Transcript
Among the five MPs who held a press conference to announce their resignations from the People's National Congress were governors of three Highlands provinces.
The Southern Highlands Governor William Powi said he was forced to act because the national government is disempowering provinces by undermining de-centralisation.
"And so me as the governor of the province where the prime minister comes from, I am seeing that the danger for the country is the abuse and the misuse of institutions of government that we have."
The Hela Governor, Philip Undialu said he could not remain in the government while his people continue to struggle for basic services despite the rich resources in his province.
"We cannot continue to pretend everything is ok. I am very furious about prime minister flying to China today to obtain more loans. We have obtained so much loans, and most of these loans are concentrated in one, two or three centres in this country."
The resigning MPs raised particular concern about the O'Neill government's move to sign a major LNG gas project agreement this month with French company Total SA, warning that the interests of provinces and landowners were not being protected.
Philip Undialu lamented that promised equity and royalty benefits from PNG's first big LNG gas project, based in their provinces, had still not transpired, ten years after that project agreement.
"We had all the trust and confidence that the second LNG (project) will at least do it frmo the lessons that we learnt, so we can correct the past mistakes that the previous government has made. And believe it or not, the second LNG is worse than the first LNG Project. And I hold this government accountable for the reckless decisions we have made to sell our future."
The resignations appear to strengthen the Opposition's plan to table a motion of no-confidence against Mr O'Neill in parliament next month.
But the prime minister described such movements as natural in a big party like his.
"Despite a little bit of movement on the floor of parliament and in the party, I can assure you that our government is very stable in the sense that we've got quite a large number. And I'm also aware theat the opposition will make a big noise out of this."
Mr O'Neill said he respected the MPs' decision.
"And I understand their difficulties in some of the decisions that we have taken, and of course on the policies of government that they disagree with. But quite frankly, I am yet to see a policy proposal in writing or otherwise made to government in the past eight years."
Peter O'Neill and his People's National Congress have dominated PNG politics since 2011 when the country was going through a resources boom.
But by 2014 the country's ecocnomy entered a protracted slump, leaving many people struggling for basic health and education services.
Another MP leaving Mr O'Neill is Komo Margarima's Manasseh Makiba, who said he joined the ruling party in the interests of political stability.
"But now I have come to realise on the other hand that if we do not have good policies in government, political stability can be used as a sham to entrench and perpetuate corruption, undermining of institutional process and the rule of law. And that can thus lead to destabilising and destroying our country."
Mr O'Neill insists he has enough of a majority to defeat a motion of no-confidence
But unconfirmed reports of more resignations from government indicate the tide could be turning for the prime minister
