Negotiation

Tabling of the Bougainville referendum result, 2026

· National Parliament of Papua New Guinea, Port Moresby

Papua New Guinea’s parliament set a three-quarters threshold for ratification and received the referendum result, but had not voted by 28 August 2026.

What happened

On 9 June 2026 Parliament adopted a sessional order setting a three-quarters absolute majority, at least 89 of 118 MPs, for ratification.[1][2] Bougainville leaders said the threshold had not been agreed; Prime Minister James Marape said it had.[3][4]

In early August the Joint Supervisory Body endorsed the Joint Consultation Report and the Melanesian Framework.[5] On 27 August the result and both documents were tabled, and Parliament adjourned after debate without a vote; Marape said the governments would meet in October to set a date.[6][7]

Sources for this page

Each number marks a specific claim. Notes give the source, its locator and how it relates to the claim.

  1. 1.

    Claim: On 9 June 2026 the National Parliament adopted a sessional order for considering the referendum result, which set a three-quarters absolute majority for ratification rather than the two-thirds majority usually required for constitutional amendments.

    • Blades, Johnny, PNG sets high threshold for ratifying Bougainville independence vote (RNZ, 11 June 2026) link, opening paragraphs. Source record
    • RNZ Pacific, Bougainville’s Toroama accuses PNG of breaching Melanesian Agreement (RNZ, 19 June 2026) link, article text. Source record
    • The National, Row over Bougainville referendum. PM stands firm on three-quarter majority (The National (Papua New Guinea), 22 June 2026) link, article text. Source record Gives the date of 9 June 2026.
  2. 2.

    Claim: A three-quarters absolute majority means at least 89 of Parliament’s 118 members.

    • The National, Row over Bougainville referendum. PM stands firm on three-quarter majority (The National (Papua New Guinea), 22 June 2026) link, article text. Source record
    • Kanu, Zara, Aug 27 is a crucial date for PNG (The National (Papua New Guinea), 21 August 2026) link, article text. Source record
  3. 3.

    Claim: Bougainville’s leaders objected: the ABG Vice-President called the threshold unilaterally crafted, the Speaker of the Bougainville House of Representatives said the voting majority had never been agreed, and President Ishmael Toroama said adopting the order without that Speaker’s consent breached the Melanesian Agreement. Attributed to ABG leaders, as reported by The National and RNZ

    • The National, Row over Bougainville referendum. PM stands firm on three-quarter majority (The National (Papua New Guinea), 22 June 2026) link, article text. Source record
    • RNZ Pacific, Bougainville’s Toroama accuses PNG of breaching Melanesian Agreement (RNZ, 19 June 2026) link, article text. Source record
    • Blades, Johnny, PNG sets high threshold for ratifying Bougainville independence vote (RNZ, 11 June 2026) link, article text. Source record
  4. 4.

    Claim: Prime Minister James Marape said both sides had agreed the three-quarters threshold in the sessional arrangements and that a super majority befitting a constitutional change was proper for a decision on breaking up the country. Attributed to James Marape, as reported by RNZ and The National

    • Blades, Johnny, PNG sets high threshold for ratifying Bougainville independence vote (RNZ, 11 June 2026) link, article text. Source record
    • The National, Row over Bougainville referendum. PM stands firm on three-quarter majority (The National (Papua New Guinea), 22 June 2026) link, article text. Source record
  5. 5.

    Claim: At a Joint Supervisory Body meeting in Port Moresby in early August 2026, co-chaired by Marape and Toroama, the two governments endorsed the Joint Consultation Report and the Melanesian Framework and set 27 August for tabling the referendum result.

    • RNZ Pacific, Bougainville and Papua New Guinea decide on date for referendum result to be tabled (RNZ, 6 August 2026) link, photo caption and opening paragraphs. Source record Gives the meeting date as 5 August 2026.
    • Kanu, Zara, Aug 27 is a crucial date for PNG (The National (Papua New Guinea), 21 August 2026) link, article text. Source record Gives the date as 6 August.
  6. 6.

    Claim: On 27 August 2026 the Minister for Bougainville Affairs, Manasseh Makiba, tabled the referendum result, the Joint Consultation Report and the Melanesian Framework in the National Parliament; after debate Parliament adjourned without a vote.

    • Blades, Johnny, PNG parliament decision on Bougainville still months off at least (RNZ, 28 August 2026) link, opening paragraphs. Source record
  7. 7.

    Claim: After the adjournment Marape said the two governments would meet in October to set the date for Parliament’s vote. Attributed to James Marape, as reported by RNZ

    • Blades, Johnny, PNG parliament decision on Bougainville still months off at least (RNZ, 28 August 2026) link, article text. Source record

Source note

Show in the notes list