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Organic Law on the calling of Meetings of the Parliament

No. 917 of 9998.

Organic Law on the calling of Meetings of the Parliament.
Certified on: / /20 .

INDEPENDENT STATE OF PAPUA NEW GUINEA.

Organic Law on the calling of Meetings of the Parliament.

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS.

INDEPENDENT STATE OF PAPUA NEW GUINEA.

AN ACT

entitled

Organic Law on the calling of Meetings of the Parliament,

Being an Organic Law to implement Section 124 (calling, etc.) of the Constitution.

1. CALLING OF FIRST MEETING AFTER A GENERAL ELECTION.

(1)^{[1] [2]}The Head of State shall, after consultation with the outgoing Prime Minister and Speaker, by notice published in the National Gazette after the date fixed for the return of the writs for the general election, fix the time and date on which the Parliament shall meet for the first time after a general election.

(2) The date fixed under Subsection (1) shall be not more than seven days after the date fixed for the return of the writs for the general election.

(3) The Head of State shall–

(a) as soon as practicable after fixing a time and date under Subsection (1); and

(b) not less than 14 days before that date; and

(c) where a state of emergency has been declared, not less than seven days before that date,

cause a notice specifying that time and date to be forwarded by telegram or pre-paid post to each member of the Parliament.

2. CALLING OF OTHER MEETINGS.

(1) In relation to any meeting of the Parliament, other than the first meeting after a general election, the time and date for the meeting–

(a) shall–

(i) be fixed by the Parliament on motion without notice by a Minister; or

(ii) where the Parliament has failed to fix a time and date, be fixed by the Head of State, acting with and in accordance with, the advice of the National Executive Council; and

(iii) where a state of emergency has been declared or the Head of State, acting with, and in accordance with, the advice of the National Executive Council, is of the opinion that exceptional circumstances justify the urgent calling of a meeting of the Parliament, be fixed by the Head of State, acting with and in accordance with the advice of the National Executive Council; or

(iv) where the Speaker has received a request from the Emergency Committee under Section 242(3) (functions, etc., of Emergency Committees) of the Constitution, be fixed by the Speaker after consultation with the Emergency Committee; and

(b) shall be notified in the National Gazette.

(2) The Speaker shall, not less than 14 days before the date fixed under Subsection (1)(a)(i) or (ii) or not less than seven days before the date fixed under Subsection (1)(a)(iii) or (iv) for a meeting of the Parliament, cause a notice to be forwarded by telegram and pre-paid post to each member of the Parliament.

3. CALLING MEETINGS EARLIER.

(1) Notwithstanding that the time and date of a meeting of the Parliament have been previously fixed, the time and date for an earlier meeting may be fixed in the circumstances in which not less than seven days notice of the meeting is required under Sections 1 and 2.

(2) Action may not be taken under Subsection (1) less than 14 days before the date already fixed for the meeting.

(3) The meeting of the Parliament, the time and date of which are fixed under Subsection (1), shall be in substitution for the meeting, the time and date of which had been previously fixed.

Office of Legislative Counsel, PNG

1. ^[1]Section 1(1) amended by the Organic Law on the calling of Meetings of the Parliament – Amendment No. 1 Law.
2. ^[2]Section 1(1) amended by the Organic Law on the calling of Meetings of the Parliament – Amendment No. 1 Law.