Community advocacy group ACT NOW! says the Prime Minister's response to the huge illegal SABL grab is weak and inadequate.

The government has announced a ministerial committee to review the recommendations and findings of a Commission of Inquiry into Special Agriculture and Business Leases but has done nothing to cancel the fraudulent leases or stop the illegal logging in leases areas.

The government says the review will be executed by the Department of Lands, National Forest Authority and Department of Agriculture.

Radio New Zealand

Papua New Guinea’s government has appointed a ministerial committee to review the recommendations and findings by the Commission of Inquiry into the Special Agriculture and Business Leases.

The Prime Minister Peter O’Neill, speaking on Radio FM100, said the committee has been given two months to complete a review.

He said Government agencies such as the Department of Lands and Physical Planning, Forestry, and the Department of Agriculture and Livestock will execute the review.

ACT NOW!, Bismarck Ramu Group, Pacific Network on Globilization

A new animated cartoon released on YouTube highlights the high risks of experimental seabed mining for the Pacific region.

View the video at www.actnowpng.org or on YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHPaFKw_oLQ

By Benny Wenda of the Free West Papua movement

Date:               Wednesday November 6th, 2013
Time:               11am to 12.30pm
Venue:             Partners with Melanesian Inc., opposite Pacific Engineering

An obsession with growth has eclipsed our concern for sustainability, justice and human dignity. But people are not disposable – the value of life lies outside economic development

Source: Vandana Shiva in The Guardian UK

Gande James* | NRI Commentary

The Office of the Registrar of Political Parties and Candidates has finally decided to take a tough stand by referring 23 elected Members of Parliament (MPs) to the PNG Ombudsman Commission. The MPs failed after several notices were issued to submit their financial returns within three months after the date they were declared successful and the return of writs.

By GOVERNOR GARY JUFFA MP via PNG Blogs

The two dailies are owned by foreign interest, foreign corporate interest to be specific. Papua New Guinea does not own a daily, one that is at least controlled by a Papua New Guinean, one that reports issues of interest to Papua New Guinea and Papua New Guineans. What is reported instead is merely what sells, what suits the interests of those who control these entities and that which does not in anyway conflict with the interests of the stakeholders that influence the output of these entities.

By ISAAC NICHOLAS in the Post Courier

The Independent Commission Against Corruption Bill will be introduced during the November session of Parliament and the anti-graft body should be set up as early as March next year, Prime Minister Peter O’Neill said yesterday.

Speaking on FM100 Talkback, the Prime Minister said the first reading will come in on the November 13 sitting and the second and final reading in February next year.