OPPOSITION leader Sir Mekere Morauta said a new government, which the opposition will help to form, will review recent decisions by the National Alliance-led government.
“The issues we want to see a new government correct is the recent amendments to the Environment Act that was shoved through Parliament, an amendment that took away landowners’ common law and constitutional rights to seek legal redress for environmental damages even if the damages were due to negligence of companies,” he said.
Sir Mekere said the amendments had put the commercial interests of companies, particularly foreign companies, ahead of the interests of the people and the nation.
“Protection of the environment is essential for the people’s livelihood, food supply and welfare.
“Therefore, it is irresponsible for the government to destroy the people’s lives for short-term financial interests.
“For Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare to say that the amendments were essential for him to keep his promises to his Chinese friends, regarding the Ramu nickel project, is simply outrageous.
“This issue alone should hang the man politically,” he said.
Papua New Guinea Mine Watch 
Watch out for wolves in sheep skin. Morauta is very quiet on MRA law that was created by World Bank. EU had a hand in operation of MRA. Morauta had a hand in World Bank and EU funding. Environment Amendment Act 2010 was made for MRA. So who can really help PNG? Any views Dexter Bland?
Very confussing, who should we listen to and follow as a Leader?
You can add 1 + 1 and get 2, or 0 + 2 = 2, and many more…
So Morauta may be part of it, but maybe she might have a better way of putting out that law… such as a win-win situation… yes?
Naing
Believe no one except your own self and judgement.
You DONT need a leader.
Thats not how a Westminster government works.
You are not a sheep and they should not be allowed to treat you like a sheep.
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BEFORE GOING FURTHER WE NEED TO GET OUR FACTS RIGHT…………………
MRA objected to the amendments.
The Department of Mining Policy (etcetera etcereta etcetera) supported the amendments.
The amendments were pushed through by Somare without consultation with anyone within MRA.
This was done one Friday afternoon down in Wiagani at a meeting with a number of big wigs after MCC ‘s solicitors suggetsed to Somare personally that the goal posts be changed and te amendments be introduced.
MRA staff were disgusted with this approach, being the regulaory of mining they thought this was a very shoddy approach to the issue and very much contrary to the national interest.
WHICH IT WAS AND IS.
Somar then directed Pundari to stranngle any objection within MRA to the amendments.
Remember, it was in fact MCC (and not MRA) who proposed the amendments.
This put staff within MRA on a collision course with their owen minister (Pundari) Somare, and MCC.
We should all be confronting the reality that PNG is on the UN’s “failed state” list.
The big picture issues here are the lack transparency, accountability and competance in government and the brain dead idiot dead beats who play games with peoples lives while ripping off the system for what ever they can get..
Madang Watcher
You are wrong.
Amendments were made for MCC so get your facts right Madang Watcher.