By Hon. Sam Basil, MP

The Department of Conservation (DEC) is failing  to properly regulate the mining industry in Papua New Guinea and ensure mine operations are environmentally safe.

DEC has a responsibility on behalf of the Nation to ensure that mining operations are safe and will not damage the environment. Yet time and again the mines end up causing massive pollution problems while DEC sits by and watches.

On December 11 the ACT NOW! blog featured a story about a policeman's wife who has suffered repeated violence at the hands of her husband. On December 21 the Post Courier newspaper followed up with the story below, by Nellie Setepano, about another policeman's wife.

As a result of these two stories ACT NOW! has contacted the Police Commissioner to demand action.

Joy's story

By Scott MacWilliam, Pacific Media Centre

By Scott MacWilliam*

By Prof Jason Nakandaul Herra

PNG is ill-prepared for the impact of liquefied natural gas (LNG).

So far, we have watched the progress from gas agreement in May 2008 to financial closure on March 11 with little more than fascination.

Susuve Laumaea,  Pacific Freedom Forum

Government officials responsible for the sudden suspension of senior news editor Dorah Masseung from her management position in the PNG National Broadcasting Corporation must let the national media do its work without fear or political pressure.

By Rosa Koain

By APP

Papua New Guinea's Supreme Court has ruled the reappointment of the governor-general was unconstitutional and invalid.

Controversy surrounded the June installation of Sir Paulias Matane, who critics said was appointed by the government despite numerous breaches of parliamentary process.

On Friday, the full bench of the Supreme Court unanimously ruled that the appointment was unconstitutional because Sir Paulias was not selected after a secret ballot in parliament.

Back in April two articles were written on the ACT NOW! blog about a Pastoral Letter from the Catholic Bishops' Conference which asked the question: Will Papua New Guinea's liquified natural gas projects be a blessing or a curse?

Below (thanks to our friends at LNG Watch) is the full text of that letter. It should be essential reading for anyone concerned about the future of PNG and should, perhaps, have been tabled for discussion during this weeks PNG mining talk fest in Sydney...

ABC Radio reports the Papua New Guinea Chamber of Mines and Petroleum has called on the PNG government to sign up to an international anti-corruption initiative.

The Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative began in 2003.

It is designed to help countries clean up their mining and resources industry by publishing the details of all revenue received, in a format easily understood by all citizens.

Thirty-two nations, most from the developing world, have already joined.