K16 billion PNG Budget passed
Prime Minister Peter O’Neill who was disappointed by the morning rampage said it was “regrettable and something we do not encourage”.
“APEC just ended Sunday, I know allowance have been processed and in fact the list of the personnel who worked for APEC was given to Treasury this morning (Tuesday). It is n unfortunate incident but our people are talking to them to ensure their allowances are processed today.” O’Neill said
Members had to tred on shattered glasses to conduct the session which was one of the shortest budget session due to the tense situation outside allowing for five speaking including the Shadow Treasurer who made the budget reply on behalf of the opposition, National Planning Minister Richard Maru, Rigo MP Lekwa Gure, Opposition Leader Patrick Pruaitch and Prime Minister before the Budget was passed.
Opposition spokesman for Finance and Treasury Ian Ling-Stuckey described the 2019 money plan as a “flip flop two faced” budget.
“Let me put on the public record that the alternative government cannot support the 2019 Budget and we will vote against it,” he said.
“It is a budget that does not do enough to fund health and education. It is a budget that represents a massive grab for power by Waigani.
“It is a budget built on a fake GDP base using fake growth forecasts. It is a flip flop two-faced budget which has abandoned the fiscal anchor benchmark the Treasurer committed to only two months ago.
“It is a budget that trebles the size of the primary fiscal deficit in a reckless spending spree of its oil price lottery win.
“It is a flip flop two-faced budget with interest costs soaring yet again when the Treasurer said they were under control.”
Ling-Stuckey said it was a Budget filled with deception about keeping the debt to GDP ratio below 35 per cent and failed to do the hard yards to properly support getting jobs and incomes growing again.
“It is a budget filled with too much money for government cronies and not enough for supporting income generating district level activities. It is a budget that fails to embrace the opportunities of labour mobility.”
Meanwhile, Opposition leader Patrick Pruaitch has described the 2019 Budget handed down by the government as “spending big with negative results that is causing drop in the living standards.”
“Big expenditure from record budgets is yielding negative results and causing living standards to drop sharply,” Pruaitch said. He pointed out key features in the current government money plan which he claim was dangerous included:
. National Government debt to surpass K27 billion (US$8.2 billion), up to K20 billion (US$6.1 billion) since 2012;
. Employment levels are falling in most sectors and in all regions;
. Average incomes have fallen to a seven year low; and
. Government misinformation and money grab hides poor state of the economy.
“2019 is a year fraught with significant dangers for the PNG economy.
“There is significant uncertainty in the global economy. The US-China trade war is hurting global growth. Germany has experiences negative growth in the third quarter of this year and many countries including China, are slowing down. Crude oil prices have fallen somewhat unexpectedly.
“Meanwhile, PNG Government is flushed with more funds than at any time in the past and will be prone to even more abuse.”
Pruaitch said according to the 2019 Budget, net external borrowings will amount to K2.5 billion (US$767 million) with programmed loans from the Sovereign Bond, the World Bank, Asian Development Bank and others will already account for some K2.4 billion (US$736 million).
“With this flexibility in hand, the O’Neill Government has commenced negotiations with an unnamed commercial bank for a US$300 million (K1 billion). This will have a three-year grace period and a favourable interest rate of 6-7 per cent.”
“While these are positive outcomes that should augur better times ahead, the performance of the O’Neill Government these past six years points to the likelihood of many more lost opportunities and dangers in the coming year.”
“With poor accounting and lack of fiscal discipline, the 2019 Budget is likely to suffer a major blow out that could entail additional borrowing,” Pruaitch said.
SOURCE: POST COURIER/PACNEWS/PNG TODAY
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