National Parliament of Papua New Guinea

National Parliament of Papua New Guinea
Logan Clarke · CC BY 4.0 · source
Name	National Parliament of Papua New Guinea
Legislature	10th Parliament
Established	1975
House type	Unicameral
Members	118
Term length	5 years
Voting system	Limited preferential voting
Last election	2022
Next election	2027
Meeting place	Parliament House, Port Moresby

National Parliament of Papua New Guinea is the unicameral legislature established at independence in 1975 to succeed the Legislative Council and House of Assembly created under Territory of Papua and New Guinea administration. It sits in Port Moresby at Parliament House and enacts laws, scrutinizes executive action, and represents provincial and open electorates across the Independent State of Papua New Guinea. The body has been central to constitutional developments involving the Constitution of Papua New Guinea, interactions with the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, and regional diplomacy with neighbours such as Australia and Indonesia.

History

The parliamentary institution traces origins to colonial-era bodies including the Papua New Guinea House of Assembly and advisory councils created under the Australian administration of Papua and New Guinea. Key milestones include the 1973 passage of the Papua and New Guinea Act 1949 reforms, the 1975 proclamation of independence under Prime Minister Michael Somare, and constitutional entrenchment of parliamentary powers in the Constitution of Papua New Guinea. Subsequent events shaped the chamber: the 1990s reforms influenced by the Bougainville conflict, interventions connected to the United Nations and regional actors such as the Pacific Islands Forum, and political crises involving figures like Rabin Namaliu, Sir Julius Chan, and Peter O'Neill. Electoral law changes followed reviews by bodies including the Electoral Commission of Papua New Guinea and international advisers from Australia and the Asian Development Bank.

Composition and Membership

The Parliament comprises 118 members: 89 open electorate MPs and 22 provincial, plus the speaker who may be a non-MP under limited circumstances. Members represent electorates across provinces like Eastern Highlands Province, Morobe Province, Enga Province, and autonomous regions including Bougainville. Membership has included leaders such as Michael Somare, Paias Wingti, Belden Namah, Dame Carol Kidu, and James Marape. Political parties active within the chamber have included Pangu Pati, People's National Congress (Papua New Guinea), United Resources Party, National Alliance Party (Papua New Guinea), and Melanesian Alliance Party. The Speaker of the National Parliament of Papua New Guinea presides over sittings while the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea and Leader of the Opposition (Papua New Guinea) shape executive-legislative relations.

Electoral System

Elections use a limited preferential voting system introduced after recommendations by commissions citing precedents from countries such as Australia and advisers from Commonwealth of Nations missions. The system replaced first-past-the-post following controversies in the 1990s and 2000s that involved electoral petitions adjudicated by courts including the National Court of Papua New Guinea. The Electoral Commission of Papua New Guinea administers polls, with conduct overseen by returning officers in districts like Kokopo and provincial capitals such as Lae and Goroka. International observer missions from bodies including the Commonwealth Observer Group and United Nations Development Programme have monitored elections.

Powers and Functions

Parliament exercises legislative authority under the Constitution of Papua New Guinea, including passage of appropriation bills affecting agencies such as the Bank of Papua New Guinea and instruments that implement international agreements like those with Papua New Guinea–Australia relations counterparts. It holds confidence and supply powers determining governments led by figures including Michael Somare and Peter O'Neill, and conducts oversight through questioning ministers from portfolios such as Department of Education, Department of Health (Papua New Guinea), and Department of Defence (Papua New Guinea). Parliament can establish inquiries touching on events like the Sandline Affair and actions involving state-owned enterprises including PNG Power and Petroleum Resources projects.

Parliamentary Procedure and Committees

Sittings follow standing orders modeled on Westminster practice with adaptations found in constitutions of Solomon Islands and Fiji. Committees undertake scrutiny via departmental select committees, public accounts committees examining reports by the Auditor-General of Papua New Guinea, and special committees for matters such as constitutional reform or petitions from provinces like West Sepik Province. Committees summon ministers, civil servants from agencies such as National Statistical Office (Papua New Guinea), and external witnesses including representatives from Trade Union Congress and business bodies like Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Papua New Guinea). Privileges, ethics, and impeachment procedures are governed by standing orders and precedent set in notable inquiries involving parliamentarians such as Malakai Tabar.

Leadership and Officers

Key officers include the Speaker of the National Parliament of Papua New Guinea, deputy speakers, the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, the Deputy Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, and the Leader of the Opposition (Papua New Guinea). Whips coordinate party discipline for formations like Pangu Pati and People's National Congress (Papua New Guinea), while clerks and serjeants-at-arms manage administration, security, and ceremonial functions tied to institutions such as Parliament House, Port Moresby. Notable officeholders have included speakers and clerks who engaged with regional parliamentary associations like the Inter-Parliamentary Union.

Buildings and Facilities

Parliament meets at Parliament House, Port Moresby, a complex located near the PNG National Museum and Art Gallery and government precincts housing the Office of the Prime Minister and ministries such as Department of Finance (Papua New Guinea). Facilities include the debating chamber, committee rooms, library services liaising with the University of Papua New Guinea and archives linked to the National Archives of Papua New Guinea. Security arrangements involve coordination with the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary and parliamentary security staff, while restoration and construction projects have previously involved contractors from Australia, New Zealand, and regional firms during infrastructure upgrades.

Category:Politics of Papua New Guinea Category:Legislatures