26 Feb 2018

PNG Forestry minister defends govt response to SABLs

From , 6:01 am on 26 February 2018

Papua New Guinea's Forestry Minister says the government is cancelling defective Special Agriculture Business Leases as relevant departments work their way through the legalities of the process.

Under the SABL system, about 12 percent of the country's land was leased in what critics say amounts to a massive land grab.

It was the subject of a Commission of Inquiry around five years ago.

This found that the majority of the leases had been fraudulently obtained, were mere fronts for logging, and that they should be revoked.  

However in many cases, logging operations have continued under SABLs.

The Minister, Douglas Tomuriesa, told Johnny Blades what the government is diong to cancel fraudulent leases.

Papua New Guinea Forestry Minister Douglas Tomuriesa

Papua New Guinea Forestry Minister Douglas Tomuriesa Photo: RNZI / Johnny Blades