Marape says Opposition giving misleading information on 2026 budget
Prime Minister James on Tuesday defended the K30.9 billion 2026 National Budget, saying the Opposition is using selective and misleading information to criticise the Government.
Mr Marape responded to Shadow Treasurer Bryan Kramer in Parliament, saying the Opposition is not telling the full story about PNG’s debt and economic performance.
The Prime Minister said the Opposition focused only on the total debt figure and ignored the size of PNG’s economy. He said the country’s debt-to-GDP ratio will fall to 45.5% in 2026, which he described as responsible and low compared to many other countries.
He added that the Government has also reduced the legal debt ceiling from 55% to 52.5%.
Mr Marape said economic data shows strong growth in revenue:
- Company tax increased from K1.9 billion in 2019 to K3.4 billion in 2024.
- Mining and petroleum tax increased from K775 million in 2018 to K3.7 billion in 2024.
- GST revenue increased from K3.5 billion in 2018 to K5.3 billion in 2024.
He said this shows that businesses are active and the economy is growing.
According to the Prime Minister, PNG has recorded five straight years of growth in the non-resource sector, including agriculture, retail, construction and hospitality.
He said PNG continued to record positive economic growth even during the COVID-19 period, while many countries faced economic decline.
Mr Marape said the Government has delivered more than K3 billion in household relief since 2019 through tax cuts on basic goods, raising the tax-free threshold, free education support and the HELP loan scheme.
He also highlighted major investments in roads, bridges, hospitals and airports, including 2,500km of road upgrades, 1,900km of missing-link roads and new hospital developments.
The Prime Minister urged leaders to debate with honesty.
“Our people deserve the truth. We must stop misleading information,” he said.
Parliament will resume on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, at 2 pm.