PNG Public Servants Told to Reset for Digital AI Era

As Papua New Guinea enters 2026, Public Service Minister Joseph Sungi has challenged government workers to rethink how they deliver services in an increasingly digital world.

Speaking during a New Year dedication service, Sungi said the country can no longer rely on manual systems if it wants to improve efficiency and reach remote communities.

 PNG Public Service Told to Reset for Digital AI Era

He described the “Reset at 50” theme as a call for a fresh mindset following PNG’s Golden Jubilee, urging public servants to take responsibility for shaping the next 50 years.

Sungi said the government’s push for artificial intelligence and digital reform reflects Prime Minister James Marape’s direction for a modern and responsive public service.

He stressed that technology should not be seen as a threat to jobs, but as a solution to long-standing problems within government systems.

“It is about fixing our payroll systems to eliminate legacy issues,” Sungi said. “It is about using data to ensure medicines reach health centres in remote districts and cutting through the red tape that slows down our economy.”

The Minister said cost savings from automation would be redirected towards hiring more teachers, nurses and police officers.

He also confirmed that the Department of Personnel Management will carry out a nationwide public service census this year, producing the first State of the Service Report for Parliament.

“You do not need a title to lead,” Sungi said. “Every time you process a file on time, every time you ensure a rural teacher is paid, you are building this nation.”