Port Moresby, March 2026 – The Special Parliamentary Committee on Public Sector Reform and Service Delivery has issued a strong call for immediate government action on critical national reforms, including the long-delayed implementation of the log export ban and urgent interventions across key public sector systems.
Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Gary Juffa, MP, tabled the Committee’s Log Export Monitoring Report and broader reform update in Parliament on Wednesday 25th of March, highlighting systemic challenges affecting governance, service delivery, and resource management in Papua New Guinea.
The Committee emphasized that despite more than five years of notice, the proposed nationwide log export ban—originally scheduled for 31 December 2025—has yet to be implemented, with no visible legislative progress or industry preparation for downstream processing.
“The time for discussion has passed. We must move decisively toward 100% downstream processing to ensure our natural resources deliver real value to the people of Papua New Guinea,” Hon. Juffa said.
- As part of its recommendations, the Committee has called for:
- Immediate implementation of the log export ban
- Full transition to 100% downstream processing within PNG
- Reinstatement of an independent pre-shipment log monitoring system
- Strong enforcement and prosecution of financial and criminal breaches within the forestry sector
The Committee also raised concerns regarding governance arrangements within the forestry sector, cautioning against potential conflicts where regulatory bodies engage in commercial operations.
Beyond forestry, the Committee outlined major findings across several key areas, including:
- Public Service Payroll Integrity: Identification of fraud, ghost names, and financial leakages amounting to hundreds of millions of kinas annually
- Health Sector Procurement: Ongoing concerns regarding the integrity of medical supply systems
- Alluvial Gold Smuggling: Estimated losses between K1.3 billion and K3.8 billion annually due to illegal exports
- Public Sector Reform: Plans to strengthen oversight through a proposed Public Sector Commission
Hon. Juffa stressed that these issues collectively point to deeper systemic failures requiring urgent and coordinated national response.
“This report is not just an update—it is a call to action. We must stop tolerating inefficiency, corruption, and lost opportunities, and instead take bold steps to reset and rebuild our nation’s systems,” he said.
The Committee reaffirmed its commitment to holding institutions accountable and ensuring that reforms are implemented effectively, as part of the broader “Reset PNG @ 50” agenda.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Ramsay. Afo
Media Officer
7309 7519
ramsay.afo@spcpsr.gov.pg
