Bill on establishing corruption commission set for Parlt

THE bill on the establishment of an Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) will be tabled for a second reading in Parliament at next month’s sitting.
Sir Peter Ipatas, the chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Constitutional Laws and Acts and Subordinate Legislations said there would be two more readings before Parliament voted on the bill.
The committee comprises Southern Highlands Governor William Powi, Hela Governor Philip Undialu, Morobe Governor Ginson Saonu and Rai Coast MP Peter Sapia .
“I can’t preempt Parliament. I can say that the current government is on top of it and wants to see the law passed,” he said.
Sir Peter said consultation had been going on for a long time and that was the job of the Constitutional and Law Reform Commission (CLRC).
“We are a parliamentary committee and our job is to consult with the bureaucrats and ensure that we clear it for Parliament,” he said.
The bill was tabled in Parliament by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister Justice and Attorney-General Davis Steven in the last session.
It went through the first reading and was referred to the Parliamentary committee on Constitutional Laws and Acts and Subordinate Legislations. For the bill to be passed, three-quarters of the House or 74 MPs would have to vote for it.
Sir Peter said: “Everyone in this country knows corruption in this country is like a cancer or disease.
“The Government has brought the ICAC bill to Parliament and our job as the parliamentary committee is to ensure that it is all within the laws and constitution of the country.”