Nothing new being said by secretaries

THE subject of a lean and workable system of government and public administration has been around since Sir Mekere Morauta was the prime minister.
Therefore, the Secretary for Planning and Secretary for Treasury are not saying anything new.
In 2005, a report was prepared by a committee headed by the late Mike Manning, which put forward the arguments in favour of a small, lean and operational government and public administration.
Mergers proposed by the Manning committee included: Treasury with Finance; Personnel Management with Public Service Commission; Planning with Prime Minister’s Department.
The report also recommended the abolishing of the Office of Rural Development and the PNG IPA and NRI to be transferred to the University of PNG.
After 2005, new government agencies were created, which included the Border Authority and Office of Climate Change.
It was even suggested that the Prime Minister should be the portfolio minister responsible for the Department of Prime Minister and NEC, Planning and Rural Development Department as well as Treasury and Finance.
Current Ministers of the so-called CACC departments are or should be deputy ministers.

Waigani insider, Via email