17 Apr 2012

Former PNG electoral lawyer assures rolls in good shape

6:36 am on 17 April 2012

A former lawyer for Papua New Guinea's Electoral Commission says the 2012 electoral roll is far better than past ones.

Professor John Nonggorr's comment comes after public outcry following the controversial parliamentary motion to defer elections by six months.

Parliamentarians appear to have accepted that elections will go ahead as originally scheduled in late June, however some MPs warn that incomplete rolls could mean a failed election.

Professor Nongorr says he has been involved with conducting three previous elections and that the roll this time is more complete than ever before.

"What's happened is that the allowances have been paid (to the Electoral Commission field workers), the work that has been done by the field workers has been released. Now it's just a matter of processing it through. The Australians have provided a lot manpower assistance, experts in elections to come and clean this all up so it's not looking as bad as people are saying."