PNG Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare has swung the axe in the latest Cabinet reshuffle with Treasurer Bart Philemon sacked* and Sir Moi Avei removed as Deputy Prime Minister.

PNG Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare

Foreign Affairs Minister and former Prime Minister Sir Rabbie Namaliu will replace Philemon, who was also stripped of the finance portfolio in April and last week was replaced as deputy leader of the ruling National Alliance Party, which is headed by Somare.

Meanwhile, Transport and Civil Aviation Minister Don Poyle will take over as Deputy Prime Minister.

"I would like to thank Sir Moi Avei for his term as Deputy Prime Minister. As we come to the end of the term of the current Parliament, I have decided to take this position back to the National Alliance Party and appoint one of my deputy leaders," Somare said in a press release yesterday.

Three new members were also sworn in as ministers – Martin Aini as Minister for Defence, Sam Abal as Minister for Inter-Government Relations, and Andrew Kumbakor as Minister for Housing and Urban Development.

In explaining the raft of changes, Somare, who will also assume the foreign affairs portfolio from Namaliu, said the Government needed "team players".

"I have made the changes to my Cabinet with the consideration that these will best suit the evolving circumstances within PNG today," he said.

"These changes, built around a core team, are necessary to convert our hard-earned gains achieved during this term into substantive returns and benefits for the people of Papua New Guinea in the remote rural and urban communities.

"We need team players who are able to network and bring about pragmatic and innovative approaches to government to ignite these changes and also to meet the new challenges PNG will face in the future."

Somare also paid tribute to the five ministers departing the cabinet – Philemon, Aitimeng Buhupe, Mathew Gubag, Brian Pulayasi and Posi Menai.

"I would like to thank the former ministers for their contribution and services to Cabinet in running of the nation's affairs."

*Today's Gomez column focuses on the departure of Bart Philemon as PNG Treasurer.

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