An Australia NGO says mining legislation before the Bougainville parliament could undermine human rights and environmental controls.
Nature has gradually reclaimed the massive open pit of Bougainville Copper Limited's former lucrative mine. Photo: RNZ Pacific / Johnny Blades
Jubilee Australia claimed the legislation would severely undermine the existing rights of landowners.
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The three proposed new laws were the result of a move by the government more than a year ago to take direct control of the mining sector, linking up with an Australian company called Caballus.
Jubilee's executive director Luke Fletcher said the proposed legislation was ambiguous and vague.
"If there is vagueness, it may not be the intention of the vagueness to be able to be taken advantage of, but if there is vagueness it can give the executive officials the ability to take advantage of it, even if there are different people who come into power and take advantage."
The NGO compiled a research paper called 'Blank Cheque'