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| Council overview | |
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| Formed | 1975 |
| Jurisdiction | Government of Papua New Guinea |
| Headquarters | Sir Manasupe Haus, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea |
| Council executives |
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| Key documents |
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 New Guineaportal |
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. [3]
Sir Manasupe Haus (House) is the building that hosts the Department of the Prime Minister and the National Executive Council. Formerly known as Marea House, fondly referred to as the "Pineapple Building" due to its shape, it is named after Sir Manasupe Zurenuoc, a former Chief Secretary of PNG. It was renamed and reopened on 27 January 2016 after being closed for renovations funded by Oil Search. [4]
All executive power in the government is vested in the National Executive Council, which comprises all Ministers of the Crown. Unlike Australia, whose has a two-tier level of government between the Cabinet for political decision and the Federal Executive Council for purely formal decisions, the NEC is patterned along the precedent of the former as it makes policy decisions. The total number of Ministers comprising the National Executive Council is never to be less than a quarter of the National Parliament. [5]
There is a Secretary to the National Executive Council, who is responsible to the Prime Minister and is charge of the council Secretariat. [6] In addition, a Senior Minister position exists on an ad hoc basis.
| Portfolio | Minister | Minister's party | Since |
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| James Marape | Pangu Party | 20 December 2020 |
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| Jimmy Maladina | Pangu Pati | |
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Prime Minister James Marape added nine new ministers to his cabinet on 20 December 2020. [7]
| Portfolio | Minister | Minister's party | Since |
|---|---|---|---|
| James Marape | Pangu Party | 20 December 2020 |
| Sam Basil | United Labour Party | 20 December 2020 |
| Bryan Jared Kramer | Allegiance Party | 20 December 2020 |
| Ian Ling-Stuckey | National Alliance Party | 20 December 2020 |
| Soroi Eoe | Pangu Party | 20 December 2020 |
| Sir John Pundari | Liberal | 20 December 2020 |
| Jimmy Uguro | Pangu Party | 20 December 2020 |
| Sekie Agisa | Pangu Party | 20 December 2020 |
| Timothy Masiu | National Alliance Party | 20 December 2020 |
| Wake Goi | People's Party | 20 December 2020 |
| Win Daki | Pangu Party | 20 December 2020 |
| Solan Mirisim | Pangu Party | 20 December 2020 |
| Wera Mori | Pangu Party | 20 December 2020 |
| Dr Lino Tom | People's Party | 20 December 2020 |
| Jelta Wong | United Resources Party | 20 December 2020 |
| Wesley Raminai | 20 December 2020 | |
| Justin Tkatchenko | Social Democratic Party | 20 December 2020 |
| Westly Nukundj | Independent | 20 December 2020 |
| Pila Niningi | People's National Congress | 20 December 2020 |
| Tomait Kapili | United Resources Party | 20 December 2020 |
| John Simon | Pangu Party | 20 December 2020 |
| John Rosso | Pangu Party | 20 December 2020 |
| Kerenga Kua | National Party | 20 December 2020 |
| William Onglo | United Resources Party | 20 December 2020 |
| William Duma | United Resources Party | 20 December 2020 |
| Joe Sungi | Pangu Party | 20 December 2020 |
| Isi Henry Leonard | National Party | 20 December 2020 |
| William Samb | Pangu Party | |
| Michael Nali | People's National Congress | 20 December 2020 |
| Walter Schnaubelt | National Alliance Party | 20 December 2020 |
| Saki Soloma | Pangu Party | 20 December 2020 |
| Johnson Tuke | People's Progress Party | 20 December 2020 |
| Henry Amuli | Melanesian Alliance Party | April 2022 |
James Marape announced his second Cabinet on 1 October 2020. [8]
| Portfolio | Minister | Minister's party |
|---|---|---|
| James Marape | Pangu Party |
| Sam Basil | United Labour Party |
| Davis Steven | People's Party |
| Ian Ling-Stuckey | National Alliance Party |
| Patrick Pruaitch | National Alliance Party |
| Rainbo Paita | Pangu Party |
| Joseph Yopyyopy | Melanesian Alliance Party |
| Jelta Wong | United Resources Party |
| William Duma | United Resources Party |
| Timothy Masiu | National Alliance Party |
| Wake Goi | People's Party |
| Chris Nangoi | Melanesian Alliance Party |
| Saki Soloma | Pangu Party |
| Wera Mori | Pangu Party |
| Dr Lino Tom | Peoples Party |
| Sir Puka Temu | Our Development Party |
| Nick Kuman | Pangu Party |
| Justin Tkatchenko | Social Democratic Party |
| Westly Nukundj | Independent |
| Pila Niningi | People's National Congress |
| Lekwa Gure | United Labour Party |
| John Simon | Pangu Party |
| John Rosso | Pangu Party |
| Kerenga Kua | PNG National Party |
| Bryan Kramer | Allegiance Party |
| Sasindran Muthuvel | Pangu Party |
| Soroi Eoe | Pangu Party |
| Walter Schnaubelt | National Alliance |
| William Samb | Pangu Party |
| Michael Nali | People's National Congress |
| Solan Mirisim | Pangu Party |
| William Onglo | United Resource Party |
| Johnson Tuke | People's Progress Party |
Prime Minister James Marape appointed his first Cabinet on 7 June 2019.
| Portfolio | Minister | Minister's party |
|---|---|---|
| James Marape | Pangu Party | |
| Davis Steven | Unaffiliated |
| Ian Ling-Stuckey | National Alliance Party |
| Soroi Eoe | People's National Congress |
| Charles Abel | Our Development Party |
| Joseph Yopyyopy | Melanesian Alliance Party |
| Lekwa Gure | Melanesian Alliance Party |
| Wera Mori | Unaffiliated |
| Renbo Paita | Pangu Party |
| Wake Goi | People's National Congress |
| Chris Nangoi | Melanesian Alliance Party |
| Saki Soloma | Unaffiliated |
| Jeffery Kama | Triumph Heritage Empowerment Party |
| Dr Lino Tom | Pangu Party |
| Sir Puka Temu | Our Development Party |
| Elias Kapavore | People's National Congress |
| Nick Kuman | People's National Congress |
| Justin Tkatchenko | People's National Congress |
| Petrus Thomas | Independent |
| Pila Niningi | People's National Congress |
| Alfred Manase | People's National Congress |
| John Simon | Unaffiliated |
| John Rosso | Pangu Party |
| Kerenga Kua | PNG National Party |
| Bryan Kramer | Allegiance Party |
| Sasindran Muthuvel | People's National Congress |
| Westly Nukundj | People's National Congress |
| Emil Tammur | People's Progress Party |
| William Samb | Pangu Party |
| Michael Nali | People's National Congress |
| Solan Mirisim | People's National Congress |
| Richard Maru | People's National Congress |
| Johnson Tuke | People's Progress Party |
James Marape was elected as Prime Minister on 30 May 2019, and on 31 May he appointed a caretaker Cabinet.
| Portfolio | Minister | Minister's party |
|---|---|---|
| James Marape | Pangu Party |
| Solan Mirisim | People's National Congress |
| Richard Maru | People's National Congress |
| Sam Basil | Melanesian Alliance Party |
| Johnson Tuke | People's Progress Party |
| Davis Steven | Unaffiliated |
| Michael Nali | People's National Congress |
| Charles Abel | Our Development Party |
Following the re-election of Peter O'Neill's government at the 2017 election, O'Neill appointed his Cabinet on 9 August 2017. [9]
| Portfolio | Minister | Minister's party |
|---|---|---|
| Peter O'Neill | People's National Congress |
| Charles Abel | People's National Congress |
| Kevin Isifu | People's Progress Party |
| James Marape | People's National Congress | |
| Richard Maru | People's National Congress |
| Elias Kapavore | People's National Congress |
| Fabian Pok | United Resources Party |
| Justin Tkatchenko | People's National Congress |
| Rimbink Pato | United Party |
| John Kaupa | People's National Congress |
| Jelta Wong | United Resources Party |
| Pila Ninigi | People's National Congress |
| Fr Simon Dumarinu | Social Democratic Party |
| Alfred Manasseh | People's National Congress |
| Solan Mirisim | People's National Congress |
| Michael Nali | Independent |
| William Duma | United Resources Party |
| Wera Mori | People's National Congress |
| John Pundari | People's National Congress |
| Benny Allan | People's National Congress |
| Westly Nukundi | People's National Congress |
| Mehrra Kipefa | United Resources Party |
| Francis Maneke | Our Development Party |
| Soroi Eoe | People's National Congress [10] |
| Sir Puka Temu | People's National Congress |
| Nick Kuman | People's National Congress |
| Patrick Basa | Christian Democratic Party |
| Roy Biyama | People's National Congress |
| Emil Tamur | People's Progress Party |
| Petrus Thomas | Independent |
| Davis Steven | People's National Congress |
| Douglas Tomuriesa | People's National Congress |
| Johnson Tuke | People's Progress Party |
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. [11]
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. [12]
On 9 August 2012, following a general election, O'Neill announced the following cabinet for the 2012–2017 term: [13]
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. [14] 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). [15]
On 10 March 2014, O'Neill sacked his Minister for Finance 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. [16]
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. [17]
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.) [18]
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. [19]
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. [20] [21] [22] [23]
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. [24]
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. [25] 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. [26]
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. [27]
This was the Cabinet as of February 2011. [28] (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) | |
| Sam Abal | Enga | NA | (Transport, Civil Aviation, Works) Tony Puana (NGP) | |
| Peter O'Neill | Southern Highlands | PNC | Bart Philemon (NGP) | ||
| Don Polye | ||||
| Moses Maladina | RDP | Anthony Nene | Isaac Joseph (NGP) | |
| Fidelis Semoso | East Sepik | PAP | (Foreign Affairs, Trade and Immigration) Sali Subam (NA) | (Bougainville) Koni Iguan (PLP) |
| James Marape | NA | David Arore (NA) | Ferao Orimyo (PNGP) | |
| Paul Tiensten | East New Britain | NA | (National Planning and Monitoring) Phillip Kikala | |
| Gabriel Kapris | East Sepik | PAP | Bonny Oveyara (PPP) | |
| William Duma | Western Highlands | URP | Francis Potabe Mulungu (NGP) | |
| Andrew Kumbakor | West Sepik | Pangu | Theo Zurenouc (PPP) | |
| Bob Dadae | Morobe | UP | ||
| Paru Aihi | PNGP | Jack Cameron (PDM) | ||
| Sir Arnold Amet | NA | |||
| Dame Carol Kidu | NCD | MA | ||
| Arthur Somare | East Sepik | NA | David Arore | Sir Mekere Morauta (PNGP) |
| Ano Pala | Central | NA | Puri Ruing (PNGP) | |
| Benny Allan | Eastern Highlands | URP | Roy Biyama (URP) | |
| Philemon Embel | Southern Highlands | Pangu | ||
| Sani Rambi | Western Highlands | NA | Sam Basil (PPP) | |
| Sasa Zibe | Morobe | NA | (Health) Yawa Silupa (NA) | |
| Mark Maipakai | Gulf | NA | Byron Chan (PPP) | |
| Ben Semri | Madang | PAP | Sam Basil (PPP) | |
| Timothy Bonga | NA | Isaac Joseph (NGP) | ||
| Tony Aimo | East Sepik | PAP | ||
| Patrick Tammur | East New Britain | NA | ||
| Job Pomat | Manus | PNC | Koni Iguan (PLP) | |
| Francis Potape | URP | Koni Iguan (PLP) | ||
| Guma Wau | URP | Byron Chan (PPP) | ||
| Benjamin Popanawa | NA | |||
| Lucas Dekene | NA | (Lands and Physical Planning) Theo Zurenouc (PPP) | ||
| John Pundari | People's Party | Francis Awesa (PNGP) | ||
The politics of Papua New Guinea takes place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic multi-party system, whereby the prime minister is the head of government. Papua New Guinea is an independent Commonwealth realm, with the monarch serving as head of state and a governor-general, nominated by the National Parliament, serving as their representative. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and parliament.
The prime minister of the Independent State of Papua New Guinea is Papua New Guinea's head of government, consequent on being the leader of the party or coalition with majority support in the National Parliament. The prime minister serves as the head of his party, the head of the coalition government, and the chairman of the National Executive Council.
Sir Mekere Morauta was a Papua New Guinean politician and economist who served as the 7th Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea from 1999 to 2002. Inheriting a depressed economy and a fractious legislature, he embarked on fundamental reforms of the country's economy and political system.
Don Pomb Polye is a Papua New Guinean politician from Enga Province. He has been a Cabinet Minister under two Prime Ministers, and was briefly Deputy Prime Minister from July to December 2010. He has held Foreign Affairs, Immigration, Transport, Civil Aviation, Finance and Treasury portfolios.
Sali Subam is a Papua New Guinea politician. He was a National Alliance member of the National Parliament of Papua New Guinea from 2007 to 2012, representing the electorate of South Fly Open.
James Marape is a Papua New Guinean politician who has served as the prime minister of Papua New Guinea since May 2019. He has been a member of the National Parliament of Papua New Guinea since July 2007, representing the electorate of Tari-Pori Open in Hela Province in the New Guinea Highlands. He has held Cabinet Posts as Minister of Education (2008–2011), Minister of Finance (2012–2019), and Minister of Foreign Affairs (2023–present). Marape entered the 2022 elections under the banner of the Pangu Party and won more seats than any other party. He was therefore entitled to form the government. His new government was elected unopposed by the new parliament.
The Melanesian Liberal Party is a political party in Papua New Guinea.
Sir Puka Temu,, is a Papua New Guinean politician. He has been a member of the National Parliament of Papua New Guinea since 2002, representing the electorate of Abau Open. A former Deputy Prime Minister under Michael Somare, he is part of Prime Minister James Marape's government as a member of the Our Development Party.
Samuel Tei Abal is a Papua New Guinean politician. Abal, who previously served as Foreign Minister from August 2007 to December 2010, became the Deputy Prime Minister of the country in a cabinet reshuffle by Michael Somare on 7 December 2010. He further became acting Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea on 13 December 2010, when Prime Minister Somare stepped down from office to face a tribunal regarding allegations of financial mismanagement. His tenure as acting Prime Minister ended on 2 August 2011, when Peter O'Neill won a parliamentary vote to be appointed as Prime Minister. Since October 2021, he is the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Papua New Guinea to Japan.
Peter Charles Paire O'Neill is a Papua New Guinean politician who served as the seventh Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea from 2011 to 2019. He has been a Member of Parliament for Ialibu-Pangia since 2002. He was a former cabinet minister and the leader of the People's National Congress between 2006 and 2022. He resigned his position as prime minister to avoid a vote of no confidence, and he was succeeded by James Marape.
David Arore is a Papua New Guinean politician. He was a member of the National Parliament of Papua New Guinea from 2007 until unseated by a court decision in 2015 and again from a 2015 by-election until 2017. He was Minister for Higher Education, Research, Science & Technology under Peter O'Neill from 2011 to 2014.
Belden Namah is a Papua New Guinean politician. Namah is a member of the National Parliament for the Papua New Guinea Party, and has represented Vanimo-Green River District since 2007. He served in the Cabinet from 2007 to 2010, and as Deputy Prime Minister from 2011 to 2012. In 2012, Namah became a member of the opposition. After retaining his seat in the 2022 election, he said that he would not rejoin the opposition.
2011–2012 Papua New Guinean constitutional crisis was a dispute between Sir Michael Somare and Peter O'Neill. Both claimed to be Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea.
The Triumph Heritage Empowerment Party is a political party in Papua New Guinea. It was founded in 2012 by Don Polye, Minister of Finance at the time.
Papua New Guinea's Ministry of Finance is the department responsible for the "protection of public money" in Papua New Guinea (PNG). The ministry aims to improve "the transparency and accountability of the accounting and financial reporting and their frameworks" in the country. The ministry is led by a Minister of Finance. The headquarters of the ministry are at Vulupindi Haus, Waigani.
Sir John Pundari is a Papua New Guinean politician. He has been Speaker of the National Parliament (1997–1999), Deputy Prime Minister (1999), Minister for Foreign Affairs (2001), and currently serving as the Minister of Finance and Rural Development since 20 December 2020.
Charles Abel is a politician in Papua New Guinea. He was a member of the National Parliament of Papua New Guinea from 2007-2022, representing the electorate of Alotau Open. He competed for the regional seat (governor) in Milne Bay Province -of which Alotau is the capital- in 2022 but he lost. Charles Abel has occupied several cabinet positions. He was from 2007-2010 minister of Culture and Tourism. He was Minister for Trade, Commerce and Industry in 2011-2012. In the period 2012-2017 he was Minister for National Planning. From August 2017-May 2019 he was Deputy Prime Minister and Treasurer. In 2019 he was from June–November Minister for Finance and Rural Development. He is active in policy making for natural resources.
Samuel H. Basil was a Papua New Guinean politician. He was a member of the National Parliament of Papua New Guinea from 2007, representing the electorate of Bulolo Open, until his death in 2022. From 8 June 2019, to August 2019 Basil served as the Treasurer of Papua New Guinea.
Patrick Pruaitch, CMG is a Papua New Guinea politician who represented the Aitape-Lumi constituency in the West Sepik Province of Papua New Guinea in the National Parliament of Papua New Guinea from 2002 to 2022. He was a Cabinet Minister with few interruptions from 2002–2010 and from 2012–2017. From November 2019–November 2020, he was Minister for Foreign Affairs. From 2017–2019 and 2020-2022 he was Leader of the Opposition. He was twice – in 2019 and 2020 – alternate PM in unsuccessful attempts to unseat the government.
Davis Madava Steven is a Papua New Guinea politician. He is a Member of the Papua New Guinea National Parliament, representing the seat of Esa'ala Open since 2012. Steven served as the Deputy Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea from 2019 to 2020 due to a cabinet reshuffle by prime minister Marape.