Local-level Governments Administration Act 1997 (No. 33 of 1997).

This Act provides with respect to local government in Papua New Guinea and declares that purposes of Local-level Government and of a Local-level Government are public purposes for the purpose of Section 53 (unjust deprivation of property) of the Constitution. “Local-level Government” means a Local-level Government established in accordance with Sections 26 and 27 of the Organic Law on Provincial Governments and Local-level Governments. The Act provides for a wide variety of matters including declaration of urban areas, representation of (rural) women in the Provincial Council of Women and functions and administration of local governments.
The Minister may, in relation to an area of land, after taking into consideration: (a) the area of alienated land; and (b) the value of unimproved land; and (c) the concentration of people; and (d) whether there is adequate provision of water, electricity, communications, health, sanitation, education and other services, by notice in the National Gazette, declare the area to be an urban area. The Head of State, acting on advice, may, by proclamation, establish a Local-level Government Special Purposes Authority in and for an area of one or more Local-level Governments. Such authority shall be a corporation.