Papua New Guinea's Talasea MP Francis Marus has been promoted to the front bench after a cabinet reshuffle.
Reshuffled Ministers in Papua New Guinea taking their oaths of office after a failed no confidence motion against Prime Minister Peter Oneil. July 2016 Photo: RNZI/Courtesy of Yumi FM News
Mr Marus is the new minister for Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology.
The Post Courier reported that prime minister Peter O'Neill in welcoming Mr Marus to the cabinet said the young MP recently graduated from university and knew student issues.
UPNG students gather on campus. Photo: UPNG4PNG
The past few months had seen PNG universities closed after student unrest in protest over PNG's leadership.
The incumbent Minster for Higher Education Malakai Tabar was moved to the Ministry of Transport.
A view of the government benches in Papua New Guinea's parliament. Photo: RNZ / Johnny Blades
While the former transport minister Nixon Duban was appointed the new Petroleum and Energy Minister
He replaced Ben Micah who joined the opposition in a failed vote of no confidence against Mr O'Neill last week.
Third from left: Papua New Guinea prime minister Peter Oneil and members of his reshuffled cabinet. July 2016 Photo: RNZI/Courtesy of Yumi FM News
Mr O'Neill said the cabinet line-up brought stability into the government with nine months left to go until the national elections.
