Papua New Guinea completes constitutional consultation process and prepares to hold Bougainville vote

A landmark decision on Bougainville's political future is now within reach after Papua New Guinea completed the constitutional consultation process required before Parliament considers the region's 2019 referendum result. Leaders from the National Government and the Autonomous Bougainville Government yesterday endorsed the final consultation documents during a Joint Supervisory Body meeting, officially preparing the referendum outcome for debate in Parliament on August 27. The approval of the Joint Consultation Report and the Melanesian Framework marks the completion of years of consultations following Bougainville's overwhelming vote in favour of independence. Under the Constitution, Parliament is responsible for making the final decision after consultations between both governments have been completed.
Read the full article here: Papua New Guinea Today