Opposition launches no confidence move

PAPUA NEW GUINEA – Papua New Guinea’s Opposition has launched a new attempt to unseat the country’s Government.

Deputy Opposition Leader Sam Basil lodged a new request with the acting speaker of the PNG parliament to hold a vote of no confidence in Prime Minister Peter O’Neill.

It is the third time the opposition has sought to hold a vote of no confidence in the government since October last year.

A previous request was refused on a technicality, then the government adjourned parliament before a second request could go through late last year.

Basil said the latest attempt should be successful.

“We have tried two attempts before and I believe that all the flaws have been minimised and the deliverance of the motion of no confidence today is flawless,” he said.

“We look forward to the Prime Minister Peter O’Neill and the O’Neill-Dion government to test the numbers on the floor very soon.”

PNG parliamentarians sit for five-year terms, but governments are almost always coalitions of many parties, and successful votes of no confidence have previously resulted in complete changes of government.

The PNG government has labelled the motion a “waste of time”.

Fisheries Minister Mao Zeming said the opposition should wait until the 2017 elections to try to change the government.

“Every single time the parliament sits, the opposition say they will try a vote of no confidence, and every time they do this the opposition are embarrassed,” he said.

“This is a waste of time that could be used for the parliament to discuss legislation that is needed for the nation.”

Some groups planning protest marches on parliament have been warned not to assemble by police, who said any protest would be a threat to public safety.

- ABC