Papua New Guinea Act (No. 2) 1973

Reforms the legislature and judiciary:

• The House of Assembly's composition was adjusted (reduced from up to 107 to up to 103 members), and official (government-appointed) members were removed.
• Laws made by the House of Assembly were renamed from "Ordinances" to simply "laws" — a subtle but symbolically significant shift away from colonial terminology.
• Judicial appointments were updated, including the ability to appoint judges for a fixed term (up to age 65), and village courts were explicitly recognised.

Transfers all assets and liabilities from the old "Administration" to the new "Government of Papua New Guinea", so the new government inherited everything the old colonial administration owned and owed — including property, contracts, and legal proceedings.

Protects ongoing commitments:

• Australia's guarantees of Papua New Guinea's public loans (money borrowed to fund services) were preserved, including for loans taken out before independence and repayable after it.

Oaths of allegiance were updated — public officials no longer had to swear loyalty to the Queen personally, just to serve faithfully. Another quiet but meaningful step toward independence.

Who does this affect?

• Papua New Guineans — who gained a functioning self-governing structure with their own Chief Minister and Cabinet.
• Australian officials in Papua New Guinea — whose roles were redefined (e.g. the Administrator became the High Commissioner).
• Businesses and individuals with contracts or legal dealings with the Papua New Guinea administration — their rights and obligations transferred automatically to the new Government.

Why does it matter?

This law was the formal legal mechanism by which Australia handed domestic self-governance to Papua New Guinea, two years before full independence was granted in 1975. It carefully balanced giving Papua New Guineans real governing power while Australia retained oversight over the big-ticket international matters of defence and foreign policy. Think of it as the "training wheels" stage of independence — real power, but with Australia still steering on the big stuff.