Digitising the Public Sector is a National Priority for Accountable and Efficient Governance.
The Marape-Rosso Government has officially launched a revised comprehensive AI and digital transformation agenda, with a clear focus on making government systems faster, transparent, secure, and accountable to the people.
The announcement was made by Minister for Police and Acting Minister for Information and Communications Technology, Peter Tsiamalili Jnr, who confirmed that digitising the core functions of government is now a top national priority.
“This reform is about restoring the people’s trust in government by improving how we deliver services, manage public funds, and uphold integrity,” said Minister Tsiamalili.
“This revised AI driven digital agenda is our commitment to modern governance.”
The first phase of the AI driven digital rollout will target three of the most critical departments: The Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary (RPNGC), to digitise occurrence reporting, crime records management, case tracking, and internal personnel systems; The Department of Treasury and the National Procurement Commission, to introduce automated budget planning
and procurement systems; The Department of Personnel Management, to introduce a secure and transparent recruitment and HR/payroll system that is integrated to the impending Digital ID system.
These efforts will be through an AI first approach and aims to reduce bureaucracy, eliminate inefficiencies, and provide citizens with fast, simple, and clear government services.
To steer this whole of government reform, Minister Tsiamalili announced the establishment of a Digital Transformation Task Force, chaired by Secretary Steven Matainaho of the Department of ICT.
Task Force members include: The State Solicitor, Attorney General’s Office, NICTA, Departments of Finance, Treasury and DPM, Cybersecurity and Cloud Managers from DICT, Independent advisors from the private sector and academic institutions.
Their mandate will to initially assess all current digital infrastructure and digitalisation efforts; Develop a unified, secure AI driven digital platform for whole-of-government integration; Implement standards for cybersecurity, data sharing;
“We will no longer allow manual systems to slow down national progress. This Task Force will design and deliver a modern public service for Papua New Guinea.”
Minister Tsiamalili also urged that all current and future appointments of departmental heads, CEOs, and key administrators must be required to demonstrate digital literacy and reform-readiness.
“You cannot lead government in the digital age if our departmental heads are not fluent in digital technology,” he stated. “We must recruit and retain only those who are ready to embrace innovation, accountability, and change.”
Alongside infrastructure, the Government is also finalising PNG’s accession to the Budapest Convention on Cybercrime; Implementing the newly approved Social Media Policy, including the establishment of an e-Safety Directorate to combat cyberbullying and misinformation; Partnering with regional and international institutions to strengthen cybersecurity, AI ethics, and online governance.
“This is our decade of transformation. We must modernise or be left behind,” said Minister Tsiamalili.
“This domestic agenda is for the people of Papua New Guinea—for a future that is digitally sovereign, secure, and inclusive.”