The government has come good on its word to provide better support for the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary (RPNGC) with over K700 million allocated for the police budget in the 2025 National Budget. Treasurer Ian Ling Stucky when handing down the 2025 National Budget at the Press Lockup at Parliament House today, told the audience that funding the police better is key to addressing the many law and order issues faced in the country, where this year alone saw a lot more crimes committed from tribal fights to killings. “As a government, we observe very, very closely, we’re listening, and for next year’s budget, we will spend,” said the Treasurer. “We’re securing our country by a massive investment in our police providing more than what was requested by the police department.” Indeed, the Department requested for K700 million, but the government went ahead and gave K703 million support for the RPNGC. “The 2025 Budget gives the police more than they have asked for. We will give them a 19% increase in wages, so they are able to grow the force to 10,000 by 2030,” Ling Stucky said. “We have increased their goods and services budget to K158.6 million, an extraordinary increase of 67% in just one year. Enough moneys to fund fuel for their vehicles, stationary to prepare court cases, and support for special operations. The capital budget is K200 million as they requested.” In addition to this, police will be given top priority in other areas of cross-agency funding, such as retirement funding. “This is a good budget for our police. We want our police forces to understand, from this budget, that the Marape-Rosso Government stands along-side you, and your vital work.” “In this security-focused budget, we have increased their wages budget by 15%. We have increased their goods and services budget by an extraordinary 32% and their capital budget by an even more extraordinary 116%.”