Accountability key priority for PNGDF

ACCOUNTABILITY will be the focus of the PNG Defence Force as it gears up to implement its key priorities this year.
Acting secretary Trevor Meauri stressed that when addressing senior department and force officials at their budget retreat recently.
The retreat is an annual event to review the budget performance.
Meauri said one of the major problems at Defence, and indeed most government organisations, was lack of accountability.
“Whether it’s performing a small task or pursuing a big project, accountability is key,” he said.
“Our lack of accountability over the years resulted in failure to deliver some of our major projects. We encounter serious budget crunch in the middle of each fiscal year because we are not accountable.”
Meauri said several reforms undertaken at the department in the last two years would help drive accountability and transparency in finance and administration.
The reforms include the introduction of the IFMS system in the department’s finances, setting up of a project steering committee for oversight of all projects and establishing the project and contract management cell with the help of the Australian Defence Force.