Transcript
DAVIS STEVEN: Systems have weakened over time. Systems are allowed to fall into this disrepair. That's that's the environment that I'm talking about. You have people or officials or leaders sitting on systems that are already weak, and the outcomes are not good for for the country. That's exactly what the rule of law seeks to prevent.
JOHNNY BLADES: You're saying that these systems are easily undermined and compromised by those in control, those in leadership. Are we to assume this means Peter O'Neill, Prime Minister of Papa New Guinea?
DS: It's a general statement. That predicament that we find ourselves in in this country is one that is already in the public domain. You know the Corruption Perception index produced by Transparency International may be criticised in certain quarters in government, but at least it's an indication somewhere, an indicator somewhere which challenges as to work. I think that this government has made a commitment to work on this issue. My point is more about the need to refocus and take this commitment seriously - the re-thinking that needs to occur in terms of the fundamentals, the systems of government, the issue of resource sharing in the different levels of development. And then, of course, the lingering issues of how we manage our resource owners' interest in the development process itself. So the question you asked me about whether or not this concern is directed to anyone, I am directing this to everybody that's interested and concerned about leadership in this country and the wellbeing of this country, whether its publicly elected official or a non-elected official who is subject to the leadership code. We've all got duty of care to the country, but this duty of care, in my honest opinion, has already become an urgent call for serious review and rethinking and action.
JB: You noted the need for reform of all sectors of government, saying that it also required political will and a central government system that prioritises the rule of law. Is that not the priority of this government?
DS: It is the priority of government, and some actions were taken in parliament since we were elected, legislative attempts that we've made, and some legislation that we have passed. But I'm saying that greater attention needs to be given. If you look at the Medium Term Development priorities number three, you'll see that this is reflected. But I'd like to see that translate into budget support. Right now we are really under resourced for example in the Law and Justice sector. I'm not just talking as Minister of Justice here, I speak as chairman of the Law and Justice Sector Ministerial Committee, that covers a very broad field of social and economic sector ministries.
JB: Is it a government coalition where everyone has a say? Because there are plenty of claims around the traps that this is a government where some of the ministers are undermined consistently by those at the top and around the prime minister?
DS: I mean, that's normal everywhere else. I think, for me the issue is consensus at the top level now, for us to look beyond the usual business where we're opening roads and bridges, but to really sit down and think about the issues that we have before us and how we can address them. You know, this should be a time to be looking at solutions, going into the future. And so what I'm saying is: we may be busy, but busy doing what?
JB: You and James Marape were both very high level ministers who resigned. Obviously things are not all that good in the cabinet. Can you me a signal of whether more resignations from the cabinet might follow?
DS: I can't say yeah, I'm not really sure about the rest of the other members of the cabinet. I'm not sure.
JB: You're both within the People's National Congress party that's dominated PNG politics in these last few years. Is it time, do you think, for maybe a changing of the face of the party?
DS: I mean, like every other organisation and every other entity, the need for change is always there. It's for the party machination and the leadership to address. The party has a constitution, and I'm sure that the constitution can can work if the need arises.
