Lupari slams Prime Minister O'Neills referral by watchdog

PRIME Minister Peter O’Neill’s chief of staff Isaac Lupari has slammed the Ombudsman Commission over the PM’s referral to the public prosecutor.

The high ranking government official released a statement yesterday, saying the referral raised questions about the commission’s understanding of the Westminster system, the constitution and the rights and role of the government of the day to set public policy.

"The Ombudsman Commission has referred the PM for sacking a minister. Do they not understand that this is the prerogative of any Prime Minister in any country with the Westminster system of government?

"There are serious constitutional implications in the way the Ombudsman Commission is seeking to challenge this process," he stated.

"The people of our nation need to know that the Prime Minister and the Government, through the National Executive Council, made the decision to invest in Oil Search through an open, transparent and accountable process.

The Government has a mandate to make decisions. If Government decisions are going to be questioned every time in this manner it will undermine

the delivery of Government services to the people."