The ANU report was released in Port Moresby this week and it shows that fewer than half (47%) of citizens surveyed after the election reported being able to exercise their vote freely.

Another key finding was the extent that money politics influenced the election. For some years I have been warning people about the growth of money politics and the danger it poses to democracy.

But not only was it more pervasive in 2017 than before, it was also conducted through the Electoral Commission itself.

Papua New Guinea cannot afford a repeat of this election debacle, and an independent commission of inquiry should be a first step towards restoring and protecting democracy. A wide range of activities needed to be undertaken to do this.

For example, the powers that are vested in the Chief Electoral Commissioner need to be examined carefully. It is clear that too much power rests with one person.

There needs to be greater oversight of the Electoral Commission and a sharing of the burden of conducting elections. We must find ways to increase the independence and capacity of the Electoral Commission.

One way would be to formalise the increased involvement of the Electoral Advisory Committee and the expansion of its powers and capacity. Consideration could be given to entrenching highly qualified and experienced observers deeply within the electoral system itself.

The independence of the Electoral Commission needs to be protected, and a whole new system of checks and balances introduced into the commission’s operations to enable it to withstand political influence.

These can all be matters raised at a commission of inquiry, along with an examination of the widespread corruption and rigging evident in 2017.

A priority must be to investigate the extensive political influence throughout the process, from the start of campaigning to the formation of government.

How, for example, did so many official electoral activities seem to favor PNC and its candidates?

The broad topics should include:

Preparation of the electoral roll
Obstruction to nomination of certain candidates
‘Wantokism’ and political interference in the
appointment of electoral officials
Violence during the campaign, polling and counting
Influence of police and defence forces on election outcome and their role in the high level of violence
Release of government funds to finance both preparation for and conduct of the election
Printing of ballot papers in Indonesia and the distribution of ballot papers
Voting turnout exceeding numbers registered on the electoral roll
Security of ballot papers and boxes
Transparency and independence of electoral processes including polling and counting
Sunday polling in some seats, including Ialibu-Pangia, in contravention of Constitution
Declaration of seats and the return of writs
Formation of government

Leaving the next election in the hands of Mr O’Neill and his cronies is a recipe for more chaos and corruption, only worse. It would spell the end of our parliamentary democracy.”

A copy of the ANU report is available here