Opposition queries economy reform

SHADOW Treasurer Joseph Lelang has accused the Government of failing to detail its economic reform and recovery agenda to the nation.
Lelang was responding to the Government’s application for International Monetary Fund (IMF) assistance under the Staff Monitored Programme.
He said the Government has announced no reform programme and no economic recovery agenda for IMF staff to monitor.
“Treasurer Ian Ling-Stuckey failed to outline an economic recovery or reform programme for Papua New Guinea,” he said.
“We have not seen that in the 2019 Supplementary Budget or announced as part of the 2020 National Budget.
“This was not outlined in the state of the economy statement delivered by Ling-Stuckey last Wednesday.
“We have been asking the Government to announce their promised reforms and programmes ever since the 2019 Supplementary Budget and we are still waiting for answers.
“What reform agenda are we talking about?
“Where is the Government economic recovery agenda?
“What are the IMF staff going to monitor?
“There must be transparency in the reform programme of the Government.
“What we want is some transparency around the reforms if there are any at all.
“We want to know.
“Business houses want to know to make informed business decisions.
“Papua New Guineans want to know.”