19 Mar 2009

Parliamentary allowances in PNG set for huge increase

4:23 pm on 19 March 2009

Papua New Guinea's members of Parliament are set to give themselves a 42% rise in accommodation allowances and a further 50% increase in vehicle allowances.

The newspaper, The National, reports that the Salaries and Remuneration Commission has recommended the increase to Parliament.

The Public Service Minister, Peter O'Neill, says that accommodation allowances which MPs have been receiving are far below what is needed to meet the amounts charged by real estate companies.

He says the increase in vehicle allowance is because the type of vehicle upon which this allowance was originally determined, a Mazda 929, is no longer sold in PNG.

The Prime Minister, Speaker, Opposition leader and ministers enjoy an annual vehicle allowance of 18-thousand US dollars - this will now be increased to about 27,000.

For accommodation, this group currently receive 500 US dollars a week, which is likely to increase to around 750 dollars.

Ordinary MPs receive an annual vehicle allowance of 9 thousand US dollars each and that will increase to $14,500.

They also receive around 250 US dollars a week which will increase to 355 dollars.