Governor Allan Bird critiques PNG’s 2025 budget, highlighting discrepancies and demanding greater transparency for economic stability.

PNG 2025 National Budget Under Scrutiny By Hon. Allan Bird

In the heart of the Pacific lies Papua New Guinea (PNG), a country rich in resources, culture, and potential but one increasingly burdened by economic mismanagement and eroding public trust.

At the center of recent discourse on fiscal integrity is East Sepik Governor Allan Bird, whose forthright critique of the 2025 National Budget has sparked necessary conversations around economic governance.

A Budget Under Scrutiny

Governor Bird, speaking candidly during parliamentary debates, raised alarming concerns: discrepancies in national accounts, missing funds, and the lack of transparency in budget processes. He referenced liabilities potentially amounting to 10 billion kina, along with delayed allocations to essential sectors like policing, and uncollected GST refunds. These are symptoms of a deeper malaise in PNG’s economic machinery.

The governor’s message was clear: the national budget, as it stands, cannot be trusted without proper scrutiny. Without accurate, timely, and public accounting of where funds go and how they are spent, citizens are left in the dark, and institutions lose credibility.

Why Economic Transparency and Accountability Matter

1. Building Public Trust

In any democracy, trust is currency. When people know how much is being spent, where it’s going, and why. It empowers them. Transparency promotes civic engagement, reinforces legitimacy, and strengthens democratic institutions. Conversely, secrecy breeds suspicion. This is what Marape-Rosso government is doing according to the presentation of Hon. Bird.

2. Preventing Corruption and Mismanagement

Accountability functions as a powerful deterrent to corruption. It sends a message that no one is above the law not politicians, not bureaucrats, not private contractors. The hypothetical disappearance of billions of kina isn’t just a bookkeeping issue. It’s a serious warning siren to the hardworking citizens of this country. It points to structural weaknesses, poor oversight, and the urgent need for independent audits, watchdog mechanisms, and real-time financial monitoring.

3. Enhancing Economic Stability

An unpredictable and opaque fiscal environment scares off investors. International partners, financial institutions, and development agencies demand transparency. Without it, foreign aid, business investment, and infrastructure funding are put at risk. Transparency is an economic issue in PNG. PNG’s capacity to grow and stabilize its economy hinges on clean and competent economic governance.

4. Ensuring Equitable and Efficient Service Delivery

Government funds aren’t abstract figures. These funds represent roads built, hospitals stocked, teachers paid, and communities protected. When funds are mismanaged or lost, the most vulnerable suffer. Underfunded health services, delayed police salaries, or broken rural infrastructure and the list goes on. They are daily realities for millions of Papua New Guineans. Transparency ensures public funds are translated into public services.

The Barriers to Reform

Achieving economic governance reform in PNG is no easy feat. Several challenges persist:

Weak Institutional Frameworks: Key oversight bodies often lack the resources, training, or autonomy to do their jobs effectively.
Limited Access to Information: Infrequent reporting and bureaucratic opacity prevent public scrutiny.
Political Interference: Powerful interests can stifle investigations or sideline accountability efforts.
Endemic Corruption: Systemic corruption undermines every stage of the budget process from planning to implementation.

What Must Be Done

Governor Allan Bird’s intervention should be seen as the timely intevention and a roadmap. It should not be dismissed as political grandstanding. If PNG is to overcome its economic governance challenges, the nation must take decisive steps:

1. Strengthen Oversight Institutions

Empower and protect institutions such as the Auditor General’s Office, the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC), and the Finance and Treasury Departments. These agencies must operate with independence and legal protection from political retaliation.

2. Embrace Open Budgeting

Publish budget plans, spending reports, and audit findings online in accessible formats. Encourage media, civil society, and citizens to review, analyze, and question government expenditures.

3. Foster a Culture of Political Will

True accountability starts at the top. Leaders must lead by example—declaring assets, responding to audits, and welcoming scrutiny. Political will is the linchpin of reform.

4. Leverage Technology

Digital financial management systems can reduce manual errors and limit opportunities for theft or misuse. E-governance platforms can improve transparency and enable real-time tracking of funds.

5. Prioritize Civic Engagement

Economic governance should not be an elite exercise. Engage local communities, NGOs, and business groups in budget planning and monitoring. Decentralized oversight is often the most effective.

Seizing the Moment

Papua New Guinea stands at a pivotal moment. Its vast resources, young population, and growing regional influence position it for prosperity. But without honest, accountable governance, these advantages could be squandered.

Governor Allan Bird’s brave stand reminds us that economic governance is about justice, opportunity, and the future of our people. Transparency and accountability are not luxuries. They are survival tools for a nation yearning to rise.

If we are serious about development, serious about democracy, and serious about the dignity of our people in the next 50 years then we must demand more. More transparency. More accountability. More integrity. The time for cosmetic reforms is over. The time for bold, systemic change is now.

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