O’Neill told to move

The National Main Stories

By REBECCA KUKU
THE Government has decided that former prime minister and Ialibu-Pangia MP Peter O’Neill should be moved to sit in the Opposition benches in Parliament.
Prime Minister James Marape announced the decision yesterday, a day after the office of the Leader of Government Business had asked him to move to the Opposition bench.
Leader of Government Business and Finance Minister Rainbo Paita said they made the decision because O’Neill had openly been criticising the Government although the People’s National Congress Party he leads is one of its coalition partners.
“The Government wants to stand in unity. So if he wants to openly criticise the Government, he has to do it on the other side of the house,” he said.
In response, O’Neill told The National this week that the Government should stop being “emotional” and chasing him around Parliament.
He urged the Government to focus more on the many challenges facing the nation and to stop “playing emotional politics chasing me around all over the Parliament and the country”.
“Law and order is out of control, health crisis due to corona virus, and poor policy on education that is causing hardship for our children and their parents,” he said.
“That should be enough to keep them busy instead of worrying about where I sit in Parliament.”
O’Neill said it was his democratic right to choose which side of the Parliament he sat on.
“I am not answerable to the prime minister or the leader of Government Business,” he said.
“I am answerable only to the people of my electorate.
“I’m sure they have more pressing issues in the country to attend to rather than playing childish political games.” O’Neill said he would continue sitting on the Government benches.
Paita said as the Leader of Government Business, he would enforce the decision.
“There’s no childish politics, it’s a Government decision. We are learning from all their (past government’s) mistakes,” he said.
“There are just too many.
“So (he should) just move to the Opposition.”

29 comments

  • Issues affecting the nation and its people are of paramount concern at this point in.
    Please attend reasonably ( all politicians)
    Decide without fear or favor.

  • I think the leader of government business and finance minister Rainbo Paita was right by saying former Prime minister and MP for Ilibu Pangia Hon. Peter O’Neill to move to opposition side. It is possible for him ( Peter O’Neill) to be in the government side but more importantly, former PM should join the opposition. He was removed from his position as PM for some reason. After realising his failures while being a PM, he should join the opposition to stand against the government through his experience of serving as a prime minister of this country. In this way, our country will be balanced!

  • Childish politiks, I think Peter Oneil was spot on with his remarks. Government should stop being “emotional” and chasing him around Parliament. Surely there are pressing issues affecting the country and they should focus more on this national issues rather then in house minute issues. I think from my opinion they shouldn’t be worrying about Peter Oneil because he is out of the Governemt. They should deeply be focused on the affairs of the Nation.

  • Peter O’Neils anti government politics is better off coming from over the aisle. Top move!!

  • Why is government so scared of PO… he is just person like other ordinary members in the parliament so government should focus on the nation’s affairs rather than be childish and bit around and manipulating poor citizens to fight together for your own egos.

  • Lets be realistic…PNC is a coaliation partner to the current Government where James Marape is the PM..I think he is seating on the right side in Parliament…whichever, side PO sits he has the right to comment on issues affecting the Country…matters for court should be left to the courts to deal with…and PO is also right about certain ministers playing childish politics…the country is facing many challenges that require critical decisions and swift actions to tackle these crises rather than arguing about correct sides to seat in Parliament…

  • That’s childish. Where a parliamentarian sits should not be dictated by his opinion in the parliament. Democratically we are entitled to our opinion. This move is not wise. STOP!

  • The Government should concentrate on larger issues affecting the nation.
    Where O’Neill sits in the Haus is his democratic right.

    • Unfortunately sitting anywhere in the parliament chamber is not an option for any member of parliament, Having worked in an overseas national parliament and working in the chamber itself I know what the arrangement are. The Prime Minister who leads the Government side dictates who sits where in the chamber so as the leader of the opposition. They then advised the speaker for the arrangement in this case the leader of the government business who is also the leader of the house. The speaker then advised the clerk who then advise the chamber staff who then makes the sitting arrangement. In our parliament I am that chamber staff that finally make the sitting arrangement in the chamber as the staff assisting the clerk of parliament in the chamber.

      By the way I am also a Papua New Guinea and having worked in this overseas National Parliament since 1997 which is a Westminster system like PNG the operation and rules are the same thru out the Commonwealth countries just a food for thought. By protocol I am not in a position to give views on who is right or wrong but just clearing things out on the sitting arrangement. Have a blessed day PNG.

  • Rainbo Paita has blown a whistle, he and others have reasons to do so, check on the previous government dealings, Oniel has much influence on the current difficulties. other than that, Unity is paramount, we cannot have different spirits on one side, if opposition is showing get him to opposition.

  • I think PO doesn’t make decision for the current government but pointing out on critical issues is very important than siting like idle. Why are they so emotional about him. Kramer is tirelessly having sleepless nights still working around to hang him. So let him sit where he wants to, Piata can try to get him off in parliament in 2022 election. Talk on common sense issues affecting country at the moment.

  • Government has a lot to deal with now than this mulling over trivial matter but its also unbecoming of a leader who strongly criticize the Government to physically identify himself in the government site.

  • Peter Oniel is part of this government, he instituted this government. With out him ,JMarape would not be a Prime Minister of this Nation.
    The government must be aware of this and stop moving him around and concentrate on many
    bigger issues affecting our Nation.

  • If the former Prime Minister Peter O’Neill is with the Government and as it was stated for him saying some negative words to it then I suggest this wouldn’t be a good idea for someone to do such thing to someone of whom they’re part of. If what was stated is true, do you think it’s sensible?
    If it’s not sensible, then just simply quit the team and be less criticized..
    Be a man!

  • I had read all your points and it’s valid but first of all we need to know what and how a democratic government operates. The head of the government which is the PRIME MINISTER of the day have every right to make decisions if it’s necessary and according by our laws. One thing I realized about Peter O-Nail is that, He seemed to be a hard headed. Don’t want to be told but want things to be done in he’s way or hes favour. Sort of dictatorship government when he was the PM. You’re an educated leader, just respect the decision andmove your to avoid inconveniences and dramas. Give respect to your fellow leader and you will be given the same.
    When your house is in order, everything you do will be in order,,it’s simple as that so it’s time for the government to move members from middle benches to either government or opposition.

  • In the best interest of the Government to maintain unity, cooperation and respect within their team, Peter Oneil must move to the opposition or middle bench because what he has been doing is nothing better than trying to disturb, confuse and derail the government’s efforts. If he is a serious member of the coalition partner, he should be supporting PM Marape and the Government team and assist where his good only experience and expertise come in less his contagious and cancerous corrupt tactics or strategies. Going by his actions, in all fairness and respect, he should be in the opposition or even middle bench where he can criticise the government at will.

  • Come on just stop this in-house matters where to sit and and on which side to be. Can the PMJM addresses some critical matters that affecting our peoples life like health, school fees, brutal killings, and more to name.

    Simple is that, can they (Government) talk about how to take back PNG rather than talking about the old dog.

  • Critics that are against PM must understand there there are underlying reasons for PO to move to the opposition bench. Besides PO needs to be contributing to nations affairs by critically analyzing to keep the Government on course and he can do so by being in the opposition bench. We need him(PO) to make critical judgement. MAY BE IT IS TO DO WITH IMMUNITY

    • just leave PO alone,and follow your words.TAKE BACK PNG, If yupla man, take him out in 2022 . Othewise PO will
      shoot yupla down in 2022 or skin yupla alive, So think , before you talk or act.

  • It is his democratic right to sit where he wants to. This is not important at the moment. The real problem to solve is our economic issues. Focus on that and not on Peter O’neill.

  • Ohh O’Niell, you can’t sit on the fence and critise. Be a real man, you have more than what it takes to provide and lead a very vocal and effective Opposition.

  • Peter O’Neil was thought to be a problem and was removed but even in government now they still worry about this man. I would think that this people who talked if they are still fuming and talking they may have nothing in their tanks but empty so seek some advise from him from within not from opposition.

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