Скачать или смотреть Who Influenced The PNG 1995 Provincial Government Reforms

The 1995 Provincial Government Reforms in Papua New Guinea (PNG) marked a major shift in governance, reshaping the balance between national and provincial powers. Before 1995, provinces operated under a system of autonomous assemblies with their own premiers, designed after independence to recognize PNG’s vast cultural diversity. However, problems emerged—corruption, misuse of funds, duplication of services, and frequent tensions between provincial and national authorities.
The reforms, passed under the Organic Law on Provincial Governments and Local-level Governments (OLPGLLG), abolished elected provincial governments and gave national Members of Parliament greater control. The regional MP automatically became the governor, while provincial assemblies were restructured to include MPs, local-level government presidents, and appointed members. More emphasis was placed on local-level governments (LLGs) and ward committees, with the stated aim of bringing decision-making closer to communities.

While the reforms increased national oversight and financial accountability, they also significantly reduced provincial autonomy. Governors became both national politicians and provincial leaders, creating conflicts of interest and political instability. Local-level governments, though empowered in theory, remained underfunded and weak in practice.

Importantly, the reforms were not purely domestic decisions. At the time, PNG was experiencing an economic crisis and had turned to the World Bank and IMF for support. These institutions promoted structural adjustment programs, pushing countries to centralize financial control, cut spending, and reduce corruption. Australia, PNG’s main donor, also favored stronger national oversight to ensure aid funds were not misused, particularly in the wake of instability during the Bougainville crisis.

Thus, the 1995 reforms reflected both internal challenges and external pressures. While they sought to improve governance, they also advanced donor and lender priorities. The result was a system that weakened provincial identity, centralized power, and left local governments struggling to deliver services effectively

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