PM: Govt to continue initiatives

Main Stories

The Government will continue the development initiatives it started over the last five years, Prime Minister Peter O’Neill says.
He said this in his address in the first sitting of the 10th Parliament yesterday.
“As the Government, we will continue to build on the foundations that we have laid over the past five years,” O’Neill said.
“We all have gone into the elections with a core set of policy agendas that voters have embraced.
“Working with our coalition partners in Alotau, we have further strengthened these policies, and this is going to be the agenda that we will bring to this honourable House during this term of Parliament.
“We all have the mandate of our people and we must continue to honour the mandate that has been given to us not only through words but through our actions as well.”
These are:

  • Economic foundations;
  • revenue and debt review;
  • expanding economic participation;
  • SME development;
  • resources projects;
  • land ownership;
  • forestry;
  • tourism;
  • infrastructure;
  • law and order;
  • education;
  • healthcare;
  • population; and,
  • Foreign policy.

“As the Government, we must maintain focus on strengthening our economic foundations of our nation,” O’Neill said.
“We will review the revenue that our Government generates.
“We will identify areas where we are not reaching our true potential and increase these revenue streams.
“This will involve the development of a comprehensive medium-term revenue strategy.”
O’Neill said alongside this assessment of revenue, the government would undertake a very comprehensive review of expenditure and its debt management strategy.
“We acknowledge that debt is an essential part of life for government and business alike,” he said.
“We must continue to think long-term and continue to apply sensible debt management.
“Our economy is in a strong position compared to similar economies around the world, and we will continue to review this position and make positive change.”
O’Neill said an important element in facilitating true economic growth was sharing the gains so that all people benefited.