Opposition plans to support Vagrancy Act, says Marat

THE Opposition is supporting the idea of reintroducing the Vagrancy Act with amendments to ensure it does not breach the people’s right of movement, shadow Attorney-General Dr Allan Marat says.
He told The National yesterday that the Vagrancy Act was abolished in a Supreme Court ruling in 1986 because it infringed on a basic human right.
But if reintroduced by the Government as had been mooted, the Opposition will support it.
Parliament had the Vagrancy Act of 1977 but it was declared unconstitutional in 1986 because it breached the Constitution as regards the rights to freedom of movement and liberty.
“The Opposition however believes that freedom of movement is a qualified right but it should be reconsidered so that the provisions that impinge on the right of movement can be defined properly so that it can be qualified,” Marat said.
“For example, if someone from Hela goes to Rabaul, he must have a good reason such as being offered a job there.
“Nowadays, there is no vagrancy act and people are moving causing problems and becoming liabilities which impinges on development,” he said. My town (Rabaul) is a victim.
“People getting on a vessel from Lae and ending up in Rabaul with bags of drugs, causing more damage to the population.”
He said there were some who wanted the Vagrancy Act abolished completely.
Prime Minister James Marape recently said the Vagrancy Act would be reviewed.
Constitutional Law Reform Commission acting Secretary Dorothy Mimiko-Kesenga told The National in a recent interview that the legislation also failed to clearly define a vagrant or of vagrancy.