New Minister for Defence Hon Dr Billy Joseph, thanks the Marape-Rosso Government and outlines Priorities for Defence

On behalf of the good people of Nipa Kutubu, and the Social Democratic Party (SDP); I am honoured to be appointed as the new Minister of our PNG Defence Force. The Defence of our Sovereignty is an important National Ministry and I thank God for this opportunity to serve; and I thank Hon Prime Minister James Marape for the appointment.

As a Medical Officer, I have worked in my previous career to save lives; and in the same vein, I look forward to working with the Marape-Rosso Government, in this new role, to keep PNG Safe and also be ready to respond to national and regional emergency and disaster contingencies.

I would like to thank the outgoing Minister for Defence, Hon Win Daki, for his work and contributions to the organisation.

As the new Minister for the Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF), I shall immediately meet with the senior leadership of the PNGDF to understand the current state of affairs and identify key strategic priorities moving forward.

Some critical priorities will include:

1. Leadership Stability at the PNG Defence Force. My first priority is to stabilise leadership at the Secretary and Defence Force Commander levels. I would want to have a permanent Departmental Head and Defence Force Commander. This I believe will remove politics and provide confidence in the rank and file of our Defence Force.
2. Ensuring the welfare and well-being of the soldiers: A strong focus must be placed on the welfare of the soldiers in the PNGDF. As the new minister, I will review the working conditions, remuneration packages, and other benefits that are currently available to our soldiers. My aim is to implement strategies that improve working conditions and increase benefits for our soldiers. Not only will it improve their quality of life but also their motivation, retention and overall effectiveness.
3. Addressing security threats: Papua New Guinea faces significant security threats that must be addressed urgently. These include internal threats such as the riots we witnessed on “ Black Wednesday” and other crimes like Tribal Fighting; as well as external challenges like territorial disputes, illegal fishing and transnational crime. The PNGDF must be prepared to address these threats and ensure the safety and security of the nation’s citizens.
4. Strengthening partnerships and regional cooperation: The PNGDF’s role extends beyond just national defense. Strengthening partnerships with other Defence Forces within the Pacific region and beyond, will enhance the PNGDF’s capacity to respond faster and more effectively to the ever-changing security landscape. This will also require increasing efforts to contribute towards regional and global security operations, such as peacekeeping missions.
5. Building Military Capability: Building military capacity, including the expansion of personnel and infrastructure, will be a priority. This will require investment in new equipment and technology to make the PNGDF more effective. Additionally, there will be a need for training, upskilling and retention of personnel.
6. Ensuring transparency and accountability: The PNGDF must operate with transparency and accountability to maintain the trust of the people of Papua New Guinea. It is essential to ensure that the PNGDF maintains high ethical standards and is accountable to the government through regular reporting and financial audits.
7. Emergency Preparedness and Response Capability: PNG is on the Pacific Rim of Fire and is prone to many natural disasters. I will ensure our Defence Force lead a multi agency team of trained experts that is well resourced and equipped to be always prepared to respond to any national emergencies. We will engage our bilateral and multilateral partners in this endeavour.
8. Status of the 2013 Defence White Paper: I am aware that the document existed since 2013 and it underpins the PNG Government’s 4 strategic core tasks and 3 strategic development plans. One of the latter talks about building a National Reserve Force through a School Cadet Program and a National Service Scheme; which will help assist the country with the national youth bulge problem. I am determined to realise this immediately, after all stakeholders are consulted.

I will be keenly focused on building a military that is ready and well-placed to face current and future security challenges, whilst maintaining the confidence and trust of the people of Papua New Guinea.