CANBERRA, Friday 20 June 2025
The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) is progressing Papua New Guinea’s Digital Transformation agenda through strengthened cooperation with Australia, following a high-level ministerial visit to Canberra and Sydney from the 15th to 20th June 2025.
Led by Minister for ICT, Hon. Timothy Masiu, the PNG delegation engaged in targeted discussions with senior Australian officials to fast-track the rollout of the SevisPass digital ID platform and broaden reforms across public sector digital service delivery.
“Our focus is building secure, inclusive and efficient digital services—and we are working towards a converged Memorandum of Understanding on Digital Development that will align our efforts with Australia across multiple domains,” said Minister Masiu.
The SevisPass platform anchors the Government’s Digital Government Plan and is designed to streamline how citizens access essential services. With its secure and verifiable identity framework, SevisPass is expected to improve service delivery in health, education, and social protection.
Meetings with Australia’s Minister for Communications and Sports, Hon. Anika Wells, and Minister for Pacific Island Affairs, Hon. Pat Conroy, focused on collaborative models for identity systems, cloud infrastructure, and digital government reforms.
The PNG team also held working-level engagements with the New South Wales Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government to explore parallels in citizen service delivery.
“These exchanges allowed us to compare best practices and identify areas for partnership—particularly in enhancing digital access for all Papua New Guineans,” Minister Masiu said.
The proposed MOU under discussion will provide structure for joint efforts across four key pillars:
- National digital ID development (SevisPass)
- Cloud migration and cybersecurity operations
- Digital infrastructure investments and regulatory reforms
- Digital service delivery and public sector modernization
Minister Masiu highlighted the importance of ongoing Australian support through the RAPID cybersecurity initiative and infrastructure investment streams. The visit also included early-stage discussions on undersea cable projects aimed at improving connectivity and economic participation across PNG.
“Digital infrastructure and digital identity are foundational. These tools will shape how our people interact with government—and how we, as a nation, compete in a connected region,” the Minister added.
The visit reflects DICT’s broader commitment to inclusive, secure and citizen-focused digital governance, anchored by regional cooperation and long-term investment in national capabilities.
“This visit has helped solidify our digital cooperation with Australia, especially as we integrate technologies that improve transparency, efficiency, and accountability across government.”