Basil set for ministry as PNG cabinet reshuffle flagged

1:59 pm on 16 October 2017

Papua New Guinea's prime minster says he will announce a minor cabinet reshuffle today.

PNG PM Peter O'Neill

PNG PM Peter O'Neill Photo: AFP / Peter Parks

It came as Peter O'Neill's coalition government incorporated into his cabinet the Pangu Pati, which last month defected from the opposition.

The defection of Pangu was controversial among opposition supporters after the party's leader Sam Basil campaigned vehemently against Mr O'Neill in the recent election.

Pangu is the second biggest party in the government after Mr O'Neill's People's National Congress, and is expected to have at least one ministerial portfolio.

Mr Basil was appointed as a minister of state without portfolio last week.

A release from Mr O'Neill said Mr Basil would be publicly assigned his ministerial portfolio today as part of a minor reshuffle.

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