The Defence Council, which consists Minister for Defence Dr. Billy Joseph as Chairman, Defence Secretary Hari John Akipe, and Acting Chief of Defence Force Commodore Philip Polewara, are reviewing the final draft of the Defence Bill 2024. Minister Joseph said the Defence Counil were presented with the final working draft of the Defence Bill 2024 yesterday (Thursday, June 27) from the legal team reviewing the Defence Act 1974 and Defence (Amendment) Act 2009. After thorough review, the Bill, which aims to modernize the PNG Defence Force and enhance national security, will proceed to the National Executive Council for Parliament's endorsement “The Defence Council will now take time to read through the Bill before taking it to the National Executive Council for endorsement by Parliament’ and ‘if this Bill wins the approval of the Parliament, it will become the Defence Act 2024,” Minister Joseph said in a statement today (Friday, June 28). He further commended the legal team - made up of lawyers from the Defence Organisation and the Office of the State Solicitor – for their dedication and expressed confidence in the Bill's approval following extensive consultations and stringent reviews. “The success of this Bill will produce an Act of Parliament necessary for the growth and modernisation of the PNG Defence Force and Department of Defence, consequentially improving our Defence Organisation and National Security." “This Bill is being put forward following wider consultation of stakeholders and numerous internal consultations within the Defence Organisation. Work on the Bill started in 2022 and I am happy that it was put through intense quality check and critiquing,” Minister Joseph said. “The Bill went through a stringent review process in meeting all the necessary requirements and I am confident it will receive the support required from the NEC and the National Parliament.”