Pacific / Papua New Guinea

PNG govt Chief Secretary abolished

16:53 pm on 4 September 2020

Papua New Guinea's parliament has abolished the position of Chief Secretary to Government over concerns it's too powerful and undermines ministers.

The Papua New Guinea Parliament building in Port Moresby. Photo: RNZ Pacific/ Koroi Hawkins

The job is currently held by Isaac Lupari, who has reportedly accepted he is being made redundant and will leave his office on Monday.

His removal came through amendments to two acts presented by Prime Minister James Marape on Wednesday that were unanimously supported by the House.

Mr Marape said the chief secretary had too much power and undermined the relationship between ministers and their agency heads.

Mr Lupari was appointed chief secretary in 2007 but was sacked the following year amid an inquiry into missing money from the Finance Department where he previously worked.

He was returned to the role in 2016 by the former Prime Minister Peter O'Neill.