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OUTDATED LAWS IN PNG AMENDED TO SERVE PEOPLE

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OUTDATED LAWS IN PNG AMENDED TO SERVE PEOPLE

Prime Minister James Marape has commended Members of Parliament for having passed six important bills during the August Parliament. 

The session ended last Friday. It will reconvene on September 7.

The six bills comprise of:

  1.  Motor Vehicles (Third Party Insurance) (Amendment) Bill 2021;
  2. Motor Vehicles (Third Party Insurance) (Basic Protection Compensation) (Amendment) Bill (Chapter 296);
  3. Kumul Consolidated Holdings Authorisation (Amendment) Bill 2021;
  4. Public Services (Management) (Amendment) Bill 2021;
  5. Medical Registration (Amendment) Bill 2021; and,
  6. Oil and Gas (Papua LNG Project) (Amendment) Bill 2021.

AMENDMENT OF OUTDATED LAWS

PM Marape said his government continued reforms of outdated laws which do not serve the interests of Papua New Guineans.

He thanked relevant Ministers who sponsored the bills.

“Passage of these six important bills – which will have a lasting impact on our country – clearly shows our Government is functioning.

“I indicated, when I took office in May 2019, of reforms to existing laws which are now in motion.

“I thank Members of the Opposition for their bipartisan support in most cases,” he said.

The Marape Government also made history last Wednesday by allowing the live broadcast and telecast of National Parliament proceedings in its entirety to PNG and entire world.

This breakthrough means that National Broadcasting Corporation television and radio services will be covering the sessions live past traditional Question-Time and the Grievance Debate.

THE PURPOSES OF THE BILLS PASSED

– Motor Vehicles (Third Party Insurance) (Amendment) Bill 2021: The significance of the Motor Vehicles (Third Party Insurance) (Basic Protection Compensation) (Amendment) Bill 2021 is that, by introducing a new Section 18, MVIL will pay K10,000 to dependents of a person who dies as a result of a motor vehicle accident – whether the deceased is a male, female or minor.Under the current legislation, MVIL pays K5000 to dependents of the deceased if the deceased is a male, and K2500 to dependents of the deceased if the deceased is a female.

– Kumul Consolidated Holdings Authorisation (Amendment) Bill 2021: This important bill, which was introduced by State Enterprises Hon. William Duma, will restore the capabilities for monitoring, accountability and governance across the Majority State Owned Enterprises (MSOEs) and help set them on the course to recovery.

LAW FOR PUBLIC SERVANTS

– Public Services (Management) (Amendment) Bill 2021: A public servant who wishes to contest the general election will resign 12 months prior to the issuing of writs.  Previously, it was six months’ before the election. The law will come into effect in 2027 General Election and general elections thereafter. An officer who contests in the general election and is unsuccessful can be re-hired to the Public Service after a period of five years from the general election he/she contested in. Unfortunately, it will be through the normal selection and recruitment process. This amendment will take effect from the 2022 General Election and general elections thereafter.

– Medical Registration (Amendment) Bill 2021: The landmark bill allows for medical doctors who graduate from Divine Word University (DWU) and any other universities in future to be registered.The Medical Registration Act of 1980 restricted the registration of medical doctors. It only allows graduate doctors from University of PNG and overseas. The bill has made its first major breakthrough by allowing for 19 newly-trained doctors of DWU to start their residency training programmes around the country.

PAPUA LNG PROJECT

– Oil and Gas (Papua LNG Project) (Amendment) Bill 2021: An Act to amend the Oil and Gas Act 1998. That is to accomodate the Papua LNG Project. It gives comfort to project partners and financiers to progress the Papua LNG Project.

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