Fighting corruption in forest authority

Business

AN exercise is underway to identify and alleviate corruption practices within the PNG Forestry Authority, Forestry Minister Walter Schnaubelt says.
Schnaubelt said this was important with the new policy positions the forestry sector was embarking on.
“There are issues we have within the forest authority that we need to try and identify and address,” Schnaubelt said.
“The exercise is on foot right now and we are going to try and improve ourselves within the forest authority to try and stop those corrupt practices and encourage and support good and ethical practices.”
Schnaubelt said the focus would be on improving services in the monitoring and enforcement of regulatory requirements and compliance.
“That’s also an important part for us to focus on so we are going to get there.”
“We have a new managing director and a new chairman in forest, and if that’s not a strong indication that we are trying to go down a better path than I don’t know what else we need to do.
“But like anything else, you have to get your house in order first, it has to be in order before you extend that service externally.”