Secretary Presents CLRC Strategic Update at 2026 First Department and Agency Heads’ Meeting

Port Moresby, 15 February 2026 – The Secretary of the Constitutional and Law Reform Commission (CLRC), Dr Mange Matui, presented a comprehensive institutional update at the 2026 First Department and Agency Heads’ Meeting held at APEC Haus.

The high-level forum, convened by the Office of the Chief Secretary to Government, brought together departmental and agency heads to report on performance, accountability, and implementation of their respective mandates.

In his address, Dr Matui outlined CLRC’s strategic progress in advancing constitutional and legislative reform over the past six years. He reported that the Commission has completed and submitted fifteen Terms of Reference (TOR) reports to the National Executive Council (NEC) through the Minister for Justice and Attorney General. These reviews addressed critical national priorities including land and resource compensation, employment law reform, education legislation, urban planning, regulation of State-Owned Enterprises, monitoring of public funds, and reforms relating to sexual offences and vicarious liability.

Dr Matui further confirmed that CLRC has completed and submitted reports on four Constitutional Directives to the NEC. Constitutional Directive No. 3, on the Declaration of Papua New Guinea as a Christian Country, was tabled and approved in Parliament in 2024. Constitutional Directive No. 4, relating to the Form and System of Government, was tabled in Parliament late last year, marking a significant milestone in constitutional reform.

“This particular recommendation (CD No. 3) went through the NEC and was tabled on the floor of Parliament, resulting in amendments to the Preamble and Part I of the Constitution, declaring PNG a Christian country,” Dr Matui said.

He added, “In CD No. 4, we examined key issues including the position of the Head of State, the election of the Prime Minister, the political party system, the election of women into Parliament, and aspects of the 1999 Provincial Government System. The report is currently before Parliament.”

The Secretary also provided an overview of CLRC’s financial performance from 2019 to 2025 under three key program areas: Administrative Expenditure, Legal Mandate Operations, and the Capital Investment Program. He reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to transparent financial management, timely acquittals, and responsible stewardship of public funds.

Updates were also provided on the CLRC Office Complex Project, the Commission’s restructuring program, ongoing reviews of domestic and colonial laws, and the development of underlying law through custom recording initiatives, including plans to establish an Underlying Law Centre at the University of Papua New Guinea.

Dr Matui reaffirmed CLRC’s commitment to strengthening governance, enhancing institutional accountability, and advancing law reform in line with national development priorities.

“It is important that CLRC is given the opportunity to inform stakeholders on the work of the Commission. We appreciate the platform to present our progress,” he said.

The week-long 2026 First Department and Agency Heads’ Meeting serves as a strategic platform to ensure coordinated implementation of government mandates and promote transparent and effective public administration.