Polls laws up for review

By HELEN TARAWA
THE Government will ensure that the 2022 general election is conducted in an orderly manner “with outcomes which represent the wishes of our people”, says Prime Minister Peter O’Neill.
O’Neill, launching the review of the Organic Law on National and Local Level Government elections yesterday, said the people took elections very seriously.
This is a vital exercise. We can deliver the elections in an orderly manner and manage the outcomes so that it represents the wishes of our people,” he said.
“And outcomes (must be) delivered in a timely manner and the government is formed on schedule so that there is no vacuum in the administration of our country.
“This is an election process that’s not new to PNG.
“We have had elections since 1964 when we had our first house of assembly where our forefathers founded our nation.
“We have conducted elections since then and this is our 10th parliament and I think it is important that we see some of the outcomes of that election process that we had in those years.”
He said election reports had been submitted by experts such as the Commonwealth Secretariat who had been observing the PNG elections on many occasions.
“The problems that we have in delivering a more orderly election are similar in each election. So we now taking heed of that advice and making the changes that are necessary,” he said.
“That is why the government in the first year of this new parliament decided to have this review done as quickly as possible.
“We know that a lot of work goes into this public consultation that takes place and we have certainly appointed the most experienced commissioners led by our chairman Robert Atiyafa.”