A senior Papua New Guinea government minister has dismissed as mere rumours media reports of a pending motion of no-confidence against the Prime Minister Peter O'Neill.
The state broadcaster NBC has reported on speculation that a number of MPs are planning a motion and that dissatisfaction with Mr O'Neill's leadership could result in an attempt to block the budget next month.
Mr O'Neill has said if he ever loses his majority support, he will resign.
Parliament recently passed legislation extending the period that a government is protected from motions of no-confidence, which the Public Service Minister, Sir Puka Temu, says renders the reports hollow.
"As you know, the constitutional amendments have already been certified for the thirty month grace period and so there will be no motion allowable until January 2015. The Prime Minister has got the numbers, so those are just rumours."
Senior Papua New Guinea government minister, Sir Puka Temu.
