Budget up for review

The National Main Stories

By MALUM NALU
THE Government is expected to table in Parliament this week a supplementary budget to address financing and cash-flow issues it is facing.
Leader of Government Business James Marape told The National that it was a matter of urgency.
Chief Secretary Isaac Lupari confirmed last night that the estimated figure was still being worked by “key” Government agencies. But Parliament was going to debate on it this week.
Marape said Parliament would continue into a third week “to deliver the supplementary budget”.
“That’s the reason why we’re coming back,” he said.
“We have one or two other businesses of Parliament (to deal with) but the more important one is the supplementary budget.”
Treasurer Patrick Pruaitch told Parliament last Thursday that a supplementary budget was going to be tabled but did not mention when.

“Government is working to ensure that appropriate strategies are put in place before a supplementary budget is introduced,” Pruaitch, said.
“I want to give an undertaking that before Parliament rises for this session, the Government is going to be announcing some corrective measures.”
He said earlier this month he had alerted Prime Minister Peter O’Neill on the need for the mini-budget in light of concerns raised in the Treasury department’s mid-year economic and fiscal outlook report.
“An early supplementary budget will provide confidence in the Government’s fiscal policy, help maintain investor confidence and bring a semblance of greater stability for the Kina,” he said.
He said the department’s mid-year report had provided early warning signals on the need for an urgent Government attention on the economy.
Formal employment figures fell by 3.8 per cent in the 12 months to March 2016.
Meanwhile, Marape said the Independent Commission against Corruption Bill had to ascertain what role the ICAC played and what role the Ombudsman Commission played.
“We’re trying to reconcile what is the role of ICAC and what is the role of Ombudsman Commission,” Marape said.
“We’re not going to abort the ombudsman. We are going to strengthen the ombudsman. There might be two offices having the same function so we have to reconcile these.”
He said the ICAC Bill would remain on Government notice.