4 Feb 2013

PNG opposition turns up heat on O'Neill government on multiple fronts

2:05 pm on 4 February 2013

Papua New Guinea's opposition is taking more legal action against the government of the Prime Minister Peter O'Neill.

The opposition leader Belden Namah has filed a Supreme Court Reference challenging the constitutionality of legislation being considered by parliament to extend the grace period for motions of no-confidence.

Mr Namah recently withdrew the opposition's earlier commitment of support for the proposed Vote of No Confidence Bill which would stretch the grace period from 18 to 30 months after a government is elected.

This follows another Supreme Court Reference filed last month by Mr Namah challenging the legality of Australia's asylum seeker processing centre on Manus Island.

The opposition is also seeking the reopening of an official Inquiry into dealings within the National Provident Fund based on new evidence it claims to have.

Mr O'Neill was investigated as part of the inquiry more than ten years ago.