Key Party Policies and Development Agenda

The SDP will make strong and accountable public institutions the foundation of national development.

• Strengthening the independence, professionalism and capacity of public institutions.
• Modernising government systems and reducing unnecessary bureaucracy.
• Improving transparency, accountability and responsible management of public funds.
• Strengthening oversight institutions and combating corruption.
• Promoting merit-based appointments and professional standards within the public service.
• Improving coordination between national, provincial and local-level governments.
• Strengthening the capacity of institutions such as the National Capital District Commission as models of effective public administration.

The SDP will pursue an economy that encourages investment, entrepreneurship, innovation and productive employment.

The party will:

• Promote a competitive mixed economy combining private enterprise with responsible government regulation.
• Support small and medium-sized enterprises and Papua New Guinean entrepreneurs.
• Encourage domestic and international investment that creates jobs and develops local capacity.
• Expand trade and economic cooperation with Australia, New Zealand, Asian economies and other international partners.
• Promote value-added processing of Papua New Guinea's natural resources rather than relying solely on the export of raw materials.
• Develop agriculture, fisheries, tourism, manufacturing, construction and the digital economy.
• Increase opportunities for young people to enter the formal economy and start businesses.
• Support infrastructure investment that connects producers and communities to markets.

The SDP recognises that Papua New Guinea's greatest long-term resource is its people.

The party will prioritise:

• Accessible and quality education from early childhood through tertiary education.
• Greater investment in technical and vocational education and training.
• Skills development aligned with emerging industries and labour-market demand.
• Scholarships and opportunities for talented Papua New Guineans.
• Improved teacher training, deployment and accountability.
• Digital literacy and access to technology.
• Stronger partnerships between government, educational institutions and the private sector.

The SDP will work toward a health system that provides quality and affordable services to all citizens.

Priorities include:

• Strengthening hospitals, health centres and rural health services.
• Improving access to essential medicines and medical supplies.
• Investing in maternal, child and community health.
• Strengthening preventative healthcare and public-health education.
• Developing and retaining qualified health professionals.
• Expanding digital health and modern health-management systems where appropriate.

Economic growth must be accompanied by social protection and inclusion.

The SDP will promote:

• Targeted social protection for vulnerable households.
• Greater opportunities for people living with disabilities.
• Policies that expand opportunities for women and young people.
• Community-based development initiatives.
• Affordable access to essential public services.
• Measures to reduce extreme poverty and inequality.
• Greater participation of disadvantaged communities in economic and political life.

The SDP supports decent work and fair treatment for Papua New Guinean workers.

The party will promote:

• Fair wages and safe working conditions.
• Respect for lawful workers' and trade-union rights.
• Stronger enforcement of labour standards.
• Skills development and apprenticeships.
• Equal opportunity in employment.
• A productive relationship between government, employers and workers.
• Greater participation of Papua New Guineans in skilled employment and management positions.

Young Papua New Guineans must be placed at the centre of the country's future.

The SDP will establish policies that:

• Expand employment and entrepreneurship opportunities for youth.
• Increase access to vocational training and apprenticeships.
• Support youth enterprise and innovation.
• Promote sports, arts and cultural development.
• Increase youth participation in civic and political leadership.
• Develop pathways from education and training into employment.

The SDP will support policies that strengthen families and communities while expanding women's economic and political participation.

The party will:

• Promote equal opportunity for women.
• Support women-owned businesses and entrepreneurship.
• Increase women's participation in leadership and decision-making.
• Strengthen programs supporting children and families.
• Promote safe and productive communities.
• Recognise the important role of churches, civil society and community organisations in national development.

The SDP will promote modern infrastructure as an essential foundation for economic growth.

Priorities include:

• Reliable roads and bridges.
• Improved electricity and water supply.
• Better sanitation and waste management.
• Expanded telecommunications and digital connectivity.
• Modern public transport systems.
• Planned urban development.
• Affordable and appropriate housing.
• Climate-resilient infrastructure.
• Stronger infrastructure links between rural producers and urban markets.
• The development experience of the National Capital District can provide lessons for improving urban management and public services throughout Papua New Guinea.

The SDP will support rural communities as central participants in the national economy.

Policies will focus on:

• Increasing agricultural productivity.
• Improving rural roads and market access.
• Supporting smallholder farmers.
• Expanding agricultural extension and technical services.
• Developing Agro-processing and value chains.
• Improving food security.
• Promoting fisheries and sustainable marine industries.
• Connecting rural producers with domestic and international markets.

Papua New Guinea's natural resources must be developed in a way that produces lasting national benefits.

The SDP will support:

• Transparent and accountable resource-sector governance.
• Fair and predictable investment rules.
• Greater participation of Papua New Guinean businesses in resource projects.
• Local employment and skills transfer.
• Responsible environmental management.
• Stronger benefit-sharing arrangements for affected communities.
• Investment of resource revenues into long-term national development.

The SDP will embrace technology as a tool for improving government and expanding economic opportunity.

The party will promote:

• Digital government services.
• Improved internet and telecommunications access.
• Digital payments and financial inclusion.
• Technology-based businesses and innovation.
• Digital skills training.
• Modern systems for government administration and public accountability.
• Use of technology to improve education, healthcare and service delivery.

The SDP will defend Papua New Guinea's democratic institutions.

The party will support:

• Free, fair and credible elections.
• Stronger electoral administration.
• Respect for constitutional government.
• Political accountability.
• Protection of democratic rights and freedoms.
• Greater citizen participation in public decision-making.
• Stronger parliamentary institutions.
• Political parties based on policies, principles and accountability rather than personality politics.

The SDP believes that Papua New Guinea requires stable, disciplined and policy-driven leadership to achieve long-term development.

The party will promote:

• Stable government and continuity of national development policies.
• Evidence-based policymaking.
• Long-term national planning beyond electoral cycles.
• Responsible parliamentary leadership.
• Cooperation between political institutions.
• Greater accountability of elected representatives.
• A political culture based on policy, performance and national interest rather than personality politics.

Development must protect Papua New Guinea's extraordinary natural environment for future generations.

The SDP will support:

• Sustainable management of forests, oceans and biodiversity.
• Climate-change adaptation and resilience.
• Renewable and reliable energy development.
• Sustainable agriculture and fisheries.
• Better waste management.
• Protection of communities vulnerable to environmental and climate impacts.
• Integration of environmental considerations into major development projects.