Opposition deserves fair treatment

 ATTORNEY-General Ke­re­n­ga Kua has raised some valid points about the downside of our parliamentary system of government.

Kua believes it is vital for the Government and Opposition to co-exist in a healthy and vibrant parliamentary de­mocracy.

Speaking during debate on the 2014 Budget last Tuesday, the Justice Minister urged the Government, of which he is a senior member, to ensure the Opposition is adequately funded to carry out its duties and responsibilities.

He said the Government should give equal treatment to Opposition MPs, particularly in the disbursement of funds for the District Services Improvement Programme (DSIP) and other development programmes and projects.

Kua’s advice should not go unheeded by his fellow cabinet ministers, especially the custodians of the public purse.

As the former Papua New Guinea Law Society president rightly said, PNG needs to maintain a healthy and vibrant parliamentary democracy, in which the Government and Opposition have their particular roles to play.

Our parliamentary demo­cracy is based on the British Westminster system of government of which the parliamentary opposition is a key characteristic. 

A noted characteristic of the Westminster system is that, in terms of parliamentary procedure, governments are strong and oppositions are weak. To impose their legislative will, governments often rely on pliant backbenchers and large “manufactured” majorities. 

Kua seems rather perturbed by the lack of attention being given to the handful of Opposition MPs, particularly in the disbursement of DSIP and other electoral funds.

Opposition MPs, led by Bel­den Namah, have been complaining all year about the biased treatment by the Government’s financial controllers. They claim Prime Minister Peter O’Neill and his coalition partners have been using the DSIP and other electoral funds to lure Opposition MPs to their ranks.

As a matter of fact, Opposition MPs are entitled to their share of electoral services and development funds and should not have to wait or be penalised for speaking against the Government.

Unfortunately, the Opposition benches are almost depleted from defections in the past few months. Nonetheless, Kua has echoed the Opposition’s concerns by highlighting the downside of a majority government.

There is no doubt that without an effective Opposition, the Government can bulldoze any legislation by using its numerical strength.

The recent passages of key legislation, including se­veral constitutional changes, are clear examples of the Government’s desire to take full advantage of its superior numbers.

Is that healthy for our parliamentary democracy? Absolutely not.

The real danger with a majority government is the tendency by the political leadership to make dictatorial decisions and bulldoze key legislation, including the national budget, presumably in the interests of the people.

We agree with Kua that the Government has a duty to honour our parliamentary democracy by helping the Opposition to fulfil its roles and responsibilities, thereby providing the necessary checks and balances for good governance.

Kua seems to be the only Government MP who under­stands and appreciates the benefits of an effective Opposition to our parliamentary democracy. Interestingly, O’Neill said recently he wan­ted to change the Westminster system of government that PNG adopted at independence.

O’Neill said he was considering a proposal for a federal system whereby the prime minster is elected directly by the people. He has written to the Constitutional Reform Commission urging it to start nationwide consultation on the proposal. 

Currently, the political party or coalition that controls the most seats in parliament appoints the prime minister.

The proposal, which was initiated by a former Prime Minister in Sir Julius Chan, seems to have merit as it will empower the people to choose the country’s chief executive.

Indeed, that would be a milestone legislation and O’Neill can put his Government’s numerical strength to good use.