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Law & Order

Ten-year biosecurity policy launched

PNG’s National Agriculture Quarantine and Inspection Authority (NAQIA) recently launched its first ten-year biosecurity policy. The policy will run from 2022 to 2032 and aims to ease trade within Papua New Guinea, conserve biodiversity, and allow for commodity imports. The general director of NAQIA, Joel Alu, has said the biosecurity policy would act as a springboard for the authority and the agriculture industry. He hopes it will result in regulations

PNG customs get tough on local manufacturers and importers

David Towe, the PNG Customs chief commissioner, has warned stricter measures are being introduced. He said local manufacturers and importers had been warned that they could face fines of a million Kina if they failed to comply with the law and didn’t pay taxes. “Last year, we increased all the penalties that applies to the non-compliance; in the past, it was not tough. The penalties have increased almost 100 per

Superannuation benefits should be tax-exempt, says Tarutia

Ian Turutia, Association of Superannuation Funds of PNG president, has been arguing for the removal of taxation on workers’ superannuation funds. He said, “As an industry, we are against taxation on superannuation or retirement benefits.” A review of Papua New Guinea’s income tax laws by the Constitutional Law and Reform Commission (CLRC) suggested a reduction in personal income tax on wages and salaries. The review also recommended the complete removal

Mining companies must provide information to new MRA data centre

Mineral Resources Authority (MRA) managing director Jerry Garry has said all mining and exploration companies in Papua New Guinea will be legally required to provide information to the State through the MRA’s new data centre. Mr Garry said the MRA was developing a data centre at their head office. This would allow for more up-to-date information on the level of mineral resources, such as copper and gold, produced by the

PNG Spice Industry Board wants to review Act to avoid corruption

Dr Nelson Simbiken, the chief executive officer of the Papua New Guinea Spicy Industry Board (PNGSIB), says there is potential for corruption in the spice sector. Consequently, he wants to review the PNG Spice Industry Act of 1989 over the next couple of years and establish an authority. Dr Simbiken said, “The spice industry board currently has to become an authority, so it can generate money for the government. Instead

PNG government launches K350 million package to help households

The Treasurer, Ian Ling-Stuckley, has announced the launch of a K350 million package to help households deal with the rising cost of living. He said the package was part of a “program of responsible budget repair”. Prices have been rising due to a number of factors, such as the Russia and Ukraine war. According to Ling-Stuckley, the PNG government’s plan is to target Goods and Services Tax (GST) cutbacks on

Highland farmers disagree with proposed cut to GST

The Papua New Guinean government has proposed a cut in the goods and services tax (GST) for six months to help ease cost-of-living pressures, but the Highlands Farmers and Settlers Association disagrees with the move. The GST cut would be applied to certain household goods, services, and fuel products such as petrol, diesel, and kerosene. However, Wilson Thompson, the president of the Highlands Farmers and Settlers Association, has expressed his

Marape praises Minister Rosso for Strata Title Management Bill

PNG Prime Minister James Marape praised the Minister for Lands and Physical Planning John Rosso in Parliament recently. The commendation came after the Strata Title Management Bill 2022 and associated legislation and amendments were approved. The bill is designed to help with the problems of a rising population and a lack of land. It allows people to purchase units and apartments in high-rise buildings. The prime minister explained that the

Levy increase on green bean coffee is reasonable, says Kapka

Jerry Kapka, the board chairman of the Coffee Industry Corporation Ltd (CICL), has stated that the increased levy on green bean coffee exports is reasonable. The levy has risen from 10t to 20t per kilogramme of coffee. Mr Kapka said, “The increase is not same as 10t administrative levy. With the current scenario facing the coffee industry, the board has seen the need to have a reserved funding source assigned

ADB Welcomes Legislation to Enable Business Activity in PNG

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has welcomed the passing of legislative amendments to enable Papua New Guinea (PNG) to modernize its business registry and boost business activity. The Companies (Amendment) Act and Business Groups Incorporation (Amendment) Act will modernize PNG’s business laws, ensuring they meet global anti-money laundering standards and enabling PNG’s business registry to collect essential company information. The amendments will ensure the country’s upgraded online business registry collects