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On Friday 28th May, the PNG Parliament passed amendments to the Environment Act that contradict PNG’s National Goals and undermine Constitutional Rights. The amendments remove the rights of PNG citizens and give extraordinary privileges to foreign corporations.

Specifically, the amendments:

• Give the Environment Secretary power to grant environmental approvals without any consultation
• Remove the need for the Secretary to comply with any rules or processes set out in the Act
• Remove any rights to challenge those decision in any court or tribunal
• Remove any common law or statutory rights to sue for any damage resulting from the approved activities

These amendments are oppressive and dangerous as they:

• Remove landowners legal and customary rights to be consulted and approve activities on their land
• Remove a citizens democratic rights to challenge executive decisions through the courts
• Give immunity to foreign companies from liability for environmental damage even where it was caused unlawfully or negligently
• Undermine PNGs National Goals and Constitutional Rights

The amendments were passed by Parliament with no prior disclosure; no consultaion with interested parties or the wider community; and were not subject to any scrutiny or debate by MPs.