Media Releases

PM accused of 'empty promises' on forest preservation

Submitted by ACTNOW on Tue, 08/07/2025 - 23:15

The Prime Minister’s promise to stop issuing new forestry licences will do nothing to stop illegal logging destroying Papua New Guinea’s tropical forests, says community advocacy organisation ACT NOW.

Addressing the recent meeting of the Green Climate Fund in Port Moresby, the Prime Minister is reported to have said no new forestry licences will be issued after 16 September, the 50th anniversary of PNG’s Independence. 

However, ACT NOW Campaign Manager Eddie Tango, says stopping new logging licences is an empty gesture that will have no practical impact.

UN Committee urged to act on rights violations and illegal logging

Submitted by ACTNOW on Mon, 26/05/2025 - 09:12

ACT NOW! and Jubilee Australia Research Centre are urging a United Nations Committee to act on human rights violations in PNG arising from illegal logging. The organisations have filed a formal request to the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination to consider taking action at its next meeting in August. Bismarck Ramu Group has also endorsed the action.

“We have stressed to the UN that there is pervasive, ongoing and irreparable harm to customary resource owners whose forests are being stolen by logging companies,” says Eddie Tanago, ACT NOW! Campaign Manager.

New report demands urgent action on FCA logging scandal

Submitted by ACTNOW on Tue, 13/05/2025 - 15:58

A new report on logging in Papua New Guinea calls for urgent action by authorities in PNG and overseas to address long standing issue related to illegal logging, human rights abuses and environmental harm.

The report, published by community advocacy organisation ACT NOW and the Jubilee Australia Research Centre, focuses on Forest Clearing Authorities (FCAs), a type of logging licence. It raises serious concerns that FCAs are being abused to allow large-scale logging, while government authorities fail to act. 

Cybercrime charge dismissed

Submitted by ACTNOW on Tue, 08/04/2025 - 15:01

A criminal charge of identity theft against ACT NOW Campaign Manager Eddie Tanago has been struck out by Magistrate Mr. Paul Puri Nii, in the District Court at Waigani.

A prominent civil society advocate, Tanago was arrested and charged by police in December 2024 following a complaint made by the Managing Director of the PNG Forest Authority.

This was after ACT NOW had hosted a public seminar highlighting the abuse of Forest Clearing Authorities by foreign-owned logging companies who use the licences as a cover for large-scale illegal logging.

Ombudsman urged to act on missing District acquittals

Submitted by ACTNOW on Tue, 01/04/2025 - 10:45

ACT NOW! is urging the Ombudsman Commission to act decisively as the 31st March deadline passes for Districts to submit their Service and Infrastructure Improvement Program acquittals.

The community advocacy group says the Ombudsman Commission should immediately publish a list of Districts that have failed to comply with the deadline and to take action under the Leadership Code against those leaders who have defaulted.

ACT NOW! is warning that continued inaction will erode public trust and enable the misuse of billions of Kina in public funds.

Stagnant CPI score reflects failure to deal with forest crime

Submitted by ACTNOW on Mon, 17/02/2025 - 11:53

Papua New Guinea’s rating as highly corrupt in the latest global assessment published by Transparency International reflects the complete failure to tackle widespread forest crime says community advocacy group ACT NOW!

Transparency International recently released its 2024 Corruption Perception Index which reveals PNG is still languishing in 127th place out of 180 countries with a CPI score of just 31 out of 100, the worst in the Pacific region.

ACT NOW Campaign Manager charged with cybercrime

Submitted by ACTNOW on Fri, 13/12/2024 - 10:11

ACT NOW Campaign Manager Eddie Tanago has been charged by police under the Cybercrime Code Act for allegedly publishing defamatory remarks on social media about the Managing Director of the PNG Forest Authority.

Mr Tanago’s arrest came after a complaint from the PNGFA that ACT NOW had shared a social media post published by a radio company advertising a talkback show that was to feature the Forest Authority and which included an image of the MD, allegedly without his consent.

Transparency Gap: DDA contact details and future challenges

Submitted by Cathy Tukne on Tue, 12/11/2024 - 13:49

A concerning analysis by community advocacy group ACT NOW has revealed that almost all District Development Authorities (DDAs) in Papua New Guinea are failing to make crucial contact information available, hindering governance, accountability, and service delivery.

Despite each District receiving K20 million annually for service and infrastructure improvements, as of July 2024, the analysis reveals most DDA’s do not have a named Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and lack an email address, postal address and phone number or website.