The Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF) is the military organisation responsible for the defence of Papua New Guinea. It originated from the Australian Army land forces of the territory of Papua New Guinea before independence,coming into being in January 1973 and having its antecedents in the Pacific Islands Regiment. The PNGDF is a small force,numbering around 3,600 personnel,and consists of a Land Element,an Air Element and a Maritime Element. It is a joint force tasked with defending Papua New Guinea and its territories against external attack,as well as having secondary functions including national-building and internal security tasks.
Papua New Guinea's foreign policy reflects close ties with Australia and other traditional allies and cooperative relations with neighboring countries. Its views on international political and economic issues are generally moderate.
Sir Michael Thomas Somare was a Papua New Guinean politician. Widely called the "father of the nation",he was the first Prime Minister after independence. At the time of his death,Somare was also the longest-serving prime minister,having been in office for 17 years over three separate terms:from 1975 to 1980;from 1982 to 1985;and from 2002 to 2011. His political career spanned from 1968 until his retirement in 2017. Besides serving as PM,he was minister of foreign affairs,leader of the opposition and governor of East Sepik Province.
The National Executive Council (NEC),also known as 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.
Foreign relations exist between Australia and Papua New Guinea. Papua New Guinea is Australia's closest neighbour and a former colony of Australia. Both nations share the same continent in the Oceania region. Papua New Guinea has developed much closer relations with Australia than with Indonesia,the only country with which it shares a land border. The two countries are Commonwealth realms. In contemporary times,Papua New Guinea is one of the largest recipients of Australian aid. Some critics have pointed to instances where this has led to an outsized Australian influence on Papua New Guinea politics.
Nicholas Peter Warner,is an Australian diplomat,intelligence official,public servant,and the Director-General of the Office of National Intelligence since 20 December 2018.
The Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary (RPNGC) is a national police force with jurisdiction throughout Papua New Guinea.
Ano Pala,is a Papua New Guinean politician. He has been a member of the National Parliament of Papua New Guinea since 2007,representing the electorate of Rigo Open. He is Minister of Justice and Attorney-General in the government of Peter O'Neill.
Corruption is rife in Papua New Guinea (PNG). According to The Economist,"PNG's governments are notorious for corruption,and ever run the risk of turning the state into a fully-fledged kleptocracy".
Investigation Task Force Sweep was established in Papua New Guinea (PNG) on 12 August 2011,following a resolution by the National Executive Council (NEC). The initiative was spearheaded by Prime Minister Peter O'Neill as part of his well-publicised anti-corruption drive.
Louise Helen Hand is an Australian diplomat and is a senior career officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
William John Farmer is a retired senior Australian public servant and policymaker,best known for his time as Secretary of the Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs and for his career in the Australian diplomatic service.
Rimbink Pato OBE is a Papua New Guinean constitutional lawyer and politician. He was Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade from 2012 to 2019. Pato is the head of the United Party and its sole MP,representing Wapenamanda Open.
Michael Potts is a retired Australian diplomat and a former Australian High Commissioner to New Zealand.
Winnie Anna Kiap is a Papua New Guinean former diplomat who served as the Papua New Guinea High Commissioner to the United Kingdom with accreditation to Cyprus,Egypt,Israel,South Africa,and Zimbabwe from 2011 to 2022. In 2022,she was a nominated as a candidate for Governor-General of Papua New Guinea.
The Commander of the Papua New Guinea Defence Force is the highest-ranking military officer of in the Papua New Guinea Defence Force,who is responsible for maintaining the operational command of the military. The current commander is Brigadier general Gilbert Toropo.
Ian Kemish,is an Australian author,international relations specialist and not-for-profit chair. He is a former senior diplomat and business executive. During his career with the Australian Government he served as Australian High Commissioner to Papua New Guinea,Australian ambassador to Germany,head of the consular and Southeast Asia Divisions of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade,and head of the Prime Minister's International Division. As of 2023 he is co-founder of international strategic advisory firm Forridel,adjunct professor in History at the University of Queensland,an expert associate of the ANU National Security College,and Chair and Industry Fellow for the Griffith Asia Institute advisory council. His book The Consul, released in July 2022,provides an insider account on more than 20 years of international crisis management by the Australian consular service.
Sir Anthony Siaguru was a Papua New Guinean civil servant,lawyer,international diplomat,politician,sportsman and anti-corruption campaigner.
The Gang of Four in Papua New Guinea (PNG) were four influential young public servants who played an important role in the planning and development of the country immediately after the country's independence from Australia in 1975.
