Cabinet 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.
First Marape Cabinet
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 |
Marape Caretaker Cabinet
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 |
O'Neill-Abel Cabinet
Following the re-election of Peter O'Neill's government at the 2017 election, O'Neill appointed his Cabinet on 9 August 2017.| 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 | |
| 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 |
First O'Neill 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.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.
On 9 August 2012, following a general election, O'Neill announced the following cabinet for the 2012-2017 term:
| 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 | ||
| 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 |
On 10 March 2014, O'Neill sacked his Finance Minister Don Polye, and Minister for Industrial Relations Mark Maipakai, having accused them of destabilising the government.
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.
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.
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, who was promoted from the back benches.
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.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.
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. 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.
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.
This was the Cabinet as of February 2011.
| Portfolio | Minister | Minister's province | Minister's party | Parliamentary secretary | Opposition shadow minister |
| Sir Michael Somare | East Sepik | NA | Sir Mekere Morauta | |
| Sam Abal | Enga | NA | ' Tony Puana | |
| Peter O'Neill | Southern Highlands | PNC | Bart Philemon | |
| Don Polye | |||||
| Moses Maladina | RDP | Anthony Nene | Isaac Joseph | ||
| Fidelis Semoso | East Sepik | PAP | ' Sali Subam | ' Koni Iguan | |
| James Marape | NA | David Arore | Ferao Orimyo | |
| Paul Tiensten | East New Britain | NA | ' Phillip Kikala | ||
| Gabriel Kapris | East Sepik | PAP | Bonny Oveyara | ||
| William Duma | Western Highlands | URP | Francis Potabe Mulungu | ||
| Andrew Kumbakor | West Sepik | Pangu | Theo Zurenouc | ||
| Bob Dadae | Morobe | UP | |||
| Paru Aihi | PNGP | Jack Cameron | |||
| Sir Arnold Amet | NA | ||||
| Dame Carol Kidu | NCD | MA | |||
| Arthur Somare | East Sepik | NA | David Arore | Sir Mekere Morauta | |
| Ano Pala | Central | NA | Puri Ruing | ||
| Benny Allan | Eastern Highlands | URP | Roy Biyama | ||
| Philemon Embel | Southern Highlands | Pangu | |||
| Sani Rambi | Western Highlands | NA | Sam Basil | ||
| Sasa Zibe | Morobe | NA | ' Yawa Silupa | ||
| Mark Maipakai | Gulf | NA | Byron Chan | ||
| Ben Semri | Madang | PAP | Sam Basil | ||
| Timothy Bonga | NA | Isaac Joseph | |||
| Tony Aimo | East Sepik | PAP | |||
| Patrick Tammur | East New Britain | NA | |||
| Job Pomat | Manus | PNC | Koni Iguan | ||
| Francis Potape | URP | Koni Iguan | |||
| Guma Wau | URP | Byron Chan | |||
| Benjamin Popanawa | NA | ||||
| Lucas Dekene | NA | ' Theo Zurenouc | |||
| John Pundari | People's Party | Francis Awesa |