Papua New Guinea is at risk of international sanction for its failure to control money laundering risks with major negative impacts on business and the economy.

According to the Bank of Papua New Guinea, the country could be grey-listed if it fails to meet the recommendations in an assessment report from the Asia Pacific Group on Money Laundering.

Three senior officers from the PNG Forest Authority have failed to provide any answer to allegations of widespread illegal logging during a 40 minute appearance on live radio.

Civil society organisations and community representatives have demanded government action on the widespread abuse of Forest Clearing Authorities (FCA).

Raggian Bird-of-Paradise in Varirata Park, PNG

Shimali Chauhan | Down to Earth 

PHOTO: This area in Bewani, north-west PNG, was logged under a Special Agricultural Business Lease. (ABC: Eric Tlozek)

Reprinted from The National, 17 October 2024

WE, the landowners of Portion 199 of Bewani in Vanimo-Green, West Sepik, want the provincial and national authorities to investigate what we see as illegal land-grabbing by a palm oil developer.

While the government has been dramatically increasing the amount of funding pumped directly into each District, there is an appalling lack of transparency about how those public funds are being used.

PSB News Hour, 19 Sept 2024

PBS News Hour - 18 Sept 2024

Anti-money laundering laws don't just apply to the financial proceeds of crime; the laws apply equally to any property that is generated through criminal behaviour, including illegally felled timber.