CUSTOMARY LAND REFORM BILL TO BE TABLED

CAPTION: Hiri Koiari MP, Keith Iduhu

BY NIGEL MADO

A landmark Customary Land Reform Bill is being prepared for tabling in Parliament, promising the most comprehensive overhaul of customary land governance in Papua New Guinea in decades.

Deputy Opposition Leader Keith Iduhu told the National Customary Land-Owners Seminar last month that the proposed legislation, developed by the Special Parliamentary Committee on Customary Land Reforms, aims to reform the legal framework governing the recognition, registration, governance and use of customary land.

Mr Iduhu said the bill seeks to harmonise customary land practices with constitutional principles while establishing clear mechanisms for registration, dispute resolution and oversight at district and national levels.

He reiterated that this reform is about grounding land governance in customary decision-making structures, while providing legal certainty and protection for landowners.

The proposed law is expected to address long-standing weaknesses in land administration that have contributed to disputes, development delays and land insecurity across the country.

Mr Iduhu acknowledged that while progress has been made over the years, secure land tenure is still not a reality for many Papua New Guineans. He said the findings and recommendations of the 2005 and 2019 National Land Summits provide a clear roadmap for reform, but implementation has lagged.