PNGBLOGS

NATIONAL EDITORIAL THE legal advice provided to the prime minister on the appointment of the governor-general is seriously flawed. The actions of Parliament in the recent controversial re-appointment of the governor-general were contrary to the explicit directions provided by the Constitution. The appointment of Grand Chief Sir Paulias Matane for a second term as governor-general, therefore, cannot be held to be legal. The legal advice or, as it turned out, the legal position adopted by the government and Parliament, is a clear misreading of section 87 of the Constitution and should not stand any serious contest of it in a court of law. The part of the Constitution cited as the basis for the advice is section 87(5). Clearly, and in plain English, that entire section deals only with “qualifications for appointment” to the post of governor-general. It makes no mention of the process for the “appointment of the GG” which is, again, very clearly spelled out in the following section. Sectio

NATIONAL EDITORIAL THE legal advice provided to the prime minister on the appointment of the governor-general is seriously flawed. The actions of Parliament in the recent controversial re-appointment of the governor-general were contrary to the explicit directions provided by the Constitution. The appointment of Grand Chief Sir Paulias Matane for a second term as governor-general, therefore, cannot be held to be legal. The legal advice or, as it turned out, the legal position adopted by the government and Parliament, is a clear misreading of section 87 of the Constitution and should not stand any serious contest of it in a court of law. The part of the Constitution cited as the basis for the advice is section 87(5). Clearly, and in plain English, that entire section deals only with “qualifications for appointment” to the post of governor-general. It makes no mention of the process for the “appointment of the GG” which is, again, very clearly spelled out in the following section. Sect