Bounderies report should bypass Parliament: O'Neill

By MATTHEW VARI

Sunday, March 27, 2016 (PNG)

PRIME Minister Peter O’Neill has expressed his view on the work of the Electoral Boundaries Commission in the long-term to bypass the parliamentary process in order to address real service delivery in the country’s overpopulated districts.

His comments came amid a series of questions without notice from Laiagam-Pogera MP Nixon Mangape in relation to district populations and the need for a review of electoral boundaries.

Mangape referred to the lack of funding to the commission and the lack of action taken on its recommendations to redraw boundaries in some of the most populated districts in the country, including Laiagam.

“In May 2013 PM O’Neill at the launching in Electoral Commission corporate plan at the State Function Room said a final exercise was to make sure the boundaries commission reports are done earlier and can be tabled in parliament before the next election.”

“The O’Neill government has never funded the Electoral BOunderies Commission despite his strong statement.”

“The Government established DDAs (District Development Authorities) under the chairmanship of Open Members. Will the legislation will affect changes in open electorates will mean a change in administrative districts, any changes will be very large and huge changes?”

The PM informed MPs that the government has formed the Boundaries Commission and its membership has been established it comes under the supervision of the electoral commissioner.

“Their work is independent and that the report- one of the requirement is that they visit every electorate in the country. It is a lengthy process not as simple as trying to redraw the boundaries,” the PM said.

“The last boundaries commission report was tabled here in the last term of parliament. Which parliament in its wisdom rejected the report and we proceeded to the elections.”

“The minimum requirement is that every 10 years we have to reconstitute the electoral boundaries commission.”

“The boundaries were established so many years ago and population has increased to the level that we now know between 8 and 10 million in the country.”

He said it is obvious that the government increase the number of seats of members in parliament.

“We need to create new electorates where there are large populations in Laiagam-Pogera, Kairuku-Hiri and Kandrian Gloucester to name some- I think 11 or 12 in all.”

“We want to see these established before we go to elections. The constitution allows us to increase the numbers of members to 120 or 130 so we want to see that established. We will wait until we get the reports back form the commission.”

“In the long term I think this parliament should seriously look at making the recommendation of the boundaries commission as final and not coming subject to parliament.”

“Because every time that report comes here we are all worries about our own seats, which is natural, and how it affects each and every one of us – but we must also be aware that the demand of our country and our population is there.”