Were land laws
p. 130 · Read in the full issue
a test case?
By Denis Fisk
So, the Papua New Guinea Govern ment has lost its urgent, late-starting campaign to revolutionise land tenure and give the territory a vehicle for grass roots economic development?
Was the government really expect ing to get debated and settled within a few months four bills, adding up to 230 complicated pages of legal draughtsmanship, to allow potentially the most far-reaching reforms ever set in train in the territory’s history?
Did the government actually not expect to get the reforms through this year at all?
Were the bills meant merely to be bounced off the heads of territory leaders and opinion-makers to gauge reaction?
After the next elections in Febru- March, native politicians will have more responsibility, and the territory will be well on the road to internal self-government.
And if the new government takes the responsibility for the far-reaching land changes, then Australia will not be blamed for having imposed them, and have to take the brunt of the up heaval to society that will follow.