6 Dec 2011

PNG budget to be delivered today

2:34 pm on 6 December 2011

Observers are keenly watching Papua New Guinea's parliament today as the budget is handed down a few days before a court decision on the government's constitutional legitimacy

The budget has twice been deferred and NBC News reports for the first time in the country's 36-year history, the country will be funding 22 provinces, with the creation of Hela and Jiwaka.

Oher priorities are next year's national elections, free education, infrastructure development, tax changes, and business support.

NBC reports there will not be a formal opposition response to the budget as no group has assumed the role in view of the pending court case.