The failure to tackle corruption is particularly evident in the forestry sector where problems like illegal logging, money laundering and human rights abuse were first brought to public attention by the Barnett Commission of Inquiry in 1989.

In the 36 years since, there has been no effective action to address forest crime. The problems identified by Justice Barnett remain as rampant today as they were in the 1980’s.

Reforms like the new Forest Act and the establishment of a PNG Forest Authority have both failed to improve forest management or address the underlying corruption.

Community advocacy group ACT NOW! is particularly concerned that, while the National Forest Board recently ceased issuing new forest clearing permits, no action has been taken to stop existing projects which are responsible for one-third of all log exports.

The PNG Forest Authority is also continuing to rely on colonial-era agreements with resource owners that pre-date the Forest Act and are used to justify a further one-third of log exports.

The Bank of PNG has also failed to publish its money-laundering risk assessment of the forestry sector, one of the issues identified by the Financial Action Task Force.

Illegal logging, money laundering and associated human rights abuses have plagued PNG lumber exports from the earliest days of independence.

That was 50 years ago and ACT NOW! is calling on the government to stop suspicious log exports and instigate a transparent public review of all logging operations, logging licences and other approvals.

For media interviews and further information about community advocacy group ACT NOW! contact Eddie Tanago on (+675) 711 93498 or email [email protected]