By DALCY LULUA
The Opposition has announced it will take legal action against Speaker of Parliament Hon. Job Pomat and the Private Business Committee (PBC) following the rejection of a Motion of No Confidence in Prime Minister James Marape yesterday.
The motion, moved by Member for Abau Sir Puka Temu and seconded by Member for Chuave James Nomane, sought to nominate People’s National Congress (PNC) Leader and former Prime Minister Peter O’Neill as the alternate Prime Minister.
However, the Speaker ruled the motion out on Thursday, citing constitutional restrictions under the Constitutional Amendment No. 48 (Motions of No Confidence) Law 2025, which came into effect on March 17, 2025.
In a letter dated October 30, 2025, Speaker Pomat advised Sir Puka that the motion could not be listed on the Notice Paper because it breached Section 145(5) of the Constitution, which prevents any new motion of no confidence within 18 months of a previously defeated one.
“The last motion of no confidence was defeated on April 15, 2025. Therefore, under the amended law, no further motion can be entertained until after October 2026,” the Speaker stated.
The decision effectively blocks any immediate parliamentary challenge to Prime Minister Marape’s leadership, reaffirming constitutional measures designed to ensure government stability and prevent frequent leadership changes.
But the Opposition has rejected the Speaker’s interpretation, accusing him and the government of acting illegally and undermining parliamentary democracy.
Speaking after the decision, Peter O’Neill condemned what he described as “a complete abuse of process” and confirmed that the Opposition would challenge the ruling in court.
“We don’t rush to court all the time, but the stupidity of the Speaker and the interference of the Marape government in the way Parliament is run leaves us no choice,” O’Neill said.
“We will go to court to have Parliament recalled to entertain the motion and seek punitive orders against the Speaker, Clerk, and members of the Private Business Committee.”
O’Neill accused Prime Minister Marape of manipulating parliamentary processes to shield himself from accountability.
“He says publicly that he welcomes votes of no confidence, but secretly meets with the Speaker and others to stop the motions from reaching the floor. That is not democracy it’s thuggery,” O’Neill said.
Sir Puka Temu also criticized the Speaker’s conduct, saying the PBC had already met on
Wednesday and agreed to allow the motion before Pomat allegedly convened “an unscheduled and illegal meeting” the following day to overturn the decision.
“We followed all procedures under the Standing Orders. The motion was ready for the Notice Paper. What happened yesterday was illegal,” Temu said.
He said the Opposition would pursue the matter in court and remained confident that justice would prevail.
The rejection marks another chapter in the ongoing political standoff between the Marape government and the Opposition, which has accused the administration of using parliamentary technicalities to avoid scrutiny.
“We are fighting for accountability and a better future for our people,” O’Neill said. “Don’t lose hope this country is worth fighting for.”
My goodness, you fighting for us or urselves, see urselves in the mirror, since when did you guys become saints. in the recent announcement in Rome only one PNGean was announced to be a saint, maybe the Pope forgot ur names . Election is only a year away remove Marape at the ballot box, allow the.people to mandate you not the parliament let alone the court house. H7mble urselves kneel down infront of that Bible in parliament & ask for God’s forgiveness, ‘ “on the road to freedom we shall not be moved” this song was sung in 2011 in a convoy of bases & it still rings true to this day.Godbless PNG
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