Complaint laid against PNG speaker's reformation programme

2:41 pm on 9 October 2015

Papua New Guinea's Catholic Professional Society has referred the speaker of parliament, Theo Zurenuoc, to the Ombudsman Commission for investigation.

The society's president, Paul Harricken, says the society has lodged seven complaints for suspected breaches of the Leadership Code in his controversial reformation programme.

Mr Zurenuoc's reformation programme involves plans to replace traditional cultural objects in the country's parliament, which he considers idolatrous, with Christian symbols such as a King James Bible.

Mr Harricken told the Post Courier the complaints concern possible constitutional breaches, alleged undemocratic breaches of the constitution, and cultural desecration using public funds.

The society and the country's former prime minister, Sir Michael Somare, have already mounted a Supreme Court challenge against Mr Zurenuoc.