House tasked to scrap judicial law

By JEFFREY ELAPA
GOVERNOR-General Sir Michael Ogio yesterday laid out a staggering legislative agenda for the 9th parliament, among them several controversial laws passed by the O’Neill administration since last August.
Included in the agenda for scrapping is the Judiciary Conduct Act which provided for parliament to suspend judges it considered errant and lifting the age limit for the prime minister which is currently set at 72 in an attempt to keep 76-year-old Sir Michael Somare from retaking the prime minister’s seat after the Supreme Court ruled in his favour last year.
O’Neill and the Grand Chief are now in the same government.
The governor-general said: “I am happy to say these challenges are now behind us, for the better.
“After the events of the past 12 months, I am relieved to see parliament is … intact.
“We must now resolve never to repeat these difficult and challenging times.”
Billed for change too are the Supreme Court Amendment Act, the Parliamentary Powers and Privileges Act and changes to laws governing the public service, the management of public finances, the police, the defence force, the Correctional Institutions Services and the Organic Law on Provincial and Local Level Governments and the Organic Law on National Elections.

Sir Michael said in his speech during the opening of the 9th parliament yesterday that the government of Peter O’Neill would review the provisions of the Constitution to ensure stability.
He said these reviews would include provisions relating to the prime minister, the
term of parliament and the amendment to the various Organic Laws.
Sir Michael said the government would also amend the Organic Law on National and Local Level Government Elections .
He said this would include the Organic Law on the Integrity of Political Parties and Candidates to make it more effective and relevant.
Sir Michael added that at the same time, the government would enact new legislation to remove political uncertainty and create a stable environment
for the government to implement its policies and programmes.
In order to promote reconciliation and unity and to build respect and independence among the three arms of government, Sir Michael said the government would repeal the Judicial Conduct Act, the Supreme Court Amendment Act, the Parliamentary Powers and Privileges Act and amendments to the Prime Minister and NEC Act.
He added that an Act of Indemnity to indemnify all persons affected, as similar steps had been taken in other parts of the world.
The Vice-Regal, representing the Queen, said among other legislation reforms, the Government desired to pass a Dual Citizenship Act that would promote and increase investment and free travel between neighbour countries including Australia and New Zealand.
Among others, government also plans to set up the Independent Commission Against Corruption while other laws such as the NCDC Act, the Public Service Management Act, the Public Finance Management Act, the Oil and Gas Act, the Mining Act, the police, Defence and CIS Acts, the Education Act will be reviewed and amended.
He added to the list the Organic Law and Electoral Commission Boundaries Commission Act, the Organic Law on Provincial and Local Level Government and the Regulatory Services Authority while the government would also enact legislations to establish the Lae and Mt Hagen city commissions.
He said that these reforms are outward signs of a “government of the unity and action for stability and prosperity”.
The government will also review the current medium-term development plans while the cost of the five-year programme will be finalised and aligned to the annual budget which will now include impact projects for the provinces and districts.
He said among the reforms, the government would focus on education, health care, corruption, infrastructure, LNG projects, law and order, public sector reforms, foreign policy, develop comprehensive plan to engage citizens in business, sports and culture and promote public-private partnerships.