Papua New Guinea's prime minister, Peter O'Neill, has taken on the portfolio of Bougainville Affairs in his latest cabinet reshuffle.
Papua New Guinea PM Peter O'Neill addresses the PNG Investment Summit in Brisbane. Photo: PNG PM Media
Mr O'Neill says this is because the autonomous region is a top priority for the government as it heads towards a referendum on possible independence.
Other changes made by Mr O'Neill include making Ben Micah the minister of petroleum and energy - a sector that PNG has pinned much of its economic hopes to, despite plummeting global commodity prices.
William Duma is now the minister of public enterprises and state investment, Nixon Duban is the minister for transport and infrastructure, and Steven Kamma will be a minister assisting the prime minister on constitutional matters.
Justin Tkatchenko has been made the minister of sports and tourism as the country seeks to significantly grow the number of international visitors.