Parliament clerk, staff preparing for session

PARLIAMENT sits in three weeks and clerk Vela Konivaro and his staff have started preparations for the session scheduled for May 7.
“At this point we are just waiting for government’s programmes. Parliament proceeds on the basis of the main government programmes which are advised a few days before the sitting,” he said.
“Those things that are usually topical and everything that happens in the public arena, these are brought up before parliament.”
Konivaro said the signing of the Papua LNG agreement this week was a matter of national interest by way of legislation.
“I believe some of these things concerning the necessary legation to give effect to LNG agreements will have to be advised by the government,” he said.
Meanwhile, in reference to a vote of no confidence (VONC) against Prime Minister Peter O’Neill, Konivaro said if there was anything to be brought by the Opposition, it would advise.
He said the grace period had expired on Feb 5 so this would be the first sitting of the period after the expiry of the grace period.
“It’s open for a motion of vote of no confidence to be introduced by anybody,” he said.
“It’s a prerogative of anybody to move the motion. Unless and until we receive such a notice, as far as we are concerned, there is nothing on the notice paper for agenda of the parliamentary business at this point in time.
“It may happen at the date appointed for next sitting May 7 or 8 but movement of members will determine that decision.
“They could move a motion for the sake of moving it and expect government MPs to move, provided that they comply with standing orders.”