The Special Parliamentary Committee for Customary Land and Land Reforms (SPCCLLR) has successfully concluded a series of nationwide consultations as part of its mandate to modernise Papua New Guinea’s land tenure systems. The extensive regional hearings, held last month, brought together community leaders, landowners, legal experts, government agencies, and civil society representatives to discuss the country’s most pressing land-related challenges.
The consultations were aimed at addressing long-standing issues such as illegal settlements, informal ownership, land grabbing, and the complexities of documenting customary land.
Chairman Keith Iduhu, MP, remarked: “Our people spoke clearly. The overwhelming message is that land must remain under the rightful ownership of our clans, but there is an urgent need for clarity, documentation, and legal protection to unlock its full value for our citizens and our economy.”
Throughout the inquiry, the Committee heard consistent concerns about gaps in current land legislation, lack of enforcement, and the vulnerability of customary landowners to unauthorised transactions. At the same time, there was strong public interest in strengthening land rights to allow access to finance, support small and medium enterprises, and improve planning in both rural and urban areas.
The Committee highlighted taking note of key community concerns and will now begin drafting recommendations to improve land registration systems, update legal frameworks, and ensure that the voices of traditional landowners are central to future land governance. These recommendations will aim to balance traditional practices with modern systems that provide security of tenure, particularly in fast-growing urban and peri-urban areas.
One major outcome of the consultations is the call for stronger regulation and transparency in land transactions. Participants stressed the need to prevent illegal land sales and to empower local communities through better awareness, access to legal assistance, and recognition of their land boundaries.
The Committee also explored options for streamlining private property rights, clarifying the roles of leases, sub-leases, and trust arrangements. Iduhu noted that these mechanisms, when properly designed, can offer customary landowners, greater opportunities to benefit from progressive modern developments while maintaining ownership and control.
: “Our goal is not only to protect customary land, but to ensure that land systems are fair, secure, and responsive to the needs of today’s Papua New Guineans.
This includes the customary landowners and even urban dwellers, women, and small business owners who all rely on land for their livelihoods and futures.” He said.
The Committee assured they will continue working with stakeholders as it prepares its final report for Parliament.
The report will include legal, institutional, and administrative reforms required to modernise the country’s land governance.
Members of the public and interested organizations are encouraged to stay engaged and may continue to make submissions or seek information through the Parliament Committee Secretariat.
