The legal team reviewing the Defence Act 1974 and Defence (Amendment) Act 2009 have presented the final working draft of the Defence Bill 2024 yesterday to the Defence Council, which consists of the Minister for Defence Hon. Dr Billy Joseph, Defence Secretary Hari John Akipe and Acting Chief of Defence Force Commodore Philip Polewara.
The Defence Council will now take time to read through the Bill before taking it to the National Executive Council for endorsement to Parliament. If this Bill wins the approval of the Parliament, it will become Defence Act 2024.
The Minister as the Chairman of the Council was satisfied with the work done by the legal team made up of lawyers from the Defence Organisation and the Office of the State Solicitor.
“I would like to thank the entire review team for their dedication to this cause and the quality of work done. The success of this Bill will produce an Act of Parliament necessary for the growth and modernisation of the PNG Defence Force and Department of Defence, consequentially improving our Defence Organisation and National Security,” Dr. Billy said.
This Bill is being put forward following wider consultation of stakeholders and numerous internal consultations within the Defence Organisation. Work on the Bill started in 2022 and I am happy that it was put through intense quality check and critiquing.
“The Bill went through a stringent review process in meeting all the necessary requirement and I am confident it will receive the support required from the NEC and the National Parliament,” Minister Joseph concluded.