Comments

Thanks Michael for this valuable historical information. I have never trusted these clown human judges and will never believe in any any of their judgements. This justice department should be demolished. The money wasted on this department should be used in other critical areas. I have witnessed a lot of cases where normal judgement is clouded with deceitful intentional assumptions and punishment.

Hi everyone I'm here not for the color of the news or agendas or being a mouth actor!! Could we for a minute pause and realise what's really happening to the political system of our country right now and wonder how we are laughed at by other countries seeing it as a joke how our country took Prime Minister's seat as a trolley for shopping for different customers? We've seen now that all our politicians are hungry, mendicant savages for Royal treatment powers and they are too ignorant to reveal their hidden demons even the current PM. Every soul living in this country Papua New Guinea by far are the victim of their illiterate doings. PNG citizens can't keep up to the standard of prices of goods and services that keep soaring. Not many educated graduates can easily find jobs now a days etc... And yet again every ministers are becoming MISTER KNOW IT ALL, making headlines on post and national newspapers everyday trying to be Jesus to deliver, heal and save. It's laws that killed jesus not three nails. All the MPs are guilty to some degrees. They can try to buy more time, but as we all know, history repeats. Laws can be broken, and can be made. What really frightening is laws can be made, who knows a time will come when death penalty can be imposed to ministers for misuse of public funds wouldn't that be a site?

Thanks Dac Mike for the history and explanation of the VONC process. Very educational read. Much appreciated.

Thanks for mind settle attribution...courts will never ever come up with sensible decisions. The court will always support corrupt politicians, but God will always reveal the truth at the end of everything. There is a light at end of the tunnel.

Agree with you on that, "some actions need common sense more than legal interpretation".

I agree. When a court rules 5-0 (which they did in the last two cases) it shows how silly the arguments were in the first place. The parliament is developing a habit of running to the courts, and when courts rule against one party that party cries about separation of powers. The parliament is effectively making the judiciary the supervisor. Some things need common sense more than legal interpretation. Now the government is contemplating applying for the slip rule. Which is an urgent application for the court to review its decision, but will not change the substantive decisions. They know that, but they may go ahead anyhow, purposely to delay a vote of no confidence. It’s a mess.

Thanks Michael for this blog. One trend currently taking shape is; the Parliamentary situation in which either the Opposition or Government team seeking court interpretation on basic Parliamentary processes and procedures like the application of Standing Orders during sitting times is a bad precedent. It is like asking the headmaster of a school to come into a classroom and reiterate the classroom rules to the pupils instead of the class teacher. Let's hope better for the future.

Thank for sharing this. Really appreciated, Michael. Kind regards

What an insightful piece, brilliantly written and extremely informative.

Luke, nice outline of Australia’s advantages and responsibilities in this difficult time period. Here in the United States we struggle with a president who has lied, given up governing while people die and is a fascist wannabe. It is disheartening to say the least. Jan 20th can’t come fast enough. Uncle Steve.

Thank you for this informative article. As a Research Affiliate at the Burk Museum, University of Washington, I am interested in installing small scale solar powered internet access capability in the PNG highlands as a way to involve landowners and stake holders in training and education related to research projects in Archaeology. It sounds like you are passionate about this subject and I will follow you the best I can to learn more.

Thanks Stephen, that brings back great memories. I had the great honor and pleasure of working with Fred on his paper in Kiribati back in the 1980s. I still have a hard copy (“limited edition”). And of course, Fred was right both then as he would be now. Sadly, the plethora of earlier efforts are missed or ignored by many a development agency that has no time to pause. Whatever became of literature searches? Also, sadly, the search for fresh projects washes over the need for perennial attention to building the less attractive core functions of government; policy formulation, public finance management, and public service delivery that project performance depends on.