PNGBLOGS

By Stephen Lee It’s one of our closest neighbours, but there’s a huge gulf between Papua New Guinea and Australia when it comes to gay rights. Less than a thousand kilometres separate the two nations but homosexuality in PNG is still illegal. And despite a new government, there seems little hope for change. Being openly gay in Papua New Guinea could put you in jail for up to 14 years. Homosexuality is illegal, an archaic hangover from colonial British times. Though the laws aren’t strictly enforced, gay men say they face daily discrimination, and often struggle to find work. Moses Tau knew he was gay from a young age but struggled with his identity. “It was very painful my growing up,” he told SBS World News Australia reporter Kathy Novak. “Sometimes I’d ask the Creator – Why am I like this? What’s the reason? Is there any exit or any way out for me?” Moses put his energy into singing and became a recording artist. But when he was picked to represent PNG at Sydney Mardi Gras in 2000, t

By Stephen Lee It’s one of our closest neighbours, but there’s a huge gulf between Papua New Guinea and Australia when it comes to gay rights. Less than a thousand kilometres separate the two nations but homosexuality in PNG is still illegal. And despite a new government, there seems little hope for change. Being openly gay in Papua New Guinea could put you in jail for up to 14 years. Homosexuality is illegal, an archaic hangover from colonial British times. Though the laws aren’t strictly enforced, gay men say they face daily discrimination, and often struggle to find work. Moses Tau knew he was gay from a young age but struggled with his identity. “It was very painful my growing up,” he told SBS World News Australia reporter Kathy Novak. “Sometimes I’d ask the Creator – Why am I like this? What’s the reason? Is there any exit or any way out for me?” Moses put his energy into singing and became a recording artist. But when he was picked to represent PNG at Sydney Mardi Gras in 2000,

The PM has made an open stand on corruption, The task force sweep team has hit some walls..... It's time for people power to stand with this call and Protest for Good Governance.... Lawyers representing MP's and Department Heads current and former should now be asked to table the asset records and cash flow records and their payments received for services to Public Figures as their commitment to serve Good Governance. The penalty for non compliance should be the banning of their rights to practice law in PNG. Accountants should also face the same process and penalties. All found guilty should be penalized to the maximum for white collar crimes equal to those penalized who are not considered Elite. Technology will help through Google Searches on all names, a petition can be done from the people listing all names appearing in relation to investigations for bribery and corruption found through Google Search, word of mouth can drive this commitment further that as many Papua New Gu

The PM has made an open stand on corruption, The task force sweep team has hit some walls..... It's time for people power to stand with this call and Protest for Good Governance.... Lawyers representing MP's and Department Heads current and former should now be asked to table the asset records and cash flow records and their payments received for services to Public Figures as their commitment to serve Good Governance. The penalty for non compliance should be the banning of their rights to practice law in PNG. Accountants should also face the same process and penalties. All found guilty should be penalized to the maximum for white collar crimes equal to those penalized who are not considered Elite. Technology will help through Google Searches on all names, a petition can be done from the people listing all names appearing in relation to investigations for bribery and corruption found through Google Search, word of mouth can drive this commitment further that as many Papua New Gu

The planned borrowing of K6.0 billion by the O’ Neill- Dion Government will bring total foreign debt of the country to K8.6 billion and K14.6 billion overall which is equivalent to 45% of GDP- a level that is considered unsustainable by international standards. This will hasten the country to its economic ruin. All the gains PNG has made in the last ten years will come to nothing. The Opposition is extremely concerned about the impact of this loan to the PNG economy and on future budgets in terms of interest payments and fees. It represents a major risk to the stability of the budget and the country as a whole. At present, the country is paying K460 million per annum in loan interests alone. The K6.0 billion loan will mean this will rise much higher. How are we going to finance this loan when already the country is paying K460 million on loan interests each year? Taxes from the PNG LNG Gas are going to be received by the State by 2022. How is the loan going to be repaid? The Opposition

The planned borrowing of K6.0 billion by the O’ Neill- Dion Government will bring total foreign debt of the country to K8.6 billion and K14.6 billion overall which is equivalent to 45% of GDP- a level that is considered unsustainable by international standards. This will hasten the country to its economic ruin. All the gains PNG has made in the last ten years will come to nothing. The Opposition is extremely concerned about the impact of this loan to the PNG economy and on future budgets in terms of interest payments and fees. It represents a major risk to the stability of the budget and the country as a whole. At present, the country is paying K460 million per annum in loan interests alone. The K6.0 billion loan will mean this will rise much higher. How are we going to finance this loan when already the country is paying K460 million on loan interests each year? Taxes from the PNG LNG Gas are going to be received by the State by 2022. How is the loan going to be repaid? The Opposit

The Member for Bulolo Honourable Sam Basil has slammed Prime Minister Peter O’Neill and his Coalition Government for taking expensive overseas trips which can only add to the K513.2 million deficit already recorded in July. Fueled by the non-payment of MPs wages, Mr Basil who is deputy leader of opposition said: “This is very irresponsible of the O’Neill-Dion Government. How can a large entourage go on what can be described as an expensive globe-trotting trip to China and Russia when the nation is still stunned by a half year report of over a half million kina deficit? “Depressed commodity prices resulted in loss of revenue but Prime Minister O’Neill cannot explain away the fact that there has been an over expenditure of K120 million that added to the K513.2 million. “And on top of this, what is this report of borrowings of K5 billion for infrastructure? Does the Government know the implications of this on the high liquidity within the commercial banks in addition to the PNG LNG Projec