1972 Papua New Guinean general election

General elections were held in the Territory of Papua and New Guinea between 19 February and 11 March 1972.[1] They saw the election of the country's first female MP, Josephine Abaijah.[2]

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Electoral system

The House of Assembly was expanded from 94 to 107 members, consisting of 100 elected members, four civil servants and three members nominated by members of the House to represent special interest groups.[3] The 100 elected members were elected from 82 open constituencies and 18 regional constituencies, from each of which a single member was elected by single transferable vote. Voters could vote for a candidate in both their local open constituency and the regional constituency covering their area.[4] Candidacy in the regional constituencies was limited to people who had received the Intermediate Certificate (or an equivalent) from school.[4]

Prior to the elections, the voting age was lowered from 21 to 18.[5] A total of 1,384,780 voters were enrolled.[4]

To reduce the reliance on 'whispered' votes (in which illiterate voters told polling officials who they wished to vote for), photos of the candidates were added to ballot papers.[6]

Campaign

A total of 611 candidates contested the 100 seats in the House of Assembly,[1] of which four were women and 74 were incumbents running for re-election.[7][4] Two seats – East Sepik Regional and West Sepik Coastal Open – had only one candidate, both of whom (Michael Somare of the Pangu Party and Brere Awol respectively) were returned unopposed.[5] Incumbent MP for Morobe Regional, Tony Voutas, chose not to run after becoming an official within the Pangu Party. Other incumbents stepping down included Percy Chatterton (Moresby Open).[5]

Results

Only 38 of the 72 incumbents that contested the elections were re-elected.[4] The new House of Assembly had 37 members of the United Party, 11 from the People's Progress Party, 18 members of the Pangu Party, 8 members of the Niugini National Party, and 3 from the Mataungan Association.[8]

Aftermath

Following the elections Michael Somare was able to form a coalition government including his Pangu Party, the People's Progress Party, the Niugini National Party, the Mataungan Association and a group of independents led by John Guise.[10] Somare's bloc nominated Perry Kwan for the post of Speaker; Kwan won by a vote of 49–48 against United Party candidate Matthias Toliman.[10] However, Kwan resigned from the post June, saying he was too inexperienced for the role. Barry Holloway was elected to replace him.[11]

A new government was formed led by Somare as Deputy Chairman of the Administrator's Executive Council.[12]

Position Member
Deputy ChairmanMichael Somare
Minister for AgricultureIambakey Okuk
Minister for Business DevelopmentDonatus Mola
Minister for EducationEbia Olewale
Minister for ForestsMoses Sasakila
Minister for HealthReuben Taureka
Minister for InformationPaulus Arek
Minister of the InteriorJohn Guise
Minister for Internal FinanceJulius Chan
Minister for LabourGavera Rea
Minister for Lands and EnvironmentAlbert Maori Kiki
Minister for Local GovernmentBoyamo Sali
Minister for MinesPaul Lapun
Minister for Posts and TelegraphsKaibelt Diria
Minister for Trade and IndustryJohn Poe
Minister for TransportBruce Jephcott
Minister for WorksThomas Kavali
Source: Papua New Guinea Report[13]

See also

Notes
  1. The seat was won by Ron Slaughter after the redistribution of preferences, but the result was successfully challenged in court by losing candidate Charlie Maino Auki on the basis that the number of ballots destroyed in an accident involving a ballot box being dropped in a river was greater than Slaughter's margin of victory.[9] Slaughter won a by-election the following year.

References
  1. Party politics to the fore in PNG poll Pacific Islands Monthly, February 1972, pp26–27
  2. "She'll drive a hard bargain for Papua", Pacific Islands Monthly, May 1972, p35
  3. Papua New Guinea The Commonwealth
  4. Report of the United Nations Visiting Mission to observe the elections to the Papua New Guinea House of Assembly in 1972 United Nations
  5. New, younger voters pose uncertainty at PNG polls Pacific Islands Monthly, January 1971, p26
  6. 2,000 polling places Pacific Islands Monthly, March 1972, p 116
  7. PNG Elections Pacific Islands Monthly, April 1972, p106
  8. Roland Rich, Luke Hambly & Michael G. Morgan (2008) Political Parties in the Pacific Islands p85
  9. Auki, In the matter of [1973] PGCDR 1; [1973] PNGLR 243 (8 August 1972) Papua New Guinea Court of Disputed Returns
  10. It's the moment of truth for PNG and testing time for a new leader Pacific Islands Monthly, May 1972, pp19–21
  11. Record for Speaker? Pacific Islands Monthly, July 1972, p121
  12. New ministry is "good" Pacific Islands Monthly, June 1972, p11
  13. Administration of Papua New Guinea, Australia. Department of External Territories
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