PNG Parliamentary Opposition Leader James Nomane has demanded that the Government immediately return the Papua LNG Development Forum to the project’s host provinces and districts, saying consultations must comply with Section 48(1) of the Oil and Gas Act 1998 and be held with affected landowners and governments.
“Today, on behalf of all the landowners, the Opposition is putting a direct demand to the Government: stop compromising the Papua LNG Development Forum, comply with the law, and take the consultations back to the people, where the law requires them to be held,” Mr. Nomane said.
“Let me be clear. Papua New Guinea needs Papua LNG and the Opposition wants this project to succeed. A timely Final Investment Decision means jobs, revenue, and confidence for our struggling economy.”
“But the Opposition will not accept success built on shortcuts. This project must be done right, with the landowners, not around them.”
“The law is not complicated. Section 48(1) of the Oil and Gas Act 1998 requires the Minister to convene a Development Forum that fairly represents project-area landowners, affected Local-level Governments, and affected Provincial Governments.”
“Yet the Government has dragged the forum out of the project footprint and into the corridors of Waigani. A forum the landowners cannot reach is not consultation. It is exclusion dressed up as process.”