PNG NEWS
Featuring news and articles about contemporary Papua New Guinea—also included are the nation’s sporting achievements and events and stories about people doing interesting things
New Australian High Commissioner to PNG
PM Marape welcomes Ewen McDonald
A new Australian High Commissioner to Papua New Guinea, Ewen McDonald, commenced his role on 7 May 2025. Mr McDonald also holds the position of Australia’s Inaugural Special Envoy for the Pacific and Regional Affairs.
Mr. McDonald replaces former Australian High Commissioner to PNG, John Feakes, who recently retired from his post, having served since September 2023.
The new Australian Deputy High Commissioner, HE Adrian Lochrin, was welcomed at the Department of National Planning and Monitoring (DNPM) in Port Moresby on 15 July 2025.
Speaking with PNG’s Secretary for the Department of National Planning and Monitoring (DNPM), Koney Samuel, HE Lochrin said:
The theme for this year, ‘Side by Side, Step by Step,’ is the way we are commemorating and celebrating PNG’s 50th Anniversary. Australia will still walk side by side, step by step with PNG. You talked about the new Development Cooperation Framework, we stand ready to engage on that constructively.
The visit highlighted Australia’s ongoing support for Papua New Guinea’s Development Agenda as the meeting also coincided with the signing ceremony for the four new Subsidiary Arrangements (SA):
- The Strategic Health Infrastructure (Stage 2 of ANGAU Hospital support to the new Gware Administration Building and Daru General Hospital).
- Law and Justice Program.
- PNG Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Policy Support Program.
- PNG Women Lead.
The Subsidiary Arrangements provide the legal framework for any new program to be implemented in PNG.
NRL Board Members Announced
Inaugural board of Papua New Guinea franchise announced
On 24 June 2025 PM, Hon. James Marape announced members of the board of the NRL during a visit by Australia’s Minister for Pacific Island Affairs, Hon. Pat Conroy MP to PNG (above), and together with NRL CEO, Andrew Abdo, and ARLC Chairman, Peter V’landys AM, who said:
The importance of this franchise goes well beyond winning games of football, it is about nation building and bringing our two countries closer together. The new NRL Club will provide a pathway for young people in PNG to follow their dreams and it will help transform societal and economic outcomes.
This is an important moment for the NRL as PNG is set up to become a nursery of talent in the region for the entire competition, not to mention the millions of fans that will now follow a new team entering the competition.
PNG Hands Over Ownership of Panguna Mine to Bougainville
Papua New Guinea’s government recently transferred its majority shareholding in Bougainville Copper Limited to the government of Bougainville.
The transfer includes ownership of Panguna Mine, the massive gold and copper mine that was at the centre of a decade-long civil war, and which shut down in 1989. Deposits are valued at $60 billion.
Under the transfer, 53 million dollars’ worth of shares go to Bougainville to give the government a 73% holding, with the remaining 27% of shares in the hands of investors, some of whom are Bougainvilleans.
The former owner, Rio Tinto, let go of the shares nine years ago, with just over a third going to each government, and the remainder to the local landowners.
The Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) now holds majority ownership in Bougainville Copper Limited (BCL), following the transfer of 36.4% shares held by the government of Papua New Guinea to the ABG.
This move delivers a strong assurance to the Panguna landowners and the people of Bougainville that the future of the Panguna Mine and BCL is now firmly in Bougainvillean hands.
ABG President His Excellency Ishmael Toroama described the transfer as a momentous occasion.
https://www.abc.net.au/pacific/programs/pacificbeat/boughandovermine/105462240;
https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/565299/bougainville-finally-gets-all-rio-shares-in-bougainville-copper
