Source: The National

THE report of the special agriculture and business lease (SABL) will be tabled today, although it is not to the expectation of the cabinet, Prime Minister Peter O’Neill told Parliament yesterday.

O’Neill said that he only received two of the expected three reports from the commissioners.

He said despite that the cabinet had decided to table the final report as the country had been expecting it since last year.

“I received the report and the cabinet has agreed to table it tomorrow although we are not satisfied with the outcome or finality of it. It is below expectations and we are disappointed after the government had spent more than K15 million to get the report close to two years now.

“However, the matter needs to put to rest and paper work is ongoing for the report to be tabled tomorrow. The cabinet is taking a pro-active action on this matter,” he said.

O’Neill said the government had decided to refer the three commissioners to the PNG Law Society for disciplinary actions and to the police to investigate the conduct and the charges they had incurred to the State in the matter.

The under-performance of the inquiry had caused the government to take the pro-active action in establishing the ministerial committee for ministers that are affected by lands issue.

“The committee will go through the report in detail and come up with a solution on how to try and unlock land for our people or landowners to participate in businesses and avoid individuals taking large chunks of land and displacing our people,” he said.