Cabinet of Papua New Guinea

This article is part of a series on the
politics and government of
Papua New Guinea

The Cabinet of Papua New Guinea functions as the policy and decision-making body of the executive branch within the government system of Papua New Guinea. The Prime Minister and Ministers serve as members of the Cabinet.

Current members of Cabinet

With Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare having been hospitalised for a serious heart condition, leadership of the nation was vested in Deputy Prime Minister Sam Abal in April 2011. In August, following a Cabinet reshuffle which had led three ministers to join the Opposition, the latter brought a successful motion of no confidence in Abal's government. Parliament chose Peter O'Neill to serve as Prime Minister.[1]

On 27 February 2012, O'Neill removed the Finance portfolio from Don Polye, taking it on himself. He cited "the continuing lack of ability by the department and ministry of finance to contain expenditure overruns outside of the budget appropriations". Polye retained the Treasury portfolio, and gained that of Border Development. O'Neill hinted that the Finance ministry would eventually be returned to him, and also hinted at an imminent major Cabinet reshuffle.[2]

On 9 August 2012, following a general election, O'Neill announced the following cabinet for the 2012-2017 term:[3]

Portfolio Minister Minister's province Minister's party Parliamentary secretary Opposition shadow minister
Prime Minister Peter O'Neill Southern Highlands Province People's National Congress Party
  • Deputy Prime Minister
  • Minister for Inter-Government Relations
Leo Dion East New Britain Province Triumph Heritage Empowerment Party
Minister for Agriculture & Livestock Tommy Tomscoll Madang Province People’s Democratic Movement Party
Minister for Bougainville Affairs Steven Kamma Autonomous Region of Bougainville United Resources Party
Minister for Civil Aviation Davis Steven Milne Bay Province People's Party
Minister for Communication & Information Technology Jimmy Miringtoro Autonomous Region of Bougainville People's National Congress Party
Minister for Community Development, Religion & Youth Loujaya Toni Morobe Province Indigenous People's Party
Minister for Correctional Services Jim Simatab East Sepik Province National Alliance Party
Minister for Defence Fabian Pok Jiwaka Province United Resources Party
Minister for Education Paru Aihi Central Province People's National Congress Party
Minister for Environment & Conservation John Pundari Enga Province People's Party
Minister for Finance James Marape Hela Province People's National Congress Party
Minister for Fisheries & Marine Resources Mao Zeming Morobe Province People's National Congress Party
Minister for Foreign Affairs & Immigration Rimbink Pato Enga Province United Party
Minister for Forests & Climate Change Patrick Pruaitch West Sepik Province National Alliance Party
Minister for Health & HIV/AIDS Michael Malabag National Capital District People's National Congress Party
Minister for Higher Education, Research, Science, & Technology [Francis Marus]]
Minister for Housing & Urban Development Paul Isikiel Morobe Province People's National Congress Party
Minister for Justice & Attorney-General Kerenga Kua Chimbu Province National Alliance Party
Minister for Labour & Industrial Relations Mark Maipakai Gulf Province Triumph Heritage Empowerment Party
Minister for Lands & Physical Planning Benny Allan Eastern Highlands Province People's National Congress Party
Minister for Mining Byron Chan New Ireland Province People's Progress Party
Minister for National Planning Charles Abel Milne Bay Province People's National Congress Party
Minister for Petroleum & Energy William Duma Western Highlands Province United Resources Party
Minister for Police Nixon Duban Madang Province People's National Congress Party
Minister for Public Enterprises & State Investment Ben Micah New Ireland Province People's Progress Party
Minister for Public Service Sir Puka Temu Central Province Our Development Party
Minister for Sports & Pacific Games Justin Tkatchenko National Capital District Social Democratic Party
Minister for Tourism, Art & Culture Boka Kondra Western Province People's National Congress Party
Minister for Trade, Commerce & Industry Richard Maru East Sepik Province Independent
Minister for Transport & Works Ano Pala Central Province People's National Congress Party
Minister for Treasury Don Polye Enga Province Triumph Heritage Empowerment Party
Minister for Works & Implementation Francis Awesa Southern Highlands Province People's National Congress Party

In February 2014, the following reshuffle took place. Police Minister Nixon Duban (MP for Madang, National Congress Party) was reshuffled to the position of Minister of Petroleum and Energy, replacing William Duma (MP for Mount Hagen, United Resources Party), who was dropped from the Cabinet; O'Neill suggested that Duma had not adhered to the principle of Cabinet solidarity. Robert Atiyafa (MP for Henganofi) was appointed as Minister for Police. David Arore (MP for the Northern Province, T.H.E. Party) was replaced as Minister for Higher Education by Delilah Gore (MP for Sohe, T.H.E. Party), while Nick Kuman (MP for Gumine) was appointed Minister for Education.[4] It was the first time ever that the country's Cabinet included two women: Delilah Gore, and Community Development Minister Loujaya Kouza (MP for Lae).[5]

On 10 March 2014, O'Neill sacked his Finance Minister Don Polye (leader of the T.H.E. Party, the second-largest party in the government), and Minister for Industrial Relations Mark Maipakai, having accused them of destabilising the government.[6]

In August 2014, Community Development Minister Loujaya Kouza resigned to serve as interim chair Lae City Commission. In a reshuffle, she was replaced by Delilah Gore, who in turn was replaced as Minister for Higher Education by Malakai Tabar. William Duma, ousted from the government in February, was re-admitted, this time as Minister for Transport.[7]

In August 2015 Minister for Religion, Youth and Community Development Delilah Gore was suspended for three months without pay after verbally assaulting and threatening a flight attendant who had asked her to turn off her mobile phone on an Air Niugini flight. (Gore was removed from the plane as a consequence of her behaviour.)[8]

In July 2016, Minister for Petroleum and Energy Ben Micah resigned from the government and joined the Opposition. He was replaced by Nixon Duban, who was in turn replaced as Minister for Transport by Malakai Tabar. Tabar was replaced as Minister for Higher Education by Francis Marus (MP for Talasea), who was promoted from the back benches.[9]

Past Cabinets

Somare Cabinet 2007-2011

In the 2007 general election, the National Alliance-led government headed by Sir Michael Somare was returned. The first Cabinet of the new government was announced on 29 August 2007.[10][11][12][13]

The Cabinet contained 28 ministers. They were assisted by 12 parliamentary secretaries, who were not officially part of the Cabinet.

Media comment on the new cabinet focused on the demotion of the previous Deputy Prime Minister Don Polye, the relatively low number of Highlands MPs in Cabinet, and the potential for conflict of interest in the appointment of Belden Namah, a forest landowner and principal of a company involved in logging in West Sepik Province, as Forestry Minister.

The Opposition's shadow ministry was announced on 31 August 2007.[14]

On 14 August 2009, Don Polye was removed from his position as Member of Parliament, and Minister for Works, Transport & Civil Aviation, when the National Court determined that his victory in the 2007 general election was invalid.[15] The Prime Minister assumed responsibility for Polye's Transport and Works ministries as an interim measure until Polye's by-election is held on 9 November 2009, while Culture and Tourism Minister Charles Abel acquired the Civil Aviation ministerial portfolio.[16]

In May 2010, Attorney-General and Justice Minister Allan Marat, leader of the Melanesian Liberal Party, publicly criticised aspects of government policy, and resigned upon being asked to do so by Prime Minister Michael Somare. Ano Pala, National Alliance Party MP for Rigo, was appointed in his place.[17]

This was the Cabinet as of February 2011.[18] (The list of parliamentary secretaries is also accurate as of February 2011. The list of Shadow Ministers, however, is from September 2007.)

Portfolio Minister Minister's province Minister's party Parliamentary secretary Opposition shadow minister
Sir Michael Somare East Sepik NA

Sir Mekere Morauta (PNGP)

  • Deputy Prime Minister
  • Works
Sam Abal Enga NA

(Transport, Civil Aviation, Works) Tony Puana (NGP)

  • Finance and Treasury
Peter O'Neill Southern Highlands PNC Bart Philemon (NGP)
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Immigration
Don Polye
  • Public Service
Moses Maladina RDP Anthony Nene Isaac Joseph (NGP)
  • Trade
  • Bougainville Affairs
Fidelis Semoso East Sepik PAP

(Foreign Affairs, Trade and Immigration) Sali Subam (NA)

(Bougainville) Koni Iguan (PLP)

  • Education
James Marape NA David Arore (NA) Ferao Orimyo (PNGP)
  • National Planning
  • Rural Development
Paul Tiensten East New Britain NA (National Planning and Monitoring) Phillip Kikala
  • Commerce
  • Industry
Gabriel Kapris East Sepik PAP Bonny Oveyara (PPP)
  • Petroleum and Energy
William Duma Western Highlands URP Francis Potabe Mulungu (NGP)
  • Housing and Urban Development
Andrew Kumbakor West Sepik Pangu Theo Zurenouc (PPP)
  • Defence
Bob Dadae Morobe UP
  • Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology
Paru Aihi PNGP Jack Cameron (PDM)
  • Justice
  • Attorney-General
Sir Arnold Amet NA
  • Community Development
  • Women
  • Religion
Dame Carol Kidu NCD MA
  • Public Enterprises
Arthur Somare East Sepik NA David Arore Sir Mekere Morauta (PNGP)
  • Agriculture and Livestock
Ano Pala Central NA Puri Ruing (PNGP)
  • Environment and Conservation
Benny Allan Eastern Highlands URP Roy Biyama (URP)
  • Sports
Philemon Embel Southern Highlands Pangu
  • Labour and Industrial Relations
Sani Rambi Western Highlands NA Sam Basil (PPP)
  • Health and HIV/AIDS
Sasa Zibe Morobe NA (Health) Yawa Silupa (NA)
  • Internal Security
Mark Maipakai Gulf NA Byron Chan (PPP)
  • Fisheries
Ben Semri Madang PAP Sam Basil (PPP)
  • Forestry
Timothy Bonga NA Isaac Joseph (NGP)
  • Corrective Services
Tony Aimo East Sepik PAP
  • Communication and Information
Patrick Tammur East New Britain NA
  • Inter-Government Relations
Job Pomat Manus PNC Koni Iguan (PLP)
  • Administrative Services
  • Transport
  • Minister assisting the Prime Minister on Constitutional Matters
Francis Potape URP Koni Iguan (PLP)
  • Culture
  • Tourism
Guma Wau URP Byron Chan (PPP)
  • Civil Aviation
Benjamin Popanawa NA
  • Lands
Lucas Dekene NA (Lands and Physical Planning) Theo Zurenouc (PPP)
  • Mining
John Pundari People's Party Francis Awesa (PNGP)

References

  1. "Breaking news: Upheaval in PNG – O’Neill elected as new prime minister", Pacific Media Centre, 2 August 2011
  2. "Polye loses powers", The National, 28 February 2012
  3. ", Post-Courier Online, 10 August 2012
  4. "PNG Cabinet reshuffle, Decision based on performance, stability: PM O'Neill", Islands Business, 25 February 2014
  5. "Gore’s appointment as Cabinet Minister sets new PNG politics record", Post Courier, 25 February 2014
  6. "PNG treasurer sacked by PM O'Neill", News.com.au, 10 March 2014
  7. "Sacked PNG Minister back as cabinet Minister, MP steps down, takes on new role", Islands Business, 11 August 2014
  8. "Flight stoush sees PNG minister grounded", Radio New Zealand, 11 August 2015
  9. "PNG Cabinet Reshuffle after Vote of No Confidence victory", Papua New Guinea Today, 26 July 2016
  10. "Cabinet named". The National. 30 Aug 2007. Retrieved 30 Aug 2007.
  11. "12 vice-ministers appointed". The National. 30 Aug 2007. Retrieved 30 Aug 2007.
  12. "Somare's cabinet: At a glance" (PDF). Post Courier Online. 30 Aug 2007. Retrieved 30 Aug 2007. External link in |publisher= (help)
  13. Papua New Guinea: Cabinet listing, Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Retrieved on 3 Sep. 2007
  14. "Sir Mek forms shadow govt; Bart is deputy". The National. 3 Sep 2006. Retrieved 3 Sep 2007.
  15. "Polye out" Post-Courier, 17 August 2009
  16. National, "Get facts right:Abel" 21 September 2009
  17. "PNG gets new Attorney General and Justice Minister". Radio New Zealand International. 10 May 2010. Retrieved 22 September 2011.
  18. "Papua New Guinea cabinet listing", Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
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