Trips, car buys and offices
blow hole in 2008 budget
A NUMBER of overseas travels by Government ministers and Governor-General Sir Paulias Matane, including the cost of funding the visit to PNG by the Australian prime minister, has helped blow a K500-million hole in last years budget.
Details of the expenditure could be found in the 2008 final budget outcome (FBO) released by the Treasury Department. It is on the departments website.
The 68-page report outlined how Government spending blew out from an estimated surplus of K202.3 million to K478.5 million in deficit.
Seizing on the report, the Opposition accused the Government of being reckless in its spending.
Australian prime minister Kevin Rudd flew to Port Moresby and to Goroka on a RAAF plane and covered other costs while touring last March, a trip that cost the Government K3.2 million.
A spokesperson for Rudd told AAP: Costs borne by the PNG Government in relation to the visit are matters for the PNG Government.
Total expenditure and net lending last year were K7,551.9 million, which was K552.7 million higher than the original budget estimate, the FBO report said.
Significant costs in the FBO includes travel, car purchases and K12 million for a Canberra residence.
A company called East Sepik PNG Quality Services Limited was paid K2,640,000 for four boats as per Prime Ministers (Sir Michael Somare) request.
A building company named after three of the Prime Ministers children was paid K1.7 million to rebuild a school in their home province.
The FBO report showed SBA Construction received a payment of K1,681,861 for work on Kubalia High School in the Yangoru-Sausia district, East Sepik province.
Sana Somare is the managing director of SBA Construction, a small contracting company based in Wewak, East Sepik province.
Governor-General Sir Paulias Matane spent K175,000 on travel to the Solomon Islands for that countrys 30th independence day celebrations on July 7.
Sir Paulias travel for the Tongan kings coronation at the start of last August cost K342,100 while a support vehicle cost K330,000.
Among other listed expenses are Minister for Commerce and Industry Gabriel Kapris and his delegations K150,000 outlay to attend an Australian business meeting last October.
Mr Kapris and his delegation, on other occasions, travelled to Peru and China for similar presentations and the combined nine nights cost K280,000.
The report also outlined expenses incurred from the refurbishment of an electorate boat for the Member for Bougainville Fidelis Semeso, the mv Buka Princess, were K71,500.
PNG spent K12 million on the purchase of a residence in Canberra and K2.9 million for the PNG chancellery building in Tokyo, Japan.
Other spending included K575,824 to replace a picket fence at Madangs Modilon Hospital; K100,000 on pipes and drums for the Department of Correctional Services; and K65,000 for the Institute of Medical Researchs 40th anniversary celebrations.
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They get away with it because all of us, as PNG citizens, let them get away with it. So no whimpering, wantoks. When we don't take responsibility we can't cry over the spilt milk!
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