The National Parliament of Papua New Guinea has launched a new official website aimed at improving public access to parliamentary information and strengthening transparency, with support from the Australian government and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
The website was developed under the Strengthening Papua New Guinea's Parliament Project, implemented by UNDP and funded by the Australian government. It provides easier public access to parliamentary business, including legislation, committee proceedings, reports and publications, and institutional information.
Speaking at the launch, Clerk of the National Parliament Kala Aufa described the website as the institution's "digital front door," saying it would strengthen transparency, public engagement and modern parliamentary governance by connecting Parliament with citizens across the country's provinces and islands.
Acting Speaker Koni Iguan said the platform reflects Parliament's commitment to making democratic processes more accessible to Papua New Guineans.
"This new website is our pledge to tear down those invisible walls and our commitment to ensuring that the House of the People is truly accessible by the people," Iguan said. "Our goal is simple: to make democracy understandable, accessible and meaningful to every single Papua New Guinean."
In addition to the website, the parliamentary strengthening project supported the development of a tracking system to monitor the implementation of committee recommendations, improving oversight and accountability.
Australian High Commission Counsellor for Subnational, Humanitarian and Accountability Craig Gillies said the initiative would help citizens better understand how Parliament functions and encourage greater public engagement.
"We hope that the website will serve as an effective public engagement tool, enabling citizens to more easily access parliamentary information and follow important committee work and decisions," Gillies said.
UNDP Deputy Resident Representative Aadil Mansoor said the initiative demonstrates the value of partnerships in strengthening democratic institutions.
"Today's launch is about more than technology; it is about strengthening democratic governance," Mansoor said. "These achievements reflect what can be accomplished through strong partnerships, and UNDP is proud to support the National Parliament in its efforts to strengthen democratic institutions."
The new website forms part of broader efforts to modernize parliamentary administration and improve transparency and accountability in Papua New Guinea's legislative processes.
