PNG parliament adjourned amid big no-show

9:47 am on 29 March 2017
American evangelist Doug Batchelor (centre) is welcomed to Papua New Guinea's Mt Hagen by MP Don Polye (light suit, white tie), surrounded by saluting Seventh Day Adventist youths

American evangelist Doug Batchelor (centre) is welcomed to Papua New Guinea's Mt Hagen by MP Don Polye (light suit, white tie), surrounded by saluting Seventh Day Adventist youths. Photo: Supplied

Papua New Guinea's parliament will resume this morning after being suspended yesterday for lack of a qourum.

Only two members were registered as having attended yesterday's scheduled session, prompting Speaker Theo Zurenuoc to adjourn until today.

It's the final Sitting of the 9th Parliament before the country goes to the polls around late June.

The government had planned to use this sitting to approve its controversial policy to raise the election candidate fee from around US$300 to US$3,000.

Among the many MPs who didn't attend parliament yesterday was the opposition leader Don Polye.

Mr Polye's office issued a release saying he "boycotted" parliament to welcome the visiting American evangelist Doug Batchelor in the Western Highlands.

Mr Batchelor arrived at Mt Hagen's Kagamuga Airport and was then welcomed by a huge crowd at Hatti community.

The Western highlands Seventh Day Adventist mission reportedly invited mr Polye to officiate at this week's crusade event, also attended by the renown American evangelist.

A huge crowd greets visiting American evangelist Doug Batchelor in the Western Highlands community of Hatti.

A huge crowd greets visiting American evangelist Doug Batchelor in the Western Highlands community of Hatti. Photo: Supplied