New Land Bills aim to transform customary and state land governance in Bougainville
The Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) is on the cusp of introducing reforms to land governance with a series of new land bills aimed at transforming land management and ownership across the region.
In a statement delivered to the Bougainville Parliament this week, Hon. Junior Tumare, Minister for Lands, Physical Planning, Environment, Conservation, and Climate Change, updated the House that four key bills are nearing finalization: the Bougainville Government Land Bill 2024, Customary Land Bill 2024, Land Registers Bill 2024, and Planning and Development Bill 2024.
“These bills represent the most radical overhaul of land law in Bougainville since the end of the Crisis, delivering a wholly new system for AROB rooted in the Bougainville Constitution representing a decisive break from the current PNG systems establishing national legislation,” Tumare said.
According to Minister Tumare, the reforms will standardize land tenure systems, addressing long-standing disparities between customary land and state land. This new framework is designed to promote economic development by making land more accessible for investment, while also respecting the traditional land rights of Bougainvillean clans.
The land bills are the product of extensive consultations with local communities and legal experts, ensuring that they address the core concerns of customary landowners who have long felt marginalized by outdated land laws.
"Land is our lifeline," Tumare emphasized. "When enacted by the legislature, these pieces of legislation will protect, promote and manage all land use activities in Bougainville.”
The bills are expected to be reviewed by the Department of Justice and Legal Services and could be presented to Parliament for consideration before the end of the year.
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