THE political leadership in Papua New Guinea changed significantly in August 2011 when Works and Transport Minister Peter O'Neill was voted seventh prime minister, following months of sickness which kept the country's long standing prime minister Sir Michael Somare in hospital overseas. Soon after being appointed, the new Minister for Mining Byron Chan announced that, during its term in the office, the new government would focus on the following key policy issues with respect to the resources industry: Recognition and protection of customary landowners' right to minerals and resources on or under the land and seabed; Review of the legal framework for mining activities; Developing a formal regulatory regime for deep-sea mining; and Enhancing environmental protection policies for the resources sector.
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