Papua New Guinea (PNG) roads need an overhaul. Papua New Guinea's road network system should be efficient in order to maximize economic and social benefits. This responsibility is assigned to the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation and his Secretary for Works and Transport. 
Prior to pointing fingers at AusAid or other donor agencies for not doing anything about the road network system, the Minister responsible must develop, establish, and maintain a national information system with regard to land transport, based on sound business process, and in collaboration with the provinces to integrate that system with the information systems kept by each province. 
Developing a sound comprehensive framework for road network systems in Papua New Guinea should be addressed with urgency. Having such a workable mechanism in place will slowly but eventually;
- Lower road user resource costs – for example, vehicle operating costs and travel times.
- Lower non-road costs for road users – strategic interventions to assist in efficient location choice, minimization of inventories, and harmonization of transport (and other) regulations across provinces.
- Increased regional development – Including tourism, mining, agriculture, growth of regional centers and urban development – through new and improved roads to increase accessibility and reduce travel costs.
- Expanded scope of markets – to bring them closer together (in terms of both time and cost) through new and improved roads.
- Economic based choice of transport vehicles, modes, routes and times of use through matching social costs of use to prices charged to users.
- Establishment of a basic level of accessibility (particularly in remote areas) to provide improved health and education services and enhanced employment opportunities.
Prior to pointing fingers at AusAid or other donor agencies for not doing anything about the road network system, the Minister responsible must develop, establish, and maintain a national information system with regard to land transport, based on sound business process, and in collaboration with the provinces to integrate that system with the information systems kept by each province. Developing a sound comprehensive framework for road network systems in Papua New Guinea should be addressed with urgency. Having such a workable mechanism in place will slowly but eventually;- Lower road user resource costs – for example, vehicle operating costs and travel times.
- Lower non-road costs for road users – strategic interventions to assist in efficient location choice, minimization of inventories, and harmonization of transport (and other) regulations across provinces.
- Increased regional development – Including tourism, mining, agriculture, growth of regional centers and urban development – through new and improved roads to increase accessibility and reduce travel costs.- Expanded scope of markets – to bring them closer together (in terms of both time and cost) through new and improved roads.
- Economic based choice of transport vehicles, modes, routes and times of use through matching social costs of use to prices charged to users.
- Establishment of a basic level of accessibility (particularly in remote areas) to provide improved health and education services and enhanced employment opportunities.
- Wider range of choice and opportunities for interaction between people organizations and business through improved accessibility and mobility.
- Fair distribution of the costs and benefits of the road system.- Lower levels of road-related deaths, injuries and costs through a reduction in the incidence and severity of road accidents.
- Safe transport of hazardous loads.
- More environmentally sustainable road transport – in terms of resource consumption.
- Lower levels of gaseous and noise emissions and minimum impacts upon the amenity of the built environment.
- The risks to systems of ecological significance and biodiversity are minimized through the improved development, maintenance and operation of the road system.
We had over thirty years to play the 'name calling' and 'finger pointing' games repeatedly. Now is the time to take responsibility and tell the eighty-five percent of the rural population of Papua New Guinea that the Somare/Temu government has a proposal and it must be workable to meet the everyday challenges of those who live miles and miles away from a nearest bus stop. 
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