ABC Radio Australia

Non-government organisations in Papua New Guinea are concerned that nothing will come of Prime Minister Peter O'Neill's task force set up to examine findings of the Commission of Inquiry into the PNG's land scandal.

Over a decade more than 5 million hectares of land, belonging to tens of thousands of traditional landowners was leased out, in many cases without their consent.

The Commission of Inquiry was so concerned it recommended 66 of the 75 leases it investigated be revoked.

According to non-government organisations the task force has been slow to act and is not as independent as it should be.

Presenter: Jemima Garrett

Speakers: Effrey Dademo, Executive Officer of Act Now, lead agency among a group of NGOs working on the land scandal

Lawrence Stephens: Chairman, PNG Chapter, Transparency International

GARRETT: The Commission of Inquiry into Special Agricultural and Business leases gave its report to Prime Minister Peter O'Neill in June last year.

In September, the Prime Minister told parliament corruption and mismanagement by public servants charged with looking after landowner interests had allowed foreign logging companies to con landowners, to chop down forests and to take the proceeds offshore.

Because the leases are intended for small landowner-controlled businesses developers pay no rent at all, even on 99 year leases.

Mr O'Neill told parliament drastic action was necessary and he announced a task force.

Months have gone by.

Effrey Dademo, Executive Officer at the NGO, Act Now, says the government has done nothing and the task force is a delaying tactic.

DADEMO: There's absolutely nothing and that is outrageous. The O'Neill-Dion government has done nothing to implement the findings and that is a big let down to the people of PNG. Basically, the Prime Minister announced a task force that was supposed to come up with their own recommendations on the recommendations of the SABL Commission of Inquiry. Now, basically we think that task force is a diversion and a delay tactic because basically the recommendations are very clear. It says revoke the leases because they are illegal. It is as simple as that. And I don't know why there has been a task force put in there to look into and make their own recommendations.

GARRETT: Many of the leases are being clear-felled by logging companies.

For landowners, the vast majority of whom rely on the forest for all their basic needs, for food, shelter and income-generating activities, it is a serious blow.

The Chairman of the PNG Chapter of Transparency International Lawrence Stephens says logging companies are making huge profits and don't want the leases revoked.

STEPHENS: We haven't had a Prime Minister now for many years who hasn't been placed under great pressure by the forest industry and it would be amazing if the current Prime Minister is not under incredible pressure also from the forest industry to find ways to restrict the damage this report, this Commission of Inquiry may cause for the ambitions of the timber industry.

GARRETT: What action does Transparency International want from Prime Minister O'Neill on the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry?

STEPHENS: As with any other Commission of Inquiry we would expect a very fair, very open, very impartial examination of the facts and action to be taken against individuals or organistions as recommended by the Commission or as the facts lead our investigators and prosecuting officials into deciding on.

GARRETT: The Task Force set up by the Prime Minister includes all the government departments criticised by the Commission of Inquiry.

Effrey Dademo from Act Now is concerned.

DADEMO: Inside sources are confirming this task force has never convened since its appointment and there is word that this task force is going to be disbanded and a new one appointed. Now we don't know whether ...We will wait and see whether those things will actually happen but the bottom line is that some of those people who compose the task force are the very people who have been implicated in the SABL saga. So the whole thing is flawed and, like I said, our positon is for those recommendations to be implemented as they are and not a bunch of politicians looking into it and coming up with their own recommendations for the whole thing.