$52m jet for sale as new PNG PM sets agenda

PAPUA New Guinea's new Prime Minister, Peter O'Neill, has vowed to introduce free education up to Year 10, create a centralised medical supplies base, rebuild the nation's core highways, extend the key airstrips in Port Moresby and Lae and rebuild the army and police.

This highly ambitious program will fully occupy his large ministerial team through to the election due mid-next year.

Mr O'Neill became Prime Minister after the parliament voted last week to declare that the position had been vacated by Michael Somare's four-month absence, and subsequent treatment in a Singapore hospital. He won the ensuing vote by a thumping 70 votes to 24.

The first legal challenge to his election indicated that the proceedings may have been unconstitutional, but the court found that Mr Somare's lengthy absence had already introduced an element of dubious constitutionality as well as considerable uncertainty.

The court also found that by participating in the vote those who were in government, led by Sam Abal - now in opposition - effectively endorsed the proceedings.

It is thus likely that the new government will succeed in defeating the expected further legal challenges.

The O'Neill government will sell the government's $52 million Falcon jet, which costs $9.5m a year to run. It will investigate allegations of corruption in the National Planning department and alleged graft over a $54m development deal at Kokopo in East New Britain.

Mr O'Neill, a former businessman and Treasurer, said he would "weed out corruption" and jail those who had stolen money from the state.

The new team comprises 33 ministers - almost a third of the parliament - providing a powerful, guaranteed support base as well as a substantial administrative burden.

The cabinet comprises "simple and humble leaders for the people of PNG", said Mr O'Neill, the son of an Australian district officer and his Highlander wife.

Cabinet includes the former foreign minister Don Polye, who now becomes Treasurer, and former opposition leader Belden Namah, who becomes Deputy Prime Minister and resumes his old portfolio as Forests Minister.

-The Australian

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