By Roderick Kanama

The Commission of Inquiry (COI) into the Special-purpose Agriculture and Business Leases (SABL) concluded its preliminary hearings today in Port Moresby [pictured Commissioner Jerawai and his Associate].

By Martyn Namorong*

What is the first question a Papua New Guinean would ask another when they first meet?

“Where are you from?"

This question as innocent as it may sound had major consequences during those days of tribal warfare. For it was forbidden that one should trespass in another’s land or extract resources from it. The penalty was DEATH! That was the Law of the Land.

There have been exciting developments on a number of issues on which ACT NOW! supporters have been making their voices heard; including the SABL land grab, violence against women and children, and the Environment Act amendments. You can find out more here:

SABL Land Grab

By Jo Chandler*

Prime Minister Peter O’Neill says the government supports the Commission of Inquiry into Special Agriculture and Business Leases, launched this year, and has extended the timeframe from the Commission to complete its work by 5 months.


The inquiry was established by the former acting Prime Minister Sam Abal in July, for a period of three months and which was due to expire on Oct 25.

CONGRATUATIONS - the government has listened!

The O'Neill / Namah government has agreed to reverse the controversial and undemocratic amendments to the Environment Act enacted last May!

By Roderick Kanama

The Commission of Inquiry (COI) into Special Purpose Agriculture and Business Leases (SPABL also referred to as SABL) will commence its provincial visits as part of its preliminary hearings on Monday 24/10/2011. The COI is yet to commence substantive hearings and the time it was allocated to complete and make known its findings is almost over. 

By Jo Chandler

Developers hover as 5 million hectares, and national pride, are signed away in 99-year leases that have raised fears of corruption, reports The Age.

A LAND grab of 5 million hectares of Papua New Guinea, 11 per cent of its territory, has taken place quietly and apparently bloodlessly since 2003, half of it being signed over in the past two years.

The time frame of three-months for the Commission of Inquiry into SABL ends on October 21, but so much has yet to be done, reports the Post Courier.


The enormous number of irregularies discovered in many of the SABLs during preliminary findings as part of Terms of Reference (TOR) has seen 75 cases now before the Commission of Inquiry.


Since files were opened for mention two weeks ago, submitted evidence from all interested parties in the 75 SABL’s files revealed activities of;