Covers the 1971-73 self-government process, the June-August 1975 Constituent Assembly proceedings, the Papua New Guinea Independence Act, 1975 and its effect on 16 September 1975, and UN admission on 10 October 1975. It does not cover the League of Nations mandate and UN Trusteeship administration of New Guinea in detail.
Australia administered the Territory of Papua as a Crown possession and the Territory of New Guinea, a former German possession, first under a League of Nations mandate and then, from 1946, under a UN Trusteeship Agreement. Following a March 1971 House of Assembly recommendation and Michael Somare's election as Chief Minister in July 1972, the territory achieved internal self-government on 1 December 1973.[1] The Constituent Assembly rejected a proposal to make the new state a republic on 5 June 1975 (57 votes to 26) and formally adopted the Constitution on 15 August 1975.[2] The two territories, administered jointly as Papua New Guinea, became independent on 16 September 1975 under the Papua New Guinea Independence Act, 1975, which provided that "Australia ceases to have any sovereignty, sovereign rights or rights of administration" over Papua New Guinea from that date, a date nominated by Papua New Guinea's own House of Assembly and matched by the General Assembly's decision to end the Trusteeship Agreement.[3] Papua New Guinea was admitted to the United Nations on 10 October 1975, following a unanimous Security Council recommendation.[4][5]
Status verified as of
Papua New Guinea has been an independent, UN-member state since 1975.[5]
History
From Australian administration under League of Nations mandate and UN Trusteeship, to independence on 16 September 1975 and UN admission that October.
168 words · 1 min read
· Administrative change
Following a House of Assembly recommendation in March 1971 and Michael Somare's election as Chief Minister in the July 1972 general election, Papua New Guinea achieved internal self-government on 1 December 1973.
Significance here: The intermediate stage of self-government that preceded full independence.
· Constitutional change
The Constituent Assembly rejected a proposal to make Papua New Guinea a republic on 5 June 1975, and formally adopted the Constitution on 15 August 1975, a month before independence.
Significance here: The constitutional settlement adopted shortly before independence, retaining the monarchy.
· Declaration
The Papua New Guinea Independence Act, 1975 withdrew all Australian sovereignty over Papua New Guinea with effect from 16 September 1975, the date nominated by Papua New Guinea's own House of Assembly, ending Australia's administration under the earlier League of Nations mandate and UN Trusteeship Agreement over the Territory of New Guinea.
Significance here: The Act that ended Australian sovereignty and established Papua New Guinea as an independent state.
· Recognition
The Security Council unanimously recommended Papua New Guinea's admission to the United Nations on 22 September 1975, and the General Assembly admitted it on 10 October 1975.
Significance here: Formal international recognition of Papua New Guinean statehood shortly after independence.
Each number marks a specific claim. Notes give the source, its locator and how it relates to the claim.
Claim: In March 1971 the House of Assembly recommended that the territory seek self-government in the next parliament, a recommendation Australia agreed to; the territory adopted a flag and emblem in June 1971 and was renamed Papua New Guinea that July. At the July 1972 general election, Michael Somare was elected Chief Minister, pledging to lead the territory to self-government and then independence, and the Australian government under Gough Whitlam instituted self-government, achieved on 1 December 1973.
Claim: On 5 June 1975 the Constituent Assembly rejected, by 57 votes to 26, an amendment to the draft constitution that would have made Papua New Guinea a republic upon independence, and formally adopted the Constitution on 15 August 1975.
Claim: The Papua New Guinea Independence Act, 1975, given Royal Assent on 9 September 1975, recited that the Territory of New Guinea had been administered by Australia first under a League of Nations mandate and then, from 13 December 1946, under a UN Trusteeship Agreement approved by the General Assembly, and that "on 18 June 1975 the House of Assembly nominated 16 September 1975 as the date on which Papua New Guinea is to become independent," with the General Assembly having resolved on 13 December 1974 that the Trusteeship Agreement would cease on that date. Section 3 defined "Independence Day" as 16 September 1975, and Section 4 provided: "On the expiration of the day preceding Independence Day, Australia ceases to have any sovereignty, sovereign rights or rights of administration in respect of or appertaining to the whole or any part of Papua New Guinea."
Claim: On 22 September 1975, at its 1841st meeting, the Security Council, having examined the application of Papua New Guinea, unanimously recommended to the General Assembly that it be admitted to UN membership.
Claim: The General Assembly, at its 2383rd plenary meeting on 10 October 1975, having received the Security Council's recommendation and considered Papua New Guinea's application, decided to admit Papua New Guinea to United Nations membership.