PNG Haus Bung

The Australian Government is supporting improved student facilities at Siassi Lutheran Secondary School at Lablab station on Umboi Island in Morobe province through a small infrastructure grant.Financed through the Direct Aid Program (DAP)- the Australian High Commission’s small grants initiative for locally led development, the funding covers the purchase and transport of building materials to renovate the school mess.Handed over by officers and sailors from HMAS Leeuwin during a regional survey deployment, the project enhances flooring, plumbing, water storage, roofing, solar housing, cooking equipment, interior works, and painting to create a safer, more functional environment for students and staff in this remote community.Education remains a cornerstone of the Papua New Guinea-Australia Partnership, spanning from community DAP grants to larger strategic investments in learning outcomes, teaching quality, and school leadership.This project also builds on the Australian High Commission’s longstanding engagement with the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Papua New Guinea (ELCPNG) and its educational institutions.Australian Consul-General Mr Brenton Kanowski highlighted that education is one of the most important investments for young people's futures.“Australia is pleased to support infrastructure works at Siassi Lutheran Secondary School on Umboi island through this grant.”“By improving essential school facilities, this project will help create a better environment for students to learn, grow and succeed.”“We are proud to partner with Church education institutions and our local Morobe communities as we have done for many years, to support opportunities for young Papua New Guineans and strengthen the longstanding education links between our two countries.”Meanwhile, Principal of Siassi Lutheran Secondary School Mr. Wesley Kalipe noted that the support will significantly enhance learning in a disadvantaged part of the province.“K223, 000 has now been used for the Mess Refurbishment for Siassi Lutheran Secondary School to be completed towards the end of the year and will be launched with the first Grade 12 students Graduation.”“It is one of the first external funding projects and I appreciate and thank you Australian Government through the Lae Consulate-General for their continuous support to improve education, health and social programs around Morobe and PNG.”

The residents of Morobe Province continue to face severe power instability, accessing electricity from the Yonki Grid, the Baiune Power Station in Bulolo, and the Lae Diesel and Munum Power Stations- all distributed across the region by PNG Power Limited.Vice Minister for Mining and Sports and Member for Bulolo Sam Basil Jnr, voiced strong frustration over the prolonged blackouts, stating that power supply is cut off daily between four to five hours which has been continuing for months.Highlighting the crippling impact on critical infrastructure, he stressed that electricity is essential for health and education facilities, public services, and local businesses.“It is appalling that every business now has to purchase power generators as a necessity whilst the people and small business are basically at the mercy of PNG Power,” Minister Basil said.“The people of Morobe have been without power for well over six months. We cannot put up with this poor negligence of good service.”Addressing the persistent excuses regarding utility operations, Basil argued that the state-owned supplier must take immediate responsibility.“We cannot continue to be told that PNG Power has issues and problems. We need to start solutions in some districts or provinces.”“PNG Power may be bankrupt, but that blanket excuse cannot be applied everywhere. We must be serious with managing risks and situations.”Emphasizing the province’s key economic role, Basil reminded authorities of Morobe’s vital contribution to Papua New Guinea.“Morobe is the industrial capital of PNG, an air, sea, and land transport hub that serves PNG and hosts many educational institutions,” he noted, citing major agricultural and industrial operators such as the Hidden Valley Mine, Zenag Chicken, New Guinea Table Birds, Ramu Agri Industries, Trukai Industries, Homestate, Goodman Fielder International, PNG Forest Products, Kenmore Industries, and Lae Biscuits.“PNG Power must know that Morobe is not a random province with transmission lines running across without distribution.”“Power generation and supply for Lae, Bulolo, and the Morobe Province directly impacts the economy.”Calling for urgent state intervention, Basil urged PNG Power to act immediately.“Whether it is the power generation in Yonki, fallen transmission lines, blown-up transformers, or fallen power poles, PNG Power must stand up and deal with this critical matter.”“If it means investing immediately in Lae and Morobe Province, this must happen, as so much money is generated by PNG Power in Morobe Province.”Reiterating the basic rights of his constituents, Basil concluded with a direct appeal to leadership: “The people of Bulolo and Morobe are citizens of PNG and are entitled to electricity. Do we have to wait for 12 months?”“We need constant and consistent supply of electricity for public administration, schools, churches, the community, and general industry.”“I am asking the Minister for State Enterprises, Kumul Consolidated Holdings Limited (KCHL), the Minister for International Investment and Trade, and the PNG Power Ltd Board and management to immediately address this issue.”

Detectives from the National Fraud and Anti-Corruption Directorate (NFACD) have arrested and formally charged a former Acting and Deputy Bursar of the University of Papua New Guinea (UPNG) following an investigation into an extensive financial fraud and database manipulation scheme.According to Director of the National Fraud and Anti-Corruption Directorate, Detective Robert Volo, police investigations revealed that between 2018 and 2021, the suspect leveraged unauthorized access to the University Student Information System (USIS) and targeted the university's accounting system.Police allege that between December 2020 and March 2021, the suspect accessed the USIS database on 20 separate occasions to execute fraudulent transfers totaling K602,785.87.Investigators further allege that the suspect recruited student intermediaries to facilitate the fraudulent registration of 194 students for the second semester of 2021.An internal UPNG audit verified that the university lost K445,860.00 as a direct result, prompting the University Council to approve the immediate de-registration of all 194 affected students.It is further alleged that the suspect manipulated fee credits, including funds allocated from government grants such as the Kompiam Ambum District Services Improvement Program (DSIP), to unlawfully credit non-qualifying accounts and facilitate unauthorized degree certifications.Following a formal complaint and an extensive investigation that began in May 2024, arrest warrants were issued by the Waigani Committal Court.Detective Volo confirmed the suspect was apprehended and interviewed on August 4, 2026, before being formally charged and detained at the Boroko Metropolitan Cells.

The owner of Malolo Inn, MNM Investment Limited, alongside community leaders in Jiwaka Province, voluntarily surrendered six illegal firearms, ammunition, and a live hand grenade to the State on Tuesday, August 11, 2026.This voluntary surrender follows the Operation Kumul Peace awareness campaign, which was officially launched in July 2026 by Clement Dalla, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Highlands Eastern End Command, to remove illicit weapons from various parts of the region.Jiwaka Provincial Police Commander (PPC), acting Superintendent Laimo Asi, expressed confidence that more individuals across the province will step forward as the awareness efforts continue.PPC Asi encouraged the residents of Jiwaka to reject the possession of illegal weapons, warning that keeping them has the risk of causing harm, deaths within families, or unnecessary imprisonment.He noted that handing over these arms will give the community confidence as they prepare for a free, fair, and safe 2027 national general election.The Operation Kumul Peace awareness campaign and amnesty program on illegal firearms and ammunition began on Monday, July 27, 2026, and is moving forward in three distinct phases.Phase one focuses on community engagement and awareness, running from July 27 to August 15, 2026.Phase two is dedicated to the voluntary surrender of illegal arms from August 16 to August 31, 2026.Phase three marks the final enforcement stage, where police and army personnel from Kumul 23 operating in the upper Highlands will move in to enforce the Terrorism Act and hunt down remaining illegal firearms and ammunition.Police officers have carried out phase one across three primary zones in Jiwaka:Zone 1 covering North Waghi and Jimi districts;Zone 2 covering Anglimp, Kuli Kuli, and Kudjip LLGs; andZone 3 covering Minj and East Kambia LLGs.Awareness sessions have directly targeted Local Level Government (LLG) Presidents, Ward Councillors, and local community leaders, educating them on the legal implications and severe social consequences of maintaining illegal weaponry.“We have so far targeted the Local Level Government (LLG) Presidents and Ward councillor with the community leaders where the awareness conducted was on the effects of holding onto the illegal firearm in their possession in the communities and their legal implications,” PPC Asi said.“The main agenda is violence and destruction among the family units, community disturbances and tribal fights where innocent lives are lost.”He noted that criminals frequently use illegal weapons to carry out violent acts against the public, local businesses, and commuters along the main highway, but he remains convinced that the outreach has successfully reached all corners of the province and will ultimately prove successful for the people of Jiwaka.

The Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) is now working towards strengthening the capacity of local contractors to understand and meet government tendering, procurement, and contract management requirements through a two-day Local Contractors Conference that is being held in Buka this week. The conference, organised by the ABG Department of Infrastructure and Utilities (DIU) in partnership with the Australian Government, brought together local contractors, construction service providers, engineers, procurement and contract management officers, development partners, senior public servants, and representatives from the National Department of Works and Highways.The conference is focused on improving local contractors’ understanding of the tendering and procurement processes of DIU and the ABG Government, including compliance requirements, technical and financial capacity, reporting systems, contract management, and the overall tender process.It also forms part of the ABG’s broader efforts to strengthen local capacity and institutional readiness as Bougainville prepares to exercise greater powers under self-government from 2027 and works towards its stated goal of independence in 2030.Acting Secretary for DIU Wilfred Hanette said the conference provides an important platform for local contractors to better understand government requirements and the standards expected in the delivery of publicly funded infrastructure projects.He said the conference would also help contractors understand the direction of DIU and reposition their businesses to participate more effectively in Bougainville’s infrastructure development as the ABG prepares for the next stages of its political development.President of the ABG, His Excellency Ishmael Toroama, officially opened the conference, welcoming the initiative as an opportunity to strengthen local contractors’ understanding of the Bougainville Tenders and Supplies Board Act 2015.“I welcome the opportunity provided by DIU to encourage local contractors to honour the Bougainville Tenders and Supplies Board Act 2015,” he said, adding that the Act also recognizes the participation of Bougainville contractors in government procurement. Meanwhile, ABG Minister for Infrastructure and Utilities Patrick Nisira, said the conference represented an important partnership between the ABG and Bougainville’s local contracting industry. “Its purpose is to help Bougainvillean businesses compete fairly, win contracts and deliver projects professionally, so that every kina invested in infrastructure brings lasting benefits to our people.”Minister Nisira thanked the contractors who attended the conference, saying their participation demonstrated a commitment to improving their businesses, understanding government requirements, and strengthening their contribution to Bougainville’s infrastructure development.“Your attendance shows a commitment to improve your businesses, understand Government requirements and strengthen your participation in Bougainville’s infrastructure development.”The conference is expected to strengthen the capacity and professionalism of local contractors and support greater participation of Bougainvillean businesses in government-funded infrastructure projects.

The Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) and the Office of the Auditor-General of Papua New Guinea have renewed their commitment to strengthening public financial management, accountability, transparency, and good governance in Bougainville.The commitment was formalised through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed recently in Port Moresby. ABG Chief Secretary Mr. Kearnneth Nanei said the renewed partnership was an important step in strengthening the systems and institutional capacity required to uphold good governance and responsible management of public resources.“Today is another significant milestone and a momentous occasion for a renewed commitment to public sector finance, accountability, good governance, transparency, and partnership between the Auditor-General’s Office and the Autonomous Bougainville Government,” Mr. Nanei said.He acknowledged the previous MOU between the two institutions, which established an important platform for cooperation and technical support, particularly in strengthening the capacity of the ABG’s internal audit function.Mr. Nanei said the continued support and expertise of the Auditor-General’s Office had contributed significantly to improving the ABG’s governance and public financial management systems.“The result of our collaboration and partnership has enhanced and has supported and is continuing to support our good governance platforms in Bougainville,” he said.He highlighted the contribution of internal auditors in providing guidance on due diligence, vetting, and public finance accountability measures, noting that these functions were critical in ensuring government decisions and processes remained consistent with established standards of accountability and good governance.Mr. Nanei said the ABG remained committed to supporting its internal audit function and implementing the commitments under the renewed MOU, despite ongoing resource and capacity constraints.“We are limited with resources. But that doesn't stop us from ensuring that we conform to the best practices of good governance and public sector management.”The Chief Secretary also emphasised that public funds must be managed in the public interest and that government institutions had a responsibility to remain accountable to the people of Bougainville.“At the end of the day, we are accountable to the people. The funds that we receive are all public funds, and they should be used for the public interest.”He said the renewed partnership would also provide an opportunity to further strengthen the ABG’s internal audit capacity and support external oversight of the government’s financial management systems.Moreover, Chief Secretary acknowledged the Auditor-General of Papua New Guinea Gordon Keka, the Deputy Auditor-General, and senior management of the Auditor-General’s Office for their continued support and partnership with the ABG.He stated that ABG remained committed in taking this partnership to the next level by strengthening its internal audit capacity and ensuring that the renewed MOU translated into practical improvements in public financial management and governance across the ABG administration.

Papua New Guinea has entered the second half of 2026 in a stronger economic position than anticipated at the start of the year, supported by elevated commodity prices, stronger resource-sector activity and ongoing International Monetary Fund (IMF)- backed reforms.This according to Westpac’s latest WAILIS PNG Economic Update and Outlook in which the report notes that PNG’s headline macroeconomic picture remains encouraging, with the economy benefiting from higher export earnings, improved activity across both mineral and non-mineral sectors and continued government infrastructure spending through the Connect PNG programme.Westpac Pacific Senior Economist Shamal Chand noted that PNG’s headline position is encouraging, but the benefits of growth need to reach more people. “PNG is benefiting from stronger commodity prices, improved resource-sector activity and IMF-backed reforms,” Mr. Chand said.“The bigger task now is making sure growth supports livelihoods, service delivery and broader economic resilience.”The report highlights that the Bank of Papua New Guinea (BPNG) maintained the Kina Facility Rate at 5.0%, while the kina continued to depreciate under a crawl-like exchange rate regime. In 2026 year-to-date, the exchange rate moved from 0.2352 to 0.2267, a decline of around 3.6%.Westpac notes that FX conditions have improved, although remaining FX queues and central bank auctions show the market is not yet fully market-clearing.Formal employment grew by 2.4% in 2025, mainly driven by hiring in mining and resources.However, Westpac emphasized that the formal employment remains small compared to PNG’s informal economy, reinforcing the need for better data to understand livelihoods and household condition.

Malabunga Secondary School has received a new school truck from the East New Britain Provincial Government under Governor Michael Marum's Provincial Services Improvement Program (PSIP) support.The vehicle was purchased through PSIP funding allocated to the education sector and is expected to assist the school with administrative operations, transportation, and other essential activities.Governor Marum said the support formed part of the province's 2026 allocation aimed at supporting educational institutions and improving their capacity to deliver services.Malabunga Secondary was among several education institutions benefiting from the provincial government's investment this year, alongside Malasaet Primary School, Kokopo Business College and Boisen Secondary School.Marum said the funding ultimately belonged to the people of East New Britain and should be used responsibly to benefit students, teachers and the wider school community.“The resources of this province belong to our people. Through PSIP, we are ensuring that these resources are invested back into our communities, particularly in education, where we are investing in the future of our children.”The provincial government said it would continue supporting schools through targeted investments in infrastructure, equipment and service delivery across East New Britain.

The first digital press for industrial size printing is now in country introduced by BizPrint in Port Moresby on Friday; the new tech is a marvel when it comes to finding ease in a major printing job.BizPrint, a member of the Remington Group, announced a major investment in the Konica Minolta AccurioPress C12010S — the first digital press of its kind to be installed in the Pacific region.The decision to bring the AccurioPress C12010S to Papua New Guinea (PNG) reflects BizPrint's position within the Remington Group's technology ecosystem. As part of the Remington Technology brand, and through its partnership with industry leader Konica Minolta, BizPrint gains early access to next generation print technology to replace traditional offset printing.Remington Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mr. Justin Kieseker said the decision to bring the press in was to revolutionize printing."We jointly identified an opportunity to give BizPrint a point of difference and to offer the PNG Market the value that comes with a 5-colour digital press with built in finishing, giving exceptional quality, consistency and automation— not only in the PNG market, but across the Pacific region as a whole."Mr. Yohei Konaka, Managing Director of Konica Minolta Australia, highlighted the decisions and work that went into getting the AccurioPress to PNG. “We’re proud to support BizPrint and the Remington Group as they bring this first-of-its-kind production print capability to the Pacific region. This investment opens new opportunities for local businesses to access high-quality, creative and efficient print applications, backed by the training, technical expertise and service support needed for long-term success. It’s a strong example of partnership delivering practical innovation for customers across the Pacific.”When it comes to printing, the press handles extremely thick paper and cardstock (up to 450 GSM), shiny or smooth finishes, stickers, textured linen, and even specialized waterproof paper-plastic blends. These flexible, moisture-resistant materials make it ideal for tough product packaging and manufacturing labels.Two key features set this investment apart as a benchmark for the industry's future in PNG:White ink and spot colour capability: Along with standard CMYK, this machine unlocks spot-colour effects to highlight underlying and overlying artwork, creating shadow and shimmer finishes previously unavailable in the local market.Integrated Plockmatic Booklet Maker: The press is fitted with a Plockmatic Booklet Maker, enabling booklets with covers up to 250 GSM and pages up to 150 GSM to be collated, folded, bound, and trimmed to size automatically.Ahead of installation in country, the company sent two technicians to the Konica Minolta Training Centre in Sydney for a two-week intensive course covering the new equipment. This was followed by three weeks of in-country support from three Konica Minolta specialist trainers and technicians, who oversaw the installation of the digital press and the Plockmatic SD-450e booklet finisher."The investment in hardware is one thing — however, it is the investment in our people that we are most proud of," said Mr. Kieseker. "The key to its success lies in both our people and the creative work, and we have proudly invested in both to ensure BizPrint continues to be a market leader, both now and for years to come."

Claressa Shields made a powerful return to middleweight on Sunday, stopping Kaye Scott in the sixth round to reclaim the WBA and WBC titles in Atlanta.Fighting at middleweight for the first time since 2023, the five-division world champion dropped three classes to face 42-year-old Scott of Australia.Dominant from the start, Shields shifted through the gears to seal a fourth career stoppage win and take her professional record to 19-0 - with Wales' Lauren Price in her sights."It was a hard camp," said Shields, an Olympic champion in 2012 and 2016. "I always tell myself that everything is easy work, but it was a really hard camp."I cut 38 pounds. I started 14 weeks ago at 198 and then I got down to 160."It was the most disciplined I've been since the Olympics."In just her eighth professional bout, Scott was outclassed by the challenger's hand speed and accuracy before being weakened by a flurry of body shots in the fifth.In the following round, Shields put Scott on the ropes with a vicious left hook and, sensing opportunity, the American threw a barrage of shots as the fight resumed.As a dazed Scott failed to defend herself, her corner threw towels into the ring to end the bout."I was actually just trying to figure [Scott] out," said Shields, who holds all four heavyweight titles. "She was stronger than I thought."She was very strong, and I knew that with me cutting the weight that I cut, that I didn't want to exert too much early."Following her statement win, Shields suggested welterweight champion Lauren Price should be her next opponent in December or January.Failing this, the 31-year-old hopes for a meeting with compatriot Mikaela Mayer, or Canada's Tamm Thiebault, who holds the IBF, WBO and Ring middleweight belts."She's only had five fights as a professional, but she's got belts," Shields said of Thiebault."It's not my fault these girls don't have the experience that I have. She's got a belt that I know belongs to me – and that's the Ring belt."Source: BBC News

The National Superannuation Fund (Nasfund) has achieved a historic milestone, surpassing K10 billion in Net Asset Value (NAV) for the first time.As of June 30, 2026, the Fund's net assets stood at K10.25 billion, a significant increase from the K9.45 billion recorded at the end of 2025.Nasfund Chief Executive Officer, Rajeev Sharma, stated that this achievement reflects the Fund's prudent financial management, strong governance practices, and unwavering commitment to protecting and growing members' retirement savings."Reaching over K10 billion in the first six months of 2026 is a testament to our continued growth and financial resilience in a dynamic economic environment," Mr. Sharma said. "We are delighted to share this milestone with our stakeholders, especially our members, whose trust and confidence make this possible."Mr. Sharma noted that this exceptional growth was driven by several key factors, including strong returns from a diversified investment portfolio, consistent member and employer contributions, and disciplined cost management."Crossing the K10 billion mark reflects our robust governance frameworks, expanding membership base, and focus on operational efficiency. It is also a direct result of the commitment of our contributing employers and the hard work of our dedicated Nasfund team," he added.Nasfund’s 2026 half-year report highlights positive momentum across all areas of the business.Key performance indicators include:* Membership Growth: Over 26,000 new members were registered, bringing the total number of actively contributing members to 220,175.* Contributions: The Fund received K458 million in contributions, further strengthening members' savings.* Member Benefits: A total of K351 million was paid in member benefits, demonstrating the Fund's ongoing capacity to meet its members' financial needs.* Cash Revenue: The Fund recorded K316 million in cash revenue, representing a 2% increase compared to the same period last year.Mr. Sharma concluded by acknowledging the invaluable support of all partners. "I thank our employers, members, stakeholders, and the hardworking employees of Nasfund. This milestone reinforces our goal to ensure all members are ready for tomorrow."

Enga Provincial Police Commander (PPC) Chief Superintendent Steven Harris confirmed that a serving ward councilor was arrested and handed over to the Criminal Investigation Division in Wabag, where he was formally charged with accessory after the fact to wilful murder.PPC Harris noted that the councilor would appear before the court in due course.The arrest stems from the killing of two innocent people in the Laiagam District, carried out by an escapee who remains at large.Addressing the suspect and others who have broken custody, PPC Harris urged all remaining escapees to surrender immediately to the nearest police station, cautioning the public that sheltering fugitives constitutes both a criminal offense and a direct breach of orders issued by the National Court.The National Court of Justice at Wabag issued interim orders for the Laiagam District prohibiting public assemblies for tribal fighting or retaliation, the carrying of offensive weapons, and the harboring of escapees or individuals responsible for the killings.The court mandated the immediate surrender of unlawfully held firearms, forbade threats or demands regarding the release of lawfully detained persons, and ordered all individuals to follow directions from the Provincial Police Commander and his delegates.Violations of these directives carry the risk of criminal charges or contempt of court proceedings ahead of the matter returning to court.Emphasizing that traditional compensation does not resolve murder, PPC Harris reinforced the longstanding position of the Supreme Court and National Court of Papua New Guinea that no amount of money or pigs can restore a human life.He made it clear that threats will not deter the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary (RPNGC) or his officers from fulfilling their duties.“Persons lawfully detained will face the lawful process and they will not be bartered for. Anyone who demands their release, or threatens violence to get it, can expect to be arrested.”“If need be, we will arrest suspects one by one, anytime, anyplace. In your beds, in any village or city. The reach of the RPNGC extends across the entire country and we will hunt you down.”PPC Harris stated that the law-abiding majority of Enga supports this firm stance, reiterating that there will be no mediation, negotiation, or further violence involving criminals.He commended the restraint shown by the aggrieved families and communities who opted to respect the legal process rather than engage in retaliation.Regarding the circumstances surrounding the escapees, PPC Harris explained that an independent investigation is underway by the Internal Affairs Division, separate from the Provincial Command, and affirmed that the RPNGC will pursue the matter thoroughly.Anyone with details on the location of the escapees or those linked to the killings is urged to contact the police in Wabag or Laiagam.