Prime Minister James Marape has announced a ministerial reshuffle ahead of the 2027 National Budget and General Election, appointing Joseph Lelang as Treasurer and moving Ian Ling-Stuckey to the Ministry for Rural Development.
PM Marape paid tribute to Ling-Stuckey for his service since 2019, noting that Papua New Guinea’s economy nearly doubled during his tenure.
“Ian Ling-Stuckey has served very well as Treasurer over the past seven years. He has carried an enormous responsibility on behalf of the entire Government, often at considerable personal cost to his health, family and electorate.”
“When he took over, our economy was valued at approximately K79 billion. Today, under his watch, it is approaching K160 billion.”
To relieve Ling-Stuckey of Treasury’s intense pressures while retaining his expertise in Cabinet, his new portfolio will focus on economic modelling, price controls, the National Economic and Fiscal Commission, labour mobility, and rural development strategies.
“This is a lighter but equally important responsibility. He will continue contributing to our economic progress while having greater opportunity to attend to his health, family and the people of Kavieng.”
Incoming Treasurer Joseph Lelang, a former National Planning departmental head, steps in to finalise the 2027 Budget and uphold the Government’s commitment to a balanced budget next year.
PM Marape said Lelang’s immediate mandate is to strengthen Treasury’s role as the Government’s principal economic policy adviser and shift focus away from loans.
“I have given Minister Lelang clear instructions. Firstly, we must cease reliance on new borrowing and review our debt profile.”
“The next few years must be about growing our economy through investment and productivity, rather than continuing to depend on loans.”
“Secondly, we must aggressively attract foreign direct investment, particularly in mining, petroleum, agriculture, forestry and fisheries.”
“Thirdly, we must develop a taxation system that increases government revenue while reducing the financial burden on our people and businesses during these difficult economic times.”
Under these directives, Treasury will work to accelerate major resource projects including Papua LNG, P’nyang LNG, Wafi-Golpu, Frieda River, and Yandera- alongside incentives for domestic downstream processing in forestry, fisheries, and agriculture.
Lelang will also review GST, stamp duties, and personal and corporate taxes, while cracking down on black-market activities like illicit tobacco trading to expand the formal economy.
“Pangu Pati believes in lowering taxes, fees and charges while encouraging greater participation in the formal economy.”
“When our economy reaches K200 billion, our policy intention is to reduce the tax burden on our people and businesses.”
“Our approach is to collect more revenue from a larger, stronger and more diversified economy rather than continuously increasing taxes on the same businesses and taxpayers.”
The Prime Minister concluded by thanking both ministers for their cooperation and commitment to serving Papua New Guinea.