PORT MORESBY (Pacific Media Watch / PNG Post-Courier / PNG Loop): The media in PNG have been banned from an important inquiry into parliament spending.
The story made the front pages of local media.
The inquiry is being conducted by Parliament's public accounts committee, whose meetings are usually open.
The PNG Post-Courier reported that John Hickey, chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), had banned the media and the public from attending the inquiry, alleging that the media might "misrepresent" the discussions.
Last week, Deputy Opposition Leader Sam Basil slammed the decision, saying that Parliament had in recent years had major issues with its finances including corruption and the media should not be barred.
But PNG Loop reports that Hickey is refusing to back down, saying that certain matters being discussed in the committee were confidential.
Without giving details, Hickey said he would not allow government officials "to be compromised in anywhere, in any inquiry particularly in certain matters that are confidential, and that we could possibly compromise the individual or the State". PNG Loop reported.
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