Papua New Guinea PM announces cabinet reshuffle, government reforms

Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape has announced a cabinet reshuffle, which sees him personally take up the important Correctional Services portfolio.

The former Correctional Services minister Joe Kuli is one of several MPs who are now leaving the cabinet, along with the only female cabinet member, Kessy Sawang, who Marape sayid was leaving for health reasons.

New faces in the executive

A statement on the reshuffle from the prime minister's office gave the following details:

Ministers leaving:

Kessy Sawang (Rai Coast)

Sekie Agisa (South Fly)

Joe Kuli (Anglimp-South Waghi)

Lucas Dawa Dekena (Gumine)

Timothy Masiu (South Bougainville)

Simon Kilepa (Lufa)

New appointments:

Robert Naguri (Bogia) - Minister for Information and Communications Technology

John Kaupa (Moresby North-East) - Minister for Environment and Conservation

Saki Soloma (Okapa) - Minister for Labour and Employment

Douglas Tomuriesa - Minister for Civil Aviation

Francis Kikin Siune (Kerowagi) - Minister for Education

Agena Gamai (Delta Fly) - Minister for Livestock

Ministerial portfolio changes:

Dr Billy Joseph (Nipa Kutbu) becomes Minister for Health and assumes responsibility for Disaster and Emergency Services

Elias Kapavore (Pomio) becomes Minister for Defence

William Bando (Koroba-Kopiago District) becomes Minister for Immigration

Wake Goi (Jimi) assumes responsibility for Commerce and Industry

Miki Kaeok (Wapenamanda) assumes responsibility for Coffee alongside Transport

Prime Minister Marape (Tari) will personally oversee Correctional Service, National Volunteer Service and Sports

The Labour Mobility Unit will also transfer from Treasury to the Ministry for Labour and Employment.

Government reforms

Meanwhile, Marape also announced a series of major structural reforms across government "aimed at improving accountability, strengthening financial management and modernising the administration of Papua New Guinea".

He said the reforms would include clearly defining the responsibilities of the Departments of Finance, Treasury and National Planning, strengthening accountability while improving the efficiency and integrity of public financial management.

Under the new arrangements:

The Department of Finance will become the sole authority responsible for processing all National Government payments and exercising all government warranting functions.

The warranting function will be transferred fromTreasury to Finance, making Finance the Government's central financial management and cash management agency.

Treasury will concentrate exclusively on budget formulation, fiscal policy, budget management and budget oversight.

The Department of National Planning will cease issuing development payment cheques or processing development fund payments.

Public Investment Programme funds and all other allocations will be channelled directly to departments, provincial governments, district administrations and statutory authorities.

National Planning will return to its core functions of national development planning, project coordination, monitoring and evaluation.

Marape also announced reforms to the management of State-Owned Enterprises, including:

PNG Power Limited transferring to the responsibility of Minister for International Trade and Investment, Richard Maru

Kumul Agriculture Limited transferring to the Ministry for Agriculture

Trustee responsibilities for Kumul Minerals Holdings Limited transferring to the Minister for Mining

Furthermore, the Prime Minister announced that responsibility for the Climate Change and Development Authority (CCDA) will transfer to the Ministry of Forestry.

"Whether our forests generate value through sustainable harvesting or through conservation and carbon markets, they remain one national forest resource," Marape said.

"Bringing climate change and forestry together under one minister will improve policy coordination, strengthen governance and maximise both the economic and environmental value of our forests."

In other reforms, Marape announced that every minister has been directed to immediately review the performance of departments, statutory authorities and agencies under their responsibility.

"Every departmental head and agency leader who has failed to submit the required 2025 Annual Performance Report is now formally on notice.

"Beginning tomorrow, every departmental head and agency leader who has failed to comply with this legal obligation will be asked to vacate the office they currently hold while the Government commences the necessary legal processes to effect their removal.

He also said ministers had been instructed not to rush appointments involving departmental heads and statutory office holders, with all senior appointments to be carefully reviewed.