Budget on main agenda when Parliament resumes

THE 2020 Budget will be on the main agenda when Parliament resumes on Tuesday.
Acting Clerk of Parliament Kala Aufa told The National that the session is expected for two weeks followed the break until next year.
Aufa said the first week will see the tabling of the budget, with the press lockup on Wednesday.
As usual, the Opposition will be given time to respond to the budget before other business.
Meanwhile, the four sacked People’s National Congress Cabinet MPs will sit in the middle benches as they are still part of the Government.
PNC leader and Ialibu-Pangia MP Peter O’Neill said all PNC MPs were still part of the Government.
The four are Yangoru-Saussia MP Richard Maru, who was the National Planning and Monitoring Minister; Pomio MP Elias Kapavore, who was the Health Minister; Koroba-Lake Kopiago MP Petrus Thomas, former Immigration and Border Security Minister; and, Kandep MP Alfred Manase, former Labour and Industrial Relations Minister.
O’Neill added that out of Cabinet was former deputy prime minister Charles Abel who had contested the 2017 general election on a PNC ticket. He later joined Our Development Party.
PNC MPs currently holding ministries include Gumine MP Nick Kuman, Minister for Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology; Dei Open MP Westly Nukundj, Minister for Immigration and Border Security; Mendi Open MP Michael Nali, Works Minister; Kikori MP Soroi Eoe, Public Service Minister; and, Moresby South MP and National Housing and Urban Development Minister Justin Tkatchenko, although he recently moved to Social Democratic Party.
His move is yet to be confirmed by the Registrar of Political Parties.
O’Neill said his party members were united and committed to the party.