A POOL SIDE CUPPA TEA - 04/25

author" Jonathan Oata

Posted at Transformation PNG WhatsApp Group

Port Moresby

11th April. 2025

(REFERRING TO MARAPE-ROSSO GOVERNMENT FROM 2019-2025)

An Impartial Assessment of the Marape-Rosso Government: Legislative Reforms, Economic

Management, and Law & Order in Papua New Guinea

1.  Introduction 

The Marape-Rosso Government has embarked on a period of assertive reform since taking office, introducing a suite of legislative changes aimed at strengthening governance, financial independence, and institutional transparency. However, these changes have unfolded against a backdrop of economic instability, persistent law and order challenges, and growing public scrutiny, especially with a pending Vote of No Confidence (VONC) looming. This paper provides an unapologetically candid evaluation of the Government's performance across key areas: legislative progress, economic policy, public safety, governance, and civic freedoms, with an integrated assessment of the 2025 National Budget allocations.

2.  Legislative Reforms: Ambitious but Controversial 

The government passed 18 amendments to the Central Banking Act in September 2024, introducing a Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) to bolster monetary decision-making. The MPC, composed of the Governor, Deputy Governor, and three external appointees, was intended to create a more independent and transparent mechanism for monetary policy.

While the intention behind these reforms appears sound, critics argue that they jeopardize the independence of the Bank of Papua New Guinea (BPNG). The power granted to the Treasurer to influence appointments has sparked concern among economists, analysts, and former civil servants who fear increased political interference and declining investor confidence. The broader implication is a potential weakening of institutional integrity at a time when Papua New Guinea (PNG) needs robust governance frameworks to support economic recovery.

In parallel, the government has attempted to address judicial inefficiencies by prioritizing law and justice sector funding. The 2025 National Budget allocates PGK 628 million to the Law and Justice Sector, reflecting an 8% increase from the previous year. Notably, allocations to the Judiciary and Magisterial Services have been boosted, alongside funding for the establishment of an Appeals Court, aimed at accelerating legal processes. These reforms signal a recognition of long-standing bottlenecks in PNG's justice system.

It is important to acknowledge that Papua New Guinea already has a Constitutional and Law Reform Commission (CLRC), which is mandated to conduct reviews and provide advice on constitutional and legal matters. Any legislative reform process must meaningfully engage with the CLRC, respecting its mandate and leveraging its expertise to ensure reforms are grounded in legal integrity and public consultation. Failure to properly utilize this existing body risks redundancy, confusion, and undermining the rule of law.

3.  Economic Management: Facing Headwinds 

Despite legislative efforts, economic conditions in PNG remain fragile. The kina continues to depreciate, inflation is steadily rising, and household purchasing power is eroding. The 2025 Budget forecasts a GDP growth of 5.2%, driven primarily by the resource sector, yet non-resource sectors such as agriculture and manufacturing continue to stagnate. Critics argue that this overreliance on extractives leaving PNG vulnerable to external shocks.

Recurrent expenditure dominates the PGK 24.5 billion budget, with nearly 70% directed toward salaries, goods and services, and debt servicing—leaving limited room for capital investments. While the Government has announced increases in education (PGK 1.3 billion) and health (PGK 1.4 billion), implementation and absorption capacity remain areas of concern.

The government’s management of public funds has come under fire, with reports revealing that portions of the development budget were either underutilized or diverted to unbudgeted expenditures. Such fiscal missteps contribute to public distrust and hinder effective service delivery.

4.  Law and Order: Persistent Challenges with Limited Gains 

Law and order has remained a critical issue during the Marape-Rosso administration. Despite highprofile announcements and increased budgetary allocations, violence and insecurity persist. Incidents such as the gang-rape and murder in Port Moresby and tribal conflicts near the Porgera gold mine underscore the inadequacy of policing and the fragility of state authority in some regions.

The 2025 Budget allocates PGK 921 million to the Police Force and Correctional Services, signaling the government’s intent to bolster law enforcement capabilities. However, corruption, logistics issues, and understaffing continue to undermine effective policing.

While the administration has declared law and order a top priority ahead of PNG’s 50th independence anniversary, tangible progress remains limited. Public confidence in the state's capacity to ensure safety has waned. Communities continue to resort to vigilante justice, and gender-based violence remains alarmingly high. The Marape-Rosso Government's performance in law and order is therefore rated C– — a downgrade reflecting minimal progress, performative policy gestures, and a widening gap between funding and field results.

4.1. Shrinking Civic Space: Security Laws and Civil Society Suppression 

Beyond the traditional scope of law and order, the Marape-Rosso Government has drawn sharp criticism for increasingly authoritarian tendencies, particularly through recent legislation that directly threatens civil liberties and the vibrancy of Papua New Guinea’s civil society.

The Anti-Terrorist Act, originally framed as a national security measure, contains vague definitions that could easily be weaponized against peaceful dissent, protest movements, and nongovernmental organizations. Critics argue it grants sweeping powers to security agencies with minimal oversight, undermining constitutional rights to freedom of expression and assembly.

Further compounding concerns is the Internal Security Act, which centralizes control over intelligence and surveillance mechanisms. Its opacity raises red flags about potential overreach, especially when coupled with weak institutional checks and balances.

Meanwhile, the Vagrancy Bill—ostensibly aimed at addressing urban lawlessness—has triggered backlash for its discriminatory undertones and potential to criminalize poverty and rural-to-urban migration. Civil society organizations warn that it could be used to arbitrarily detain individuals without due process, disproportionately targeting youth and informal settlers.

These legal instruments reflect a worrying trend: a government that, while speaking the language of reform, is increasingly curbing the very democratic freedoms upon which accountable governance depends. If left unchecked, this legislative clampdown could choke grassroots mobilization and muzzle PNG’s burgeoning civil rights movement at a pivotal moment in its democratic evolution.

5.  PNG’s Democracy Through the Eyes of Socrates 

If Socrates were to walk the streets of Port Moresby in 2025, he might raise an eyebrow and ask, “Is this democracy—or demagoguery wrapped in policy paper?” Socratic democracy hinges on the belief that power must be guided by reason, virtue, and the collective good. PNG’s current climate—defined by elite maneuvering, gagged civil societies, and cosmetic reforms—betrays that philosophy.

In Socratic terms, when rulers legislate for their own survival rather than the people's enlightenment, democracy degenerates into an oligarchy of fear and self-preservation. This trajectory, marked by the Anti-Terrorist Act, the Internal Security Act, and the Vagrancy Bill, illustrates the philosopher's fear: when power goes unchecked, the governed cease to be free, and the state becomes a beast that devours its own children.

6.  Overall Government Performance Rating 

Category         Rating

Legislative Initiatives        B

Economic Management C

Law and Order            C–

Budget Allocation Use C

Civil Society Space    D

Overall Score             C– / D+ 

This rating reflects a government with lofty ambitions, but shallow execution. Legislative overdrive without grassroots outcomes. Budget surges without oversight. Security laws cloaked in reformist language. PNG doesn’t need a stage play—it needs a state.

7.  Recommendations and Alternatives for PNG

• Enhance Transparency: Enforce stronger accountability mechanisms to track and report public expenditure, especially in development budgets.

• Safeguard Institutional Independence: Ensure that governance bodies like BPNG are shielded from political influence to maintain investor confidence and effective economic oversight.

• Bolster Law Enforcement: Increase investment in law enforcement infrastructure and training, while also encouraging community policing models.

• Economic Diversification: Expand investment into agriculture, tourism, and ICT sectors to reduce dependency on extractive industries.

• Empower Local Governance: Facilitate more community participation in national development programs to ensure initiatives align with grassroots needs.

• Protect Civil Liberties: Re-examine the Anti-Terrorist Act, Internal Security Act, and Vagrancy Bill to ensure they align with constitutional rights and democratic standards.

• Budget Execution Reforms: Strengthen project management and monitoring systems to ensure budget allocations are fully utilized and development outcomes achieved.

• Reignite Public Debate: Encourage citizen forums, school civic education, and digital town halls to reawaken PNG’s democratic spirit.

8.  Conclusion 

The Marape-Rosso Government talks big, legislates harder and yet PNG keeps bleeding. While ministers pat themselves on the back, real people in settlements and villages are asking, “Where’s the change?” The streets aren’t safer. The kina isn’t stronger. And freedom? That’s becoming a luxury.

The Anti-Terrorist Act, Internal Security Act, and Vagrancy Bill were the final nails in the coffin for civil society—legal grenades tossed into the heart of PNG’s democracy. The government's crackdown on dissent is not reform but it's repression in reformist clothing.

This isn't just a performance review—it's a wake-up call. With the 50th independence celebration creeping closer, the people aren’t just watching but they're judging. And they’re done clapping for speeches with no substance.

The pending VONC? It’s not about who's in power but it’s about what power has done.

No more excuses. No more distractions. Just results or resign. PNG doesn’t need big men with big words. It needs leadership that delivers. Period.

Legacy isn’t made in Parliament and it’s carved in the everyday lives of citizens. Choose wisely. Time’s up! 

PNG National Parliament outlay