians subscribe to in our traditional societies. Our wealth, our traditional obligations, our prosperity is all tied down to custom land that each of us in this room subscribe to. All of us own land somewhere either through maternal or through our paternal sides. And everyone in this country subscribes to customary obligations, customary ownership and land tenure in our customary society.

[01:10:52]Land in Papa New Guinea, Mr. Speaker, 4% is owned by state or called alienated in two forms, one outright alienation and the other by freehold titles.

[01:11:07]by 96% is owned by our customary people, Mr. Speaker.

[01:11:15]And by when it's owned by our customary people, it comes with a lot of sensitivity when you try to approach that on how to harness land and free it up. For one, creation of wealth, security of tenure and development purposes. Mr. Speaker, land in most of our urban peripheries are now seeing shortage.

[01:11:45]They are having issues in our urban peripheries.

[01:11:50]Even in our customary or rural peripheries, in our villages, we all have land disputes, shortage of land, heavy land.

[01:12:04]stuff.

[01:12:22]And Mr. speaker this very pertinent question especially in where the homo mar comes from where there's a shortage of land and his electorate and there is a big resettlement program that is happening that I would like to also say between himself and the members for Rabal East Britain and the governor we are trying to assist in the relocation of a lot of people that were affected by the volcano uh many years ago and that program is still happening to resettle a lot of the people and give them title on the land.

[01:13:00]Mr. Speaker, our government recognized this issue and three years ago appropriated find funding and gave me directions to go out and expand a lot of our alienated land. expanding it to ensure that it is open up for development purposes so we can grow it from 4% to close to 10%. By freeing up land, we free up development and we free up wealth. Because without land, we cannot have wealth. We cannot build agricultural prospects. We cannot build factories. We cannot build urban subdivisions because all of this come with association with Kasumi land and government has progressed with that and we will be able to table a report a detailed report to parliament on where we have come with that progression.

[01:14:04]It will be a lot more work to be done and I'm also glad that part of that work was from the parliamentary committee headed by chairman Keith Idu that has tabled it in parliament and we are working closely with the report to ensure we find a solution forward to harness custom land. Mr. Speaker, we need to harness Kashmir land by auditing all our Kashmir land, auditing all our alienated land, expanding our alienated land and finding a pathway forward that we can be able to make value security of tenure and bankable titles for customary land. Where do we find the middle ground? Where do we find a win-win where banks can be able to give security and bankable titles, Mr. Speaker, to our local people so that they can prosper in business, in development and sub uh subscribe to wealth.

[01:15:09]Mr. Speaker, this work is ongoing for our peripheries. Currently, the lands department in our peripheries of our urban settings Mosby Lelay and we are now talking to other districts to make certain that we expand land holdings, alienated land within the peripheries of our urban settings. For Port Mosby alone, we have about 11,000 allotments that is currently undergoing construction. Mr. Speaker, 11,000 allotments. Calculating that at about 500,000 Tina per allotment for a house and land package. The mathematics is humongous. And not only the 11,000 houses that will be built to alleviate our middle class. 500,000 is for our middle class. Mr. Speaker, 4,000 is in Tuhava. 1,200 is at Tama.

[01:16:14]1,00 300 is behind GU at Parkside.

[01:16:19]1,300 will be built at Loki. 2,000 in partnership with number one super at 9 mile. Those are 11,000 a lotments in the Port Mosby suburb region alone. This is a creation, Mr. Speaker, of new suburbs to alleviate our housing shortages in the NCDC area. 11,000 homes Mr. Speaker lander homes packages in partnership with private industry no one platya from government in this endeavor not one toya Mr. Speaker but when we do the recovery and you look at the return you look at the returns on that investment alone with the lands department assisting ensuring that the basis the foundation the guidelines are all done. You will realize, Mr. Speaker, that the return on investment also brings back through government to consolidated revenue through our SOE and other statehold players. 10,000 homes 11,000 let's say construction will build jobs for our people. Mr. speaker.

[01:17:39]It will build jobs, skill sets, but at the same token 10,000 homes when built will bring back a return of investment to our SOEs who have not put in one year. Also, it will bring back for 10,000 homes averaging a 200 Tina per month for power.

[01:18:03]Multiply that by 10,000. That will bring you back about 24 million, Mr. Speaker, in power returns alone paid to our stateowned enterprise through PNG power.

[01:18:16]For water, Mr. Speaker, it will bring averaging 100 kina per month for one water supply will bring you about 14 million tina back into back into the coffers of the SOE. When you look land rates at about 500 kina per allotment Mr. Speaker perom that will bring back 5 million kina perom back into the coffers of consolidated revenue a total package Mr. Speaker of about 50 million kina perom and when you multiply that by 10 years will be half a billion that doesn't include the cost of construction Mr. Mr. Speaker, creation of jobs, paying of taxes, and just building the industry. And above all, Mr. Speaker, putting roofs over a hedge for our people, the hardworking taxpayers.

[01:19:13]Mr. Speaker, all this done with not one from government for construction. Yes, we have spent money on assisting surveys. Yes, we have spent money on doing what government should be doing.

[01:19:25]Putting in place the legislation, the policy, the guidance. That is what government should be doing. But the act of construction and partnership is all done by private enterprise. Mr. Speaker, the professionals, the private enterprise people who will then make a return on investment of approximately 50 million back to consolidated revenue.

[01:19:46]That is in the Port Mosby area alone.

[01:19:48]Mr. Speaker, for the lay area, we are now in partnership with combat trustees to develop the EGAM uh development of middle income of 1,300 houses, Mr. Speaker, for the Lelay area.

[01:20:04]And also we are partnering with the Lutheran Church, Mr. Speaker, that will develop the Bumayong area and the Milan area. Partnering with the Lutheran Church, which holds some big tracks of land, Mr. Speaker, that will contribute to the lay economy.

[01:20:21]Mr. Speaker, that will contribute. Also, we will be working partnership with the Catholic Church for the Copa area and we are now working closely with the East New Britain provincial government and we have already allocated titles on uh some of the subdivisions that has been done in East New Britain that will be carried out in a lot of our urban peripheries.

[01:20:43]Mr. Speaker, we are in talks with Wiiwac, Baroka and other urban centers to make certain that we grow all the uh relevant infrastructure because Mr. Speaker, the population in 1975 was 2.4 million people or 2.6 million people.

[01:21:03]Today we stand at about 10 to 11 million people. With 10 to 11 million people, our urban suburbs have been built for a population much much less than what we have today. So we as government need to grow that for the agricultural sector. Mr. Speaker, government has plans also working closely with the oil prime minister.

[01:21:28]We'll be bringing a paper to cabinet jointly sponsored by the lands minister which is myself to ensure that we work in partnership. Mr. speaker to appropriate certain lands for agricultural growth similar to what has happened in West New Britain. That will grow our agricultural sector, freeing up land, making certain that people who face shortages of land in areas like Rob in areas where their population has grown and cannot accommodated by land can be able to apply, Mr. speaker and develop 10 hectare blocks, five hectar blocks and contribute the development not only of the family, Mr. Speaker, but contribute to the development of Papa New Guinea.

[01:22:17]Mr. Speaker, whilst we talk about middle income in urban peripheries, I also would like to commend the good governor for NCDC and commend the honorable John Kalpa for the subdivisions and the assistance and close consultation we've been working. Lance has given 1,700 hectares, Mr. Speaker, to NCDC so that they can be able to subdivide and provide the necessary urban infrastructure and lowcost housing that can be associated with assisting a lot of our people that have been evicted from certain settlements that they have been sitting on. So they can also be screened through the NCDC system to see how they can be able to assist hardworking taxpayers in the lower income bracket. I repeat hardworking taxpayers, people who are employed, people who contribute tomemes, not people who just uh sit on land that is not theirs.

[01:23:20]Mr. Mr. Speaker, the commendations to the good honorable Kalpa is 1,700 hectares between him and the governor.

[01:23:31]They are now working on to develop that, Mr. Speaker. And also government through the lands department has given them 30 million to make certain that project becomes reality. Mr. Speaker, and we will contribute, we will assist to contribute more because Yumi can talk, but Mr. speaker honorable member house Mr. Speaker, commendations goi who runs a tight ship and a hard job and also commendations to people like honorable Kalpa who tries to find solutions who tries to find solutions to help our little people.

[01:24:18]>> Get up, get up, get up >> to help our little people. They call him king of the settlements, Mr. Speaker, and he is truly a king of the settlements.

[01:24:27]Mr. Speaker, our little people, people who cannot afford the 500,000, the 400,000 kina homes, this this work is geared towards assisting them. It is assisted working to assist them so that they too can have >> roofs overheads manm 50,000 kina 30,000 kina government subsidize him relevant relevant city agency which is the NCDC governor local member Mr. Speaker Mr. Speaker Mipla now L Nab city to build the first city after 1975.

[01:25:19]That is work in progress and we have found solutions and that will be done very very shortly. Mr. Speaker, I sympathize with all members who face the problems of a people associated with land ownership and land tenership and I would like to assure this house, Mr. speaker that we will work closely with the report from the good chairman from the parliamentary land parliamentary committee and we will find try to find solutions and have those solutions escalated to ensure our people are given proper roofs over their heads and also proper places for them to stay and proper places where all can develop in ground blow Mr. Speaker ground something. We approach this in a conscious sensitive way so that all man can ground but approach in partnership with them walking solutions give him security so that this ground can develop working money. Mr. speaker for Papu Nigo. If we free up land, we free up wealth and we free up development for our nation. Mr. Speaker, thank you to honorable members.

[01:26:49]Question time.

[01:26:56]>> Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

[01:26:58]On Tuesday, um the honorable member for Aba S Puku raised a series of important questions concerning a number of issues for me. Um I want to um respond to those um questions now.

[01:27:17]Mr. Speaker, Miss Cleo respond question that honorable Suka been asking um myself. Thank you.

[01:27:33]Uh Mr. Speaker, the questions that uh honorable suka raised were number one the papan LNG project with respect to that number two the milu deep water exploration program number three the downstream petroleum processing what the government's policy was on that and local participation ro papa nuggin in those in those projects and lastly the future petroleum opportunity within the central province and the adjoining um prospecting licenses, petroleum prospecting licenses around um Aba electorate.

[01:28:12]Mr. Speaker, I gave my undertaking to provide more detailed responses and give national given the national significance of these projects including the exciting um myu prospect which falls within the honorable members electorate.

[01:28:29]I'm pleased I'm now pleased to um provide those responses to the honorable member. Mr. Speaker, the Papony Energy project is now at an advanced stage of development.

[01:28:41]The project developer, Total Energy, has confirmed that the final investment decision is expected within this year.

[01:28:50]This was also confirmed when honorable prime minister, honorable Mare was um did a state visit to France in the last two weeks and met with the total energy chairman and president and he confirms that unequivocally that we will have an FID before the end of this year.

[01:29:10]This represents a major milestone for Papa Newu Guini and reflects growing confidence in the country petroleum sector and investment environment.

[01:29:21]The development forum process is expected to commence in July 2026 and continue for over two months period.

[01:29:32]We will mobilize the um land owners um and the respective interested parties late June and then commence the um July uh commence the development forum in early July July.

[01:29:47]The devel development forum will bring together the state project developers, provincial governments, local level governments and more importantly the district development authorities and other stakeholders holders to negotiate and agree to the benefit sharing arrangement.

[01:30:05]The delay in having this was because more importantly the um what we call a um director's proposal and we were waiting for the economic modeling for the project partners to get to the department >> minister statement.

[01:30:35]Honorable member honorable minister chair so grand can go ahead question.

[01:30:53]Honorable Minister of Petroleum, you can continue. I'll ask him.

[01:30:58]>> Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Um, so delay me explain forum economic modeling come back. Um, there was some changes in the capital investment figures. So now figures come back national petroleum authority. So we've now finalized the director's proposal. Basically the director's proposal indicating him how much money can brook him amongst all pro amongst all land owners provinces LLGs now or district development authorities and other stakeholders who will be affected by this project.

[01:31:34]Let me come back Mr. Speaker to say that under the negotiated fiscal framework for papu LNG the project state take is approximately 52%.

[01:31:45]This is based on the improved royalty calculation together with the inclusion of produ production levy which was never included in PNG LNG now bringing income which was not which was now we can um also break that amount that that new income to the respective stakeholders.

[01:32:02]Papon LNG also introduces domestic market obligation or DMO gas that was never also under the um under the PNG LNG. Under the current framework, 5% of production will be reserved for domestic market at approximately $450 per MMBTU.

[01:32:24]PNG LG does not contain any domestic market obligations.

[01:32:30]existing um domestic market supply arrangement to dio new power are based on approximately n 9% of JCC mis difficult but this world priced in a formulas and something gas company in the in the in the international market so JCC basically means Japanese crude cocktail pricing by comparison Mr. Speaker, the proposed Papuan LNG DMO pricing structure at $450 per MMB is equivalent to around 6% of JCC under the current market conditions.

[01:33:07]The government remains committed to ensuring Papa LG delivers long-term economic benefits, employment opportunity, infrastructure development, and sustainable return for Papa New Guinea.

[01:33:18]Now we're coming now to Milo PPL 576 deep water exploration program that our honorable member has asked. Mr. Speaker, the milu deep water exploration program remains on schedule and is an exciting prospect for Papu Nigini. The project is joint venture is a joint venture between Total Energy and Petronas of Malaysia.

[01:33:43]Mr. Speaker, the exploration drilling will will be will will be undertaken offshore using a deep a drill ship namely Noble Viking.

[01:33:56]Two two of our National Petroleum Authority inspectors are scheduled to travel to on Friday to Laban which is tomorrow. Laban in Malaysia to undertake inspection and compliance ver verification of the noble Viking drill ship. Total Energy is expected to formally take over the drill ship this Friday and undertake load out activities in Laban between 30th of May and 3rd of June 2026.

[01:34:25]The drill ship is expected to sail from R Laban on the 3rd of June with an estimated transit period of approximately 13 to 14 days.

[01:34:35]14 days current schedule, Mr. speaker indicates that the drill ship will arrive in Papa Newu Guini and at the drill location around 16th of June 2026.

[01:34:48]Loadout activities in Papa Newu Guini are expected to occur between 16th and the 19th of June.

[01:34:55]Current operational schedule indicate that the world spud date is expected to be in 19th between 19th of June and 22nd of June.

[01:35:04]Then they will drill for 47 days in the deep sea uh in in the in the drill area and the 47 day days they mean they they say it's a deep case sorry a dry case so 47 oil after 47 days they will abandon the well if they do find positive oil findings then they will continue to drill and test the test the site Mr. Speaker, this demonstrate that the project is progressing rapidly and remains firmly on track. Given the strategic significance of this exploration program, Governor has directed that all adjacent and nearby petroleum blocks that have been issued be placed on holding pending be placed on hold pending the outcome of the Milo drilling program.

[01:35:55]Future petroleum licensing in those these offshare areas will be offered through international tender and competitive bid process linked to the government new production sharing fiscal framework which will be which will be introduced before the end of this year.

[01:36:09]The national petroleum authority is closely monitoring developments to ensure transparency, technical compliance, operational safety and protection of national interest.

[01:36:20]Now coming down down down to down downstream processing and local refinery policy which was raised in the parliament on Tuesday. Mr. Speaker, the Marup Rosso government is now placing strong emphasis on downstream processing and greater country value adding of Papa new petroleum and mineral resources.

[01:36:39]Mr. Speaker, the government acknowledges concerns raised regarding more than three decades of crude oil exports with limited visible visible development outcomes for our country.

[01:36:50]The government through the national petroleum authority is developing a petroleum downstream pro policy with limited visible development outcomes.

[01:36:59]The government through the national petroleum authority is also developing a downstream processing sorry a policy which we will introduce by 20 before the end of 2026. The policy will address national energy security, downstream processing opportunity, domestic refined capacity, and related petroleum businesses within Papa Nigini.

[01:37:22]Mr. Speaker, the government is seriously assessing the establishment of a national refinery policy in light of the current global developments, energy security consideration, and the need to strengthen downstream petroleum capacity within Papa New Guinea.

[01:37:38]This assessment also consider the future role of ex of the existing Napa Napa refinery infrastructure.

[01:37:45]The government's long-term policy direction is to refine more of our raw materials within Papa New Guinea and export processed petroleum products to Australia and other countries in the region rather than continuing exporting raw resources only.

[01:38:00]Also in this context, the government is now seeking larger domestic market obligation allocation for oil and gas during negotiation for future oil and gas agreements under the production sharing policy.

[01:38:17]The policy direction commences with Papuan Papuan LNG and will continue into the future projects including Pinyang and major petroleum developments for the proposed Pinyang project that this government under Prime Minister Marave the projected state take is approximately 63%.

[01:38:37]This hasn't been done in the in the past in the papon LNG it was only 52% state but let's congre congre um let's take our hats off prime minister Marabe for negotiating up to 63% of state take this was all also and give commendation to this government also driven a higher production levy arrangement together with an additional 10% equity participation to the state and to the land owners and the provincial government of papui Thank you prime minister and deputy prime minister Russell. The final equity pricing arrangement remains under discussion at this stage for pinang.

[01:39:16]Pining will also contain domestic market obligation provision equivalent to 5% of production under the tiered pricing structure.

[01:39:25]Government fully recognized the importance of ensuring host communities, local level governments, district and provinces receive meaningful economic participation and downstream business opportunities arised arising from these developments.

[01:39:39]Petroleum prospecting in central province.

[01:39:42]Mr. Speaker, available ge geological and seismic data indicate that the offshore and onshore petroleum perspective prospectivity across central province remain highly promising.

[01:39:55]operators including Total, Exon Mobile and Larus Energy continue to hold significant interest in the region based on those technical data available. The Milo prospect itself is regarded as one of the most significant and exciting frontier exploration targets in the region. And let me say that out of Total Energy's 156 prospects around the world, Milo comes at number three.

[01:40:21]The outcome of the current drilling program will provide important technical data for the surrounding acreages and future exploration activities. The government remains optimistic about the long-term petroleum potential of central province and they are joining offshore basins.

[01:40:38]Community awareness and preparedness.

[01:40:40]Mr. Speaker, the government agrees that early awareness and committee prepar preparedness are critical to in anticipation of any future petroleum development. The National Petroleum Authority together with relevant government agency will work closely with the leaders from Aba, Central Province and Mill Bay Province will support our awareness programs and community engagement initiatives. These awareness activities will focus on land own identification, project structure, workforce readiness, business participation, opportunity for communities.

[01:41:13]The government want local communities to be properly informed, organized and prepared to participate meaningfully in the future project opportunity.

[01:41:22]Mr. Speaker, the government fully support the engagement of international technical and commercial expertise where necessary and and appropriate to strengthen negotiation and maximize national benefits for the de development developments.

[01:41:37]This includes identifying the rightful land owners and other stakeholders in in the in the in the district and in the province. The government's the Marab Rosa government's objective remains clear. Papaini must secure fair value and sustainable long-term benefits for its petroleum resources while strengthening national capacity and increasing local local participation across the sector.

[01:42:02]I thank the honorable member for above for these questions and I trust this response suffice. Thank you.

[01:42:14]>> Leader of government business.

[01:42:19]>> Mr. Speaker, welcome back.

[01:42:24]Uh I ask Steve Parliament to move a motion without notice. Mr. Speaker, >> granted.

[01:42:30]>> Leave granted. Leader of government business.

[01:42:34]>> Uh Mr. Speaker, I move that so much overstanding orders be suspended as would prevent orders of the day number 2 209 government business being called on fort with.

[01:42:46]>> The question is the motion be agreed to.

[01:42:48]Those in favor say I.

[01:42:51]>> Those against say no.

[01:42:53]The eyes have it.

[01:42:57]Mr. Clock Order of the Day 209 Department of Implementation and RO Development Belum Digital Platform Awareness Report 2023 paper and statement motion to take note of paper resumption of debate from 27th March. Mr. Prime Minister in continuation on the motion of Mr. Just mark red. Parliament take note of the paper.

[01:43:34]>> Uh Mr. Speaker, I rise to contribute to the first debate of uh this very significant intervention by the Mara Rosa government on the backdrop of the government celebrating and the country celebrating 50 years as a nation and our honorable prime minister on September 16, 2024 in Parliament Hill pronouncing to the country that this government is moving towards a digital government and I want to commend honorable Lang as the minister responsible for rural and economic development in taking carriage of his responsibility and now moving towards a digital platform in making and allowing our districts and our provinces to be accountable in the resources that we provide to our people to serve our people.

[01:44:34]Mr. Mr. Speaker, Papa Nigini is a unique nation.

[01:44:40]More than 85% of our people live in a rural, remote, and maritime mountaneous communities across islands, coastlines, valleys, river systems, and rugged highlands.

[01:44:55]We are a nation of 96 districts, 21 provinces, and the special region of Bogenville. We spread across one of the most geographically challenging environment in the globe. Mr. Speaker, because of this reality, successive government established the district services improvement program and provincial services improvement program to ensure that resources reach every corner of this beautiful country equally.

[01:45:25]The intention was simple, to take development closer to the people.

[01:45:32]Mr. Speaker, over the years billions of kina have been appropriated through DSIP and PSIP, but this government, the Mara Perosa government has taken the responsibility to be accountable to be accountable deploying the digital transformation into the work we do, particularly in the Ministry of Rural and Economic Development. Today, more than 1 billion is allocated annually to districts and provinces under these programs.

[01:46:05]But the national conversation has now shifted. The issue before this house is no longer simply about releasing funds.

[01:46:15]The issue is accountability and the Morappape Roso government is translating that into action through this ministry.

[01:46:24]And I appreciate honorable Elang in his efforts thus far. This issue is transparency.

[01:46:32]The issue whether these resources are translating into real services and measurable development outcomes for our people.

[01:46:40]That is why the Maraper Rosa government introduced the Bum digital platform.

[01:46:46]Mr. Speaker, the Billum Bum digital platform represents one of the most significant governance reforms undertaken in management of DSIP and PSIP funds.

[01:46:59]For the first time, districts and provincial administrations are now able to digitally upload project information, implementation, updates, acquittles, and report into the central national monitoring system. And at this juncture, I also want to appreciate all our leaders yesterday being present at our state function room to witness what has been one of the most significant reforms under our finance department through our minister, honorable Thomas in releasing the new reforms under finance in ensuring that we all become accountable. And there's a specific provision in there that allows national MPs to take more careful note in applying the rules of engagement in terms of dispersement of the funds you are allocated.

[01:47:48]Now, Mr. Speaker, through these platforms, every project becomes visible, every report becomes traceable, every kina spent becomes accountable. Mr. Speaker, this system strengthens transparency, improves reporting timelines, enhances planning, and allows the national government to monitor service delivery outcomes in real time.

[01:48:13]Mr. Speaker, most importantly, it begins to close the space for abuse, shortcuts, weak reporting, and misuse of public funds.

[01:48:26]Mr. Speaker, the roll out has already commenced across provinces including, as we heard yesterday, Morobay, Western Highlands, Simbu, Eastern Highlands, Milan Bay, East New Britain, and West New Britain. Provincial and district officers have undergone awareness training, digital onboarding and technical introduction programs to ensure the system is fully operational.

[01:48:50]Mr. speaker. Several districts and provinces have already submitted their reports digitally through the platform.

[01:48:58]This demonstrates that Papa Nigini is now moving towards a modern system of governance where accountability, Mr. Speaker, and service delivery are datadriven and measurable. Mr. Speaker, Mr. Speaker, however, we must also acknowledge a major reality confronting our nation. A digital reporting platform cannot function effectively without digital connectivity.

[01:49:27]Many of our districts continue to face unreliable internet, poor telecommunication infrastructure, remoteness, logistical difficulties and deployed communication communication with Wani.

[01:49:41]This is why another transformational intervention introduced under this government is the rollout of Starlink and satellite internet connectivity across Papua New Guinea.

[01:49:57]Mr. Speaker, this introduction of Starlink is not merely on ICT reform.

[01:50:03]This it is a nationbuilding reform. For the first time, remote districts, health centers, schools, disaster centers, and government offices can now connect directly into the national digital governance system regardless of geography.

[01:50:24]Starink now complements the Bum digital platform by enabling real time reporting, fostering aquipitals, faster acquittles, pardon me, speaker, live project monitoring, digital over oversight, improved disaster coordination and direct communication between rural districts and national government. Mr. speaker. This means a district in Telephone, a coastal community in Milanbay or an island in the remote parts of Manus or Bogenville can now participate equally in the national development framework. Mr. Speaker, this is transformational.

[01:51:07]And Mr. Speaker, the future of Papa Guini will not only depend on roads, bridges, ports, and airports. It will also depend on digital highways.

[01:51:20]This is why connect PNG and digital connectivity must work together. Mr. Speaker, physical infrastructure connects people physically. Digital infrastructure connects people economically, institutionally and socially. Together they form the two major arteries of social economic transformation in Papigini. Mr. Speaker, as leaders, we must now move away from fragmented and isolated development approaches. And, Mr. Speaker, districts and provinces cannot operate independently from national priorities. DSIP and PSIP must align with the medium-term development plan, Connect PNG, health priorities, education reforms, economic growth priorities and strategies, and national digital transformation objectives.

[01:52:14]Mr. Speaker, Papa Nigini is at the cusp of real transformation and this intervention through the Bum project represents the beginning of accountability and transformation in our country.

[01:52:37]And Mr. Speaker, I want to again commend our good minister for the intervention and I encourage all our members of parliament to now take note of this transformation and participate so that we can all become accountable to our people and ensure that we will collectively as leaders be transparent to our people and be accountable to all our taxpayers in our country using the digital platform and the platform provided for by the Minister for Rural and Economic Development which is the BOM digital platform. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

[01:53:21]>> Honorable Minister of Public Service.

[01:53:25]>> Uh thank you, Mr. Speaker. Um I'd like to commend the uh minister next to me uh Honorable Leang uh for for bringing the building project uh to life and to be uh rolled out throughout the country. I'd like to also commend the uh take this time Mr. Speaker to thank the prime minister uh for creating this uh ministry and to give give uh permanence to the office of implementation and rule development. is a very important office that uh is responsible for the dispersment of uh DSGs and DSIPs of DS PSGs and and uh PSIPs.

[01:54:11]This funding that uh we are now going we are now receiving for our respective uh respective eleates Mr. Speaker is unprecedented.

[01:54:22]No government in the past has ever released and made available such funding to the provinces and the districts.

[01:54:33]It has never been in the history of this country. Only God knows how things has worked up to us and we are in this parliament that see right here Mr. are the privileged leaders of this country to be the custodians of the funding that should go down to our people and should translate into services for our people. Mr. Speaker, Mr. Speaker, during the Christmas period, I was with you in Manus and you showed me physically on what you did yourself in in Manus district or province.

[01:55:14]and that it's it's it's so satisfying when you see physical infrastructure taking place all across this country.

[01:55:21]Mr. Speaker, back in 2019, Mr. when the prime minister I thank the prime minister for appointing me as vice minister back in 2019.

[01:55:31]I went into the office of rural development as the vice minister and I was briefed and taken around to the office and saw Mr. speaker faced and saw all the STS and STS of files of all the respective electorates sitting on in the in the small office of the office of rule development.

[01:55:53]And I was wondering as a former provincial administrator, what would I do to uh come up to rescue the department that was filed and bombarded with seven files for each electorate, seven files for each sector, education, health, infrastructure, all this total to file for each elev.

[01:56:20]So I uh wanted to look for some mention Mr. Speaker and some assistance. So I requested for a coffee with uh the minister councelor Hik and I told him that we have a problem in this department. This is the most important department that should report back to the government and also tell the country and the people how much money has gone down and whether that money has actually been spent for its purpose and its use.

[01:56:50]So, Mr. Speaker, we we we came up with u I told them that we can we can we be able to can I ask I asked Mr. Speaker, is it possible to go paperless because as former provin I cannot submit here. So, Mr. Speaker, what we did was we tried it out and we see what we can do but we needed some funding and on this on this occasion and the presentation by our respective minister, Mr. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to comment the vice former vice minister at the time before me, honorable John Wapunai and also the prime minister himself yourself when you were finance minister you provided some funding and left it as a PIP in the office of rural development and I was able to identify the 300,000 to kickstart this building project and so uh that's how the history started with the billing project and the rest is Mr. Speaker, I just wanted to point out on the experiences that I faced and I experienced myself to make sure that the full implementation of uh the bullying projecting project is fully implemented in my district in Nuku and I very well support the debate and support by our lead business minister for works and ICT acting. I'd like to take this time to support the idea that the two main important things that is required in the districts to report on this or even the provinces is communication and the commitment and the caliber of public servants that you should have in all the electorates that are supposed to be preparing this documents to submit online.

[01:58:39]two main departments.

[01:58:42]The provincial administration, Mr. Speaker, which is the provincial administrator for the case of provincial provincial governments and the district administrators for the case of districts.

[01:58:55]The next is the provincial finance manager for the case of provinces and the district finance manager for the case of districts.

[01:59:06]These key heads of our agencies in the provinces and districts play an very important role. If they are not going to be Mr. Speaker going to be responsive to instruct seculars coming from the national departments nothing is going to happen and therefore Mr. Speaker, I want to point to to us all that whilst we all looking at the money going down, we need to also look at the caliber of our public servants that we recruit and we support to get them as district administrators or provincial administrators. Number one, and also our district our provincial finance managers, Mr. Speaker, and also the district finance managers.

[01:59:52]I'd like to take this time to commend my district administrator Inuku. I also take this time to commend my district finance manager Inuku and all the staff in Nuku who have worked tirelessly to make sure that they understand and process this concept. And this is no longer a concept is now a reality because we can now press a button and report on what is happening in Nuku by a press of a button in the computer system. And so this is makes it very easy. Mr. Speaker, the other point that I want to point of acknowledgement here, Mr. Speaker, is to thank the Australian High Commission and to thank the people of Australia and the government of Australia because they responded to a almost an an idea that I threw out at the time in 2019 whether it will work or it will work. It will not work. But I have actually had faith, Mr. Mr. Speaker, in this in this um proposition I gave and now it's reality and I can confidently Mr. Speaker say with all the members of parliament that it has made life easier for my district to easily press the button and report on the quitters because one of the biggest problem we face also Mr. speaker is that if you re if you leave all these things to our officers in Bani you know what's going to happen ifment commission runs after you or police or whoever you got officers in the in the office of rule who going to be able to get a paper and say this is but in this case Mr. speaker is no longer available. Everything is done online because the same report is sent to police department and the same report is also sent to finance planning and also sent to commission. So if a agrieved person has some agenda with our us as leaders or even our provincial and traders or our districts and approachment commission Mr. Speaker, the Muslim commission has already been copied online on your quail. So you basically have no entertainment of such uh people who come with u you know malicious uh uh character to try to to to dimin your character because it's all online and nothing is going to hide from this. So I fully want to take this time, Mr. Speaker, to comment on this. It's a very important project. I want to encourage those of you that have already started to continue and get your district administrators, district finance managers, provincial administrators and provincial finance managers to commit committed appoint and make sure that those committed officers work on it seriously so that they and Mr. Speaker before I finish we know that we do a lot we've done a lot in the districts because district is where implementation takes place. You can physically see the classroom building in the district. You can physically see the eight post in the district. You can see physically right the road in the district at the national province is just a seats of government physically everything is happening at the district level. So I encourage Mr. Speaker yourself as the member for Manus and also all of us as open members to take you know ownership of this project. make it happen so that we can report back to our people where we will spend the money and how it will spend without paper but paperless. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for giving me this opportunity to share my experience on the building project.

[02:03:30]>> Honorable Governor for Mr. Speaker, I wish to add to this uh debate. I have only a few words to say about this and I want to commend the minister and I take note of the comments made by the minister for public service and I want to add this that this should be mandatory for all provinces and all districts and minister for public service. Mr. Speaker, perhaps you can give an instruction to all the administrators, district administrators and provincial administrators that this is mandatory so that it's not just given to a few select provinces or left for open members or provincial governors to go and find this people that are responsible and bring them and try to get this up and running.

[02:04:21]This should be mandatory.

[02:04:25]It should be mandatory and taking advantage of the technology that we have available today. This type of measures are very much readily available and can be implemented. This can be scaled so that all provinces, all districts should have this. It should be a KPI of every provincial administrator and every district administrator that they must have this system in place and they must be reporting accordingly periodically without members of parliament having to run around becoming project managers chasing up after reports.

[02:05:00]So make this mandatory minister Minister for Public Service uh through you Mr. Speaker, I urge you to make this an effort that is mandatory. Get your secretary to summon all the administrators to a workshop. Sit them down and say this needs to happen. And then the administrators in the provinces can then summon their district administrators to do the same and get them to work and report accordingly.

[02:05:29]Cuz if you leave it to the open members of the governors, we've got so many other responsibilities. We don't have the wherewithal to run around looking for this the people who are going to come and implement this etc etc. It's going to take too long. Make it mandatory.

[02:05:43]The other thing is we are talking about the public servants that are out there that are going to be carrying out these type of responsibilities. First and foremost, another thing that should be also mandatory is housing for the public servants.

[02:05:55]You've got to review the welfare and benefits of the public servants that we want to be out there doing this type of work. We want to attract the best in the public sector. We're not able to do that right now. Why? Because we aren't able to take care of them. They don't have decent housing.

[02:06:14]They don't have decent conditions. They don't have healthcare.

[02:06:20]But we expect them to turn up to work and be loyal and patriotic and build this nation. How? With what?

[02:06:29]Again, uh through you, Mr. Speaker to the good minister for public service who's doing a magnificent job. Make this mandatory. And then next to this the other urgent matter that you should attend to is the welfare and benefits of our public servants.

[02:06:48]If you look at before independence the average public servant in Papa Nigini every district and station that you went to, they were thriving.

[02:06:58]And every public servant, whether he was just a ordinary laborer cutting grass or whether he was a driver or whether he was a district manager, he had a house and so he felt compelled and loyal to the organization that was looking after him and taking care of him. Today, senior public servants are living in villages, in settlements, but you expect them to come to work and be inspired and build this nation.

[02:07:30]So it comes back to us, us as a government, and we need to look at what's going wrong in the districts and provinces. And I can tell you that the biggest problem is that the welfare and benefits of our public servants are not being attended to, then we can hold them accountable because right now we're trying to hold them accountable, but we're not taking care of them. You know, the public servants, you know, I I was a public servant. We're like the guard dogs of the economy, of your district, of your province. If you look after your dog, it's going to stay in your house and look after your house. You go home and don't feed Snoopy for one week and see what happens.

[02:08:09]It's going to be next door down the road somewhere else.

[02:08:14]It's not going to be giving full attention to protecting your house. He doesn't care about you and your house.

[02:08:20]You know, he'll hold signs and say this is where you can go and enter the house easily and take this and that and whatever you want.

[02:08:29]Rubbish paping.

[02:08:32]So you look at house dog countryment go house losing work 3:00 4:00 come back building gas oil.

[02:09:25]So good project mandatory districts.

[02:09:45]Province just to you know 38 hectares of land staff housing 1 million committee establishing committee law make sure by staff public service by first building 20 housedousing commission minister housing one active manu action manlation by so that can still retain him funding but can spread unit by creating managing work health education. Yes, we need more public servants in these areas because that has to grow in tandem with the growth of the population of this nation. But in other areas we can use technology.

[02:10:46]We can use technology and you can reduce the workforce by 30 40%. And then you can pay them better, give them better conditions, better housing, healthcare and you see they will work. Productivity will go through the roof. I did it in customs and I saw it work. That's why I'm talking about this.

[02:11:06]Thank you very much Mr. Speaker. I thought I would just share some thoughts about the billum project and how it should be mandatory throughout the entire country and instead of just asking or inviting public servants to do you make it one of the KPIs minister for public service come this by working and then hold them accountable and kiss him report every quarter. Now suppose owner submitting report you penalize them after three penalties you sack them terminate their contract that's how you run an organization not tell them and warn them and you know feel sorry for them and then don't do anything about it man goodness thank you >> honorable leader of >> uh thank you uh Mr. Speaker, just to contribute uh briefly to the debate. Uh first of all, I commend uh the Marappa Roso government for this uh uh extremely positive um digital intervention and uh and uh commendation to the minister responsible, the honorable uh Joseph Leang.

[02:12:19]Uh Mr. Speaker, I take note that uh the digital platform deals with DSIP and PSIP and just some notes uh for the good minister to also take on board as uh they can look towards expanding uh the application uh of the the digital platform like suggested by the honorable uh governor for northern uh to all uh provinces.

[02:12:44]the DIP PSIP only deals with 5% of uh the total budget in the country. Take note of what the honorable leader of government business um said with respect to promoting transparency and accountability of public monies which is so important uh to uh the people of Papa Guina. But this uh there has to be better coordination between um the use of the platform by DID and uh how finance uh releases funds and that comes back to treasury the release of warrants and it comes back to the tenant of the preamble of the constitution equity. Equity some districts get more funding than other districts. Some provinces receive more funding than other provinces. So through the digital platform, if the digital platform has uh the business logic to enforce equity uh as per the the budget, then it would completely change how all provinces and districts participate in development.

[02:13:49]Uh Mr. Speaker, it's it's important for the House to understand that uh promoting equity will also see uh different provinces and different districts achieve different levels of development because of their current development profile. All provinces and districts aren't the same. We don't have the same resources. We're not at the same development stage. So, this was something uh Mr. speaker that I thought it's important uh for government to take uh note of and especially with the efforts of uh the the minister uh with respect to this digital platform to see how best it can enforce equity and also with respect to the budget expenditure by the ministers. Can the digital platform extend to incorporate how ministers spend money, spend public money, drive public policy to date uh Mr. Speaker, just uh for the record of the honorable house in inquiring about how the 2025 uh national budget was expended, the only minister, Mr. speaker, which is the honorable um Joe Koulie just publicly responded to the opposition to say he spent 195 million budgeted in the 2025 budget on X Y and Zed. These were the constraints he faced and these were the achievements that he made and he's looking forward to progress public policy, government policy in 2026 uh with these measures. He was just so transparent. This is required under section 37 of the constitution. All other ministers blanketly told the opposition that uh it's none of our business.

[02:15:37]Section 37 of the constitution requires you to put this public information public.

[02:15:46]Ministers being allocated public funds.

[02:15:48]It's not it's not your private money.

[02:15:52]So the country and the opposition, the people of Papa Nigini have a right to know, Mr. Speaker, how this money was spent to improve development indicators for the people of Papa Nigini. Police, works, lands, transport, we have a right to know.

[02:16:12]So for the opposition, we'd like to see this digital platform extend to enforce accountability on the executive.

[02:16:24]Then then and only then will we see that the government's serious about accountability, transparency and good governance because DSIP PSIP only represents 5% of the total national budget and as the budget increases that percentage will be uh lower over time.

[02:16:46]But otherwise uh Mr. Speaker, I salute uh the government uh for adopting digital technology to help in timely reporting collaboration. This will definitely create synergies uh that will promote development in the districts and provinces and it is welcomed and it is timely and we commend the minister.

[02:17:05]Please take on board some of the suggestions and continue to do the good work that you're doing. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

[02:17:13]Honorable Minister Romani Thank you. Thank you uh speaker.

[02:17:22]May I contribute in legal discussion or talk good?

[02:17:28]And first of all I would like to acknowledge the minister for rural development for uh this transformative initiative project.

[02:17:39]Mr. Speaker Papuini is made up of islands at mountain boo and it's very difficult report documents hard copies And it's costly.

[02:18:12]The classic example is documents and then we have to accommodation documents. It's a costly exercise and sometimes when here in Mosby all officers department also a delay in time tomorrow day you come back again and then they have to say in a lot of cost delivering report here in Wani and this initiative where uh department minister were taking online. It's a right step in the right direction and cutting back a lot of cost and for delivering service law country speaker 10 million district provinces but some of the actual cost of 10 million middle it's not that 10 million most of the time a lot of transport cost actual cost of delivering service around 5 million or 6 million.

[02:19:35]So we are distributing equally in the country. Some of the uh places the provinces the district we are not equal we are disadvantaged and such initiative will help the districts and the province instead of inquiring more cost they can be at their districts rather than inquiring those courses. So like minister we going into this direction to send the reports also it improves the reporting process and also the monitoring of money where M7 goal districts government in out districts provinces and then also So those money go or districts and provinces must be translate into real development inside districts inside provinces. So plenty time.

[02:20:46]So those actual reports challenge department.

[02:21:09]All this report come digital aid digi through digital system department must go and look on the ground that makes all this work and come up. Someone can be just behind the computers.

[02:21:33]Check him whether walk come up place or inside big boo inside mountain.

[02:21:44]So department department must come up one kind of same. Thank you Mr. Speaker.

[02:22:15]Honorable Prime Minister, >> uh Mr. Speaker, I want to uh prefix my support to the minister's paper with few observations and I want to start by comparing some statistics.

[02:22:34]Mr. America. Our country is a big country with big challenges that needs uh concerted effort in using our limited resources wisely.

[02:22:49]Mr. Speaker, I compare Nigeran and Papa New Guinea.

[02:22:55]At 1975, the size of our country and remained various sizes of our country. Let me use population statistics, size of our roads, size of economy and size of our land mass. Nigelan is a country sized at 268,000 square kilometers rounded off. Papa Niggon is a country sized at 462, 840 square kilometers rounded off. So we have a bigger country than Netherland in terms of land size.

[02:23:45]I want to also state the and that size has remained from 1975 up till today because land on trains but I want to indicate the size of our population at 1975 Netherland was 3 million people was just a sight under 3 million 2.8 8 million people from what my notes tell me. The size of economy at 1975 was around 1 billion ka 1 billion US dollar kina and US was part one to one kina almost. So I round it off to1 billion US dollar at 1975.

[02:24:31]New Zealand economy was sized around 12 billion at 1975.

[02:24:38]The kilometers of road Neland had in 1975 70% unsealed but it was 92,219 kilometers of road at 1975.

[02:24:52]The kilometers of road we had in 1975 was around 5,000 kilometers of road at 1975.

[02:25:02]The kilometers of road New Zealand have at 2025 is about 97,000 kilometers of road. They put additional 5,000 km on in their country. But interestingly, 70% of the road now is sealed roads. So they've sealed almost 70% of the 97,000 km of road. Papa Nigini our kilometer of road remains now we've in improved to only 30,000 kilometers of road with less than 20% of that sealed so you statistics you may compare in New Zealand island country of yi population 1975 around the same they were a little bit more economy you know much difference yi around $1 billion now only 11 to 12 billion Well, economy blow 2025 now I'm around $250 billion economy law 197 2025 I'm around 30 billion or 32 billion so glob very very small global very very big it's clearly depicted in the types of road we have as one measurement indicator that only got now 97 7,000 kilometers of road 60 to 70% sealed y increasing from 5,000 go on 30,000 tul provincial road district road nanessa road only of that less than 20% sealed economy 32 billion tasole all today at only around 5 million people from 3 million in 1975 go 5 million you mean from under 3 million in 1975.

[02:26:58]Y 10 million people and me like good leaders talk today our public gallery me like look feature of our country represented by two cluster of students we have here student from our urban setting represent by hola demonstration school and all my children up there meal thank you right through and listen me also look students primary school of central province minister did alluded to one important point 85% of papigni belongs to Mexan primary school type of people stablo yet 15% that's all stablo urban areas our challenges remain very big simply put to summarize my statistical and background context island community Mr. Speaker you got wula logos line all the stuff region line modlock tasan Karate Mill Island last place or first place Rosel Island come last place I'll call him Mr. Speaker brother he got kind backside 85% of our people are in the rural areas Mr. Speaker Dr. I'm asking for accountability accountability now district report province report national portfolio we must report department's heads report chief secretary has already been put in notice on notice to get all department heads to report on funds they've received one funim lab you Prime Minister deputy prime minister cabinet miners name all right department we now trying to ramp up accountability you look statistics we almost are on the same space at 1975 yet we've been the only productive thing we've been doing among Some is producing babies. We've grown up grown up so fast and every baby produced into this country needs a to help service in education, road, health, law and order everything else. So the building project is a simplified versions complain but like DSIP people are trying besting fail right across the five years we will be in office we would have sent equal amount of DSIP to all districts in our country I know on policy based grants whether it's kina for kina or some policy something there's sometimes some districts get something else and some districts miss out even in government side and opposition based on what you're doing and government medium-term diplomat targets but DSIP we try to make it fair right across something before this parliament rises I want to ask all members of parliament to give support to a constitutional amendment at baseline we must entrance DSIP so that every district is qualified doesn't matter whether you sit on which side or every province is qualified at a baseline that's on the which side simply because our our country is so diverse that that that member of parliament looks after our people in that part of our country.

[02:31:41]So uh members of parliament mustn't be subjected to a government policy or treasurer of the day or government of the day. So I beg all members to for us to make this change before we rise so that every DDA or every provincial government has at least a minimum allocation so they could plan in 5 years this is what at the baseline they must do.

[02:32:02]>> So we make this change we go but at the same time the country the people demands us to report back on the fund being transferred.

[02:32:12]uh by now if this sort of structure was in place for instance the above district one member for the last 25 years about district would have been changed but how comes I went to about district last time and I landed a chopper and a and a primary school they asked me for a library and the help I felt sad that they have to ask me 25 years later where road was there next to a port in Port Mosby just a point just point.

[02:32:44]>> We have a point of order, honorable member.

[02:32:48]I think the prime minister is talking about Aba a lot.

[02:32:53]But one thing he admitted I must tell the honorable house when he drove from Cupiano to Alo he text me and he said sepuka I I didn't realize that your above electorate is very very big.

[02:33:16]I told him that's why I push in cabinet for us to connect central and milling bay. We were together in cabin at that time we made a decision no road for 25 years and thanks to that decision.

[02:33:34]One day I must take him Cupiano to Alot in a dingy 40 horsepower dingy in May when the wind is very very strong and see how many times he will vomit.

[02:33:51]Thank you m >> honorable prime minister.

[02:33:58]>> Mr. Speaker, Mr. Speaker, you would know island called Low Island. I've traveled from Lonu to Low Island on rough sea on a 25 >> not 25 45 horsepower dingy open sea rough sea and so I wouldn't mind traveling from uh Kupiano to Alatan rough sea that's my job I will take it I'll travel with you uh but but I do admit uh that it's a very big electorate and it's a it's a pointer to my point earlier we have a very big electorate a big country uh challenges are very big money has been small I can't blame him in 2002 to 2007 I can't blame him in 2007 to 201 12 we started in 2012 to 17 start to ramp up DSIP but our challenges were still big in his in his electorate and combined the country we start to now ramp up more in 17 to 22 and now even more in 22 to 27 and We keep on growing the economy.

[02:35:04]Doesn't matter which government come grow the economy. Don't be s to give money to the districts because as prime minister I I do not manage every day in Abau Le or Kendra Glossera. So to the naysayers out there who feel that members are missing money. No members are directly in the face of their people. So this government or any government in the future allocate money still to the districts or province. But on the safe side, we are now giving our students to the taxpayers, our develent partners that bum national monitoring authority, the IAK that this parliament pass on board side that we have reformed is a indication to taxpayers and those who write scholars in Australia national university that think tanks outside thinking that the leaders are full of cor you know corrupt and they try to steal the money. They do not understand the challenges this country face with big country 462,840 kilometers islands atals mountains riverside valley the honorable uh member for about confirm and I confirm a big elect rate that doesn't you know it's not 10 million every year that will fix that electric rate it possibly needs 50 million every year in 10 years to really get above modernizer entirely modernized but resource are constrained Mr. Speaker and ladies and gentlemen, members of parliament. So in a constraint of resources and for us today to get there possibly 5 years, 10 years when Pabcd and others are synchronized earning more to get from today to there whatever little resource come today we must put to good use hitting the bull hitting the target and the billum worked at Minister Sunsungi.

[02:36:54]I want to give comment to minister Suni.

[02:36:56]He didn't said he was himself a vice minister.

[02:37:00]We allocated him a vice ministry portfolio. He didn't waste time. He got to work and this is now institutionalized in our country's system of governance.

[02:37:10]And uh to complement what the member for Minama and minister alluded to, it might be paper put into into the registry of system. We set up national monitoring authority to follow the kina trail when kina comes so kina go away make him walk or g paper report come and together you may make him this mr speaker this this time of parliament this government would have given over 7 billion kina to the 96 districts right across the length and bread of our country.

[02:37:45]This government would have given two billion Kenya to all the 21 district provinces including NCD and our autonomous bugal government and if we have a reporting platform we're doing just to future leaders that people are working their reporting work is happening so future leaders are now receiving more money to attend to the diversity we call PNG again sorry member for Aba but I keep on using uh my favorite district as an example.

[02:38:17]Uh the prime minister of the day do not fully understand Aba all the time. It is the member of Aba who understands Aba.

[02:38:23]So the Aba district must be resourced.

[02:38:26]Likewise all of us we are a diverse nation with culture talkless spread and so the resourcing to districts is a right focus. resourcing to province the right focus but the back end element of reporting must be established that is why billum comes in national monitoring and coordinating authority comes in and other work we're doing uh to make sure kina is spent well comes in so I commend this focus I ask every one of us to give support to this and let's start reporting because the more we report the easier for this government or any government that comes in 27 onwards to keep on supplying resources to the districts and we lift the standard of our people going forward. Resources are scarce. Put limited resource to good use and hopefully we could catch up to statistics like Nigel is sawing in an economy that is now better and our people living a developed lifestyle. So Mr. Speaker, I want to commend the work of uh Minister Leang as he tries to institutionalize this work. I want to commend those who came before him to put the Bum uh system in place now in a in a public accountability structures. uh then vice minister and now minister suni uh take the recommendation from uh governor uh governor Jua to heart and I look forward to all of us putting to good use the resource that is coming to us to lift the standard of living for our people. Mr. Speaker, thank you very much for allowing me to speak the question. Is there a question be now put those in favor? I >> those hands say no. There is leader for government business.

[02:40:08]>> Uh Mr. Speaker, I move that the parliament do now adjourn until tomorrow at 10:00 a.m.

[02:40:16]>> The question is that a motion to those in favor I >> those against say no have it.

[02:40:26]Honorable members, I wish to inform the parliament that the special parliamentary committee on health matters and the papani parliamentary TV caucus will be hosting a high level tub tubiculosis advocacy training for the members of parliament in the state function room today. Tub TB remains a critical health challenge in Papa New Guinea. This train training will equip you to advocate effectively for the prevention and treatment, oversee health budgets and raise life-saving harmonies in your electorates. I encourage all members to attend. Thank you.

[02:41:08]Honorable members, parliament is now agent to 10:00 tomorrow morning.

[02:42:35]Heat. Heat.