There was a strong feeling at his initial election to the Abau seat that candidates of the quality of Dr Temu were precisely what the PNG

Parliament most needed, if we were ever to return the House to the level of respect it once enjoyed.

Now at least we will have the opportunity to see what Dr Temu and like-minded members can achieve in the second half of this parliament.

Nor will we have long to wait.

Legislation requiring a two-thirds majority of members will shortly come before the House once again.

That constitutional amendment seeks to have the present 18 months grace period before a vote of no confidence may be moved extended to 36 months.

It has been narrowly defeated twice.

It would now appear to have a strong chance of being confirmed, unless one or more members break ranks.

The confirmation of Dr Temu's election in Abau, and the return of re-instated Middle-Ramu MP Ben Semri, coupled with expected support from the Menyamya and Ijivitari MPs -- absent during the last vote - plus the vote of Speaker Bill Skate, who will have been relieved of his duties as acting Governor-General by the time the vote is taken, should give the Government a one vote majority.

There has been a great deal of controversy over this constitutional amendment, and a great deal of it has been nothing more than political posturing from certain members with their own private agendas.

A handful of more thoughtful members has genuine concerns over the possibility that this amendment if carried could enshrine an unmovable and dictatorial government, one that would be extremely difficult to remove.

But as we have previously pointed out, Prime Ministers are elected by the members of the House.

Somewhere along the way we must have confidence in those whom we elect to Parliament - and if we do not, then we should not elect them.

Crucial to this process of determining an accountable government is to grant it the right to plan ahead.

If there is one negative that has become painfully obvious in the political processes of this country since independence, it has been the lack of forward and sustainable planning.

Our elected governments must be guaranteed the right to carry through their plans for PNG, for the simple reason that we the people have elected them to do so without interference.

The ultimate power to elect a suitable government lies, as it must, in our own hands.