In a show of contempt for the Morauta Opposition, the Somare government this afternoon invited journalists into a room to count its members to prove it is not vulnerable to a vote of no-confidence.

Earlier today, the Opposition claimed it had the support of a majority of the 109 members of Parliament and said it would use its numbers to initiate a vote of no-confidence.

But there was no vote, as Parliament was postponed because there were not enough members present to form a quorum.

The Government then invited journalists to a meeting room and asked them to count the members present.

ABC correspondent Liam Fox tallied 57 Government MPs - more than enough to defeat a motion of no-confidence.

It was telling that no Opposition member was available for comment.

Source: ‘No-confidence vote: PNG invites media to count MPs’ by Liam Fox, ABC