Assessment of Evolution in Provincial Decentralization
1. Dominance of national MPs
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1995 changes:
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Driven by "A political agenda to eradicate political competition created by Provincial Assembly members contesting
national elections, competing against incumbent national MPs, and provincial government Premiers in different
parties opposing national governments led by rival parties. (CLRC-DPLGA, 2015a, p. 34)
"[T]the new system is likely to increase substantially the role of national MPs". Indeed, "this was the real objective of
the reform" May (1999, p. 202)
• PNG constitution can be changed by a 2/3 majority of Parliament
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• Little Supreme Court protection
• A "quasi-federal" system (Reilly et al 2015), but not always thus:
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"While the national government has the formal authority to determine the future of provincial government, it is
likely that changes will be the result of political co-operation and compromise rather than unilateral action on its
part." (Axline, 1986, p. 223).View entire presentation