PM welcomes calls made to challenge National Pandemic Act

PRIME Minister James Marape has welcomed calls to challenge the National Pandemic Act in court.
Marape said Papua New Guinea was a free country and any individual or group who wanted to challenge the new legislation must feel free to do so. “But they must also bear in mind that individual rights are also qualified rights and must come after the greater good of the country and its people.
“I welcome them to take it to court, or they can also come and sit with us and tell us what they think needs improvement and what can be done.”
The legislation was passed in Parliament on the same day the Covid-19 state of emergency was lifted on June 16.
It was to help the Government continue to manage the Covid-19 response.
Marape said the fact remained that Papua New Guinea did not have enough hospitals, doctors and medicines, and its best bet now was a defensive strategy.
“And that is why the National Pandemic Act was made to ensure that PNG and its people are protected,” he said.