Major reform in PNG: challenging but interesting

Our role might well be to help facilitate the education of elected members.

And strengthening the parliamentary committee system.

In the meantime, James Marape will no doubt consult widely on his proposal if he wishes to advance it.

It may well be that he is frustrated by having a record majority, but still with limits to his powers.

He could also consider how it might be possible to make the parliament work more effectively.

That should include the powers of ministers over departments and state owned corporations. At present there is some confusion over the power of ministers.

The Prime Minister has opened the way for wide-scale parliamentary reform....and reform to the whole system of government.

There can be no doubt PNG is "over governed". There are 121 National Parliament members, including around 40 ministers and assistant ministers. There are 21 governors who are MP's but can't be ministers.

There are 21 provincial governments, all with members and ministers.

I have not counted how many ministers there are at national and provincial levels. But it would exceed 200!

This is surely the time to be bold and review the effectiveness of the provincial system.

The level of duplication of service delivery is wasteful and ineffective.

If the PM looks at how he is elected he could usefully look at just how the whole system works. It could not be said it is working!

Interesting times ahead. Let the debate begin.