Budget is instant law

PAPUA New Guinea has been without a 1986 budget since the Michael Somare government was ousted from power last November. His budget was thrown out after him.

And it was touch-and-go four months later whether or not the country was still going to get one.

The Opposition, led by Mr Somare, and disgruntled MPs in the coalition government, tried twice to block Finance Minister Sir Julius Chan from reading his budget. They wanted it thrown out and a motion of no confidence in Sir Julius tabled.

In the event, not only did the revolt fail, but the move backfired. Because of rowdy interruptions and constant heckling, and amidst numerous points of order, the Government moved that the budget be passed without debate and it was by 52 votes to 40. The government members who had threatened to vote with the opposition did not do so.

Sir Julius had only read two-thirds of his speech when the budget became instant law. There was no three weeks of debate and reply by the opposition, as is the normal course of events.

Said Mr Wingti: “The opposition decided to dig a hole for us, but instead managed to jump into it themselves,”