Manase wants to push corruption bill this year

The National National

By HELEN TARAWA
MINISTER of Justice and Attorney-General Alfred Manase says he will ensure that the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) Bill is passed in Parliament this year.
Manase told a press conference yesterday that a technical legal team would start work on the regulations that would prescribe the offence under the current relevant legal framework that ICAC would investigate and prosecute. “I will make it my business to ensure that the Organic Law establishing ICAC is passed by Parliament this year,” Manase said.
“I am urging members of parliament, both in Government and the Opposition, to support this piece of legislation once tabled in Parliament so that the work in preventing and combatting corruption is fully realised. Manase said the technical legal team had completed the final review of the Organic Law in the last two weeks.
“It will be submitting the draft of the Organic Law to the National Executive Council for its endorsement for full publication in the national gazettals per the Constitutional requirement under Section 14 and 17 and circulated in accordance with the standing orders 222B of Parliament to all members of Parliament at least one month before it is formally introduced into Parliament.
“The draft Organic Law to establish ICAC is designed to provide for the structure, administration and jurisdiction in order to implement Division VIII 3 of the Constitution.
“The Government acknowledges that corruption has and will continue to hinder PNG’s development prospects, especially the collective wellbeing of the people.” Manase said it was vital to continue to strengthen a robust and anti-corruption system that would address corruption.
He said the draft of the Organic Law on ICAC would include particulars on the functions and powers appointment of commissioners and staff, relationship with other anti-corruption or law-enforcement agencies and both internal and international accountability measures to ensure that ICAC was also accountable to the people.