{{Short description|Papua New Guinean politician (born 1984)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}} {{Infobox officeholder | office = Minister of the Papua New Guinea Defence Force | succeeded = TBD | term_start = January 19, 2024 | term_end = April 9, 2026 | party = Social Democratic (DS) | predecessor = Win Bakri Daki | parliament = National Parliament PO Parliament House, WAIGANI, NCD 131, Papua New Guinea | monarch = Charles III | image = Billy Joseph 2025-08-04.jpg | caption = Joseph in August 2025 | alt = Headshot of Joseph wearing a suit and sunglasses | image_size = | occupation = Politician | education = University of Papua New Guinea | citizenship = Papua New Guinea | country = Papua New Guinea | office2 = Deputy Chairman of Economic Affairs | term_start2 = February 9, 2022 | prime_minister = James Marape | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1984|09|24}} | birth_name = William Billy Joseph }} '''William''' '''Billy''' '''Joseph''' (born 24 September 1984) is a Papua New Guinean politician and former surgeon who served as the Minister for Defence of Papua New Guinea from January 2024 until his resignation in April 2026.
First elected in the 2022 Papua New Guinean general election to represent the Nipa-Kutubu District, he became deputy leader of the Social Democratic Party. Following a cabinet reshuffle on January 19, 2024, he was appointed the Minister for Defense, taking over from Win Bakri Daki.
In April 2026, he resigned from his position to allow for an investigation into allegations that he had interfered with army recruitment.
==Early life and education== William Billy Joseph<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-01-19 |title=NEC Appoints Six New Ministers to Cabinet - National Information Center |url=https://info.gov.pg/nec-appoints-six-new-ministers-to-cabinet/ |access-date=2025-09-23 |language=en-US}}</ref> was born on 24 September 1984.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-09-25 |title=MINISTER JOSEPH ANNOUNCES MAJOR PROJECTS FOR NIPA-KUTUBU |url=https://thepngbulletin.com/news/minister-joseph-announces-major-projects-for-nipa-kutubu/ |access-date=2025-10-16 |website=The PNG Bulletin |language=en-US}}</ref> Joseph holds a Bachelor of Medicine and a Bachelor of Surgery from the University of Papua New Guinea School of Medicine and Health Sciences, and went on to become a medical doctor. Upon his election in 2022, he was the fourth doctor in the National Parliament of Papua New Guinea.<ref name="TheNational20250913">{{Cite web |date=2025-09-13 |title=Another doctor in House |work=The National |url=https://www.thenational.com.pg/another-doctor-in-house/ |access-date=2025-09-13 |language=en-US}}</ref>
== Political career == In the 2022 Papua New Guinean general election, Joseph was elected as MP for the Nipa-Kutubu District. In an interview with ''The National'', he stated that work in politics was an extension of medical work, as doctors ''"deal with all kinds of problems that people bring to the hospital"''. He cited violence against women and outdated medical infrastructure as examples of such problems, noting how the COVID-19 pandemic had strained the medical system.<ref name="TheNational20250913" /> He joined fellow doctors Wabag MP Dr. Lino Tom, Tewai-Siassi MP Dr. Kobby Bomareo, and Abau MP Dr. Sir Puka Temu in Parliament.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Another Medical Doctor Enters PNG Parliament |url=http://health.onepng.com/1/post/2022/08/another-medical-doctor-enters-png-parliament.html |access-date=2025-09-18 |website=PNG Health Watch |language=en}}</ref>
That September, he became Deputy Chairman of Economic Affairs, and joined the Parliamentary Committee on Law and Order, Public Works and Public Accounts. He is Deputy Party Leader of the Social Democratic Party.<ref name="ASPO2025">{{Cite web |title=Hon Dr Billy M Joseph MP |url=https://www.aspi.org.au/bio/hon-dr-billy-m-joseph-mp/ |access-date=2025-09-13 |website=ASPI |language=en-AU}}</ref>
=== Minister for Defense === He was appointed Defense Minister during the shuffle of the PNG Parliament's cabinet on January 19, 2024, and began his term on the same day under the Marape-Rosso cabinet.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hon. Dr. Billy Joseph, MP - Eleventh Parliament of Papua New Guinea |url=https://www.parliament.gov.pg/index.php/eleventh-parliament/bio/view/nipa-kutubu-district |access-date=2025-09-13 |website=www.parliament.gov.pg |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-01-18 |title=Daki out, Dr Joseph in as Defence minister |url=https://www.postcourier.com.pg/daki-out-dr-joseph-in-as-defence-minister/ |access-date=2025-09-21 |website=Post Courier |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Ukuma |first=Pau |date=2026-02-20 |title=New Minister for Defence Hon Dr Billy Joseph, thanks the Marape-Rosso Government and outlines Priorities for Defence |url=https://thepngbulletin.com/news/new-minister-for-defence-hon-dr-billy-joseph-thanks-the-marape-rosso-government-and-outlines-priorities-for-defence/ |access-date=2026-02-20 |website=The PNG Bulletin |language=en-US}}</ref>
After the 2024 Enga landslide, he flew to the site in a helicopter and took some pictures of the damage.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-12-11 |title=More than 700 villagers in PNG's Southern Highlands affected by flooding |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/536319/more-than-700-villagers-in-png-s-southern-highlands-affected-by-flooding |access-date=2025-10-05 |website=RNZ |language=en-nz}}</ref> He then went to Yambali where he gave a check of 500,000 kina for buying supplies for 4,000 displaced survivors.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-05-27 |title=Formally asking for help, Papua New Guinea says Friday's landslide buried more than 2,000 people |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/formally-asking-for-help-papua-new-guinea-says-fridays-landslide-buried-more-than-2000-people |access-date=2025-09-28 |website=PBS News |language=en-us}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title='We cannot live here': Australian ministers visit PNG landslide zone |url=https://www.sbs.com.au/news/podcast-episode/we-cannot-live-here-australian-ministers-visit-png-landslide-zone/vofd9ac7s |access-date=2025-09-28 |website=SBS News |language=en}}</ref> Joseph met with Chinese Foreign Affairs Minister Wang Yi and Chinese Ambassador to PNG Zeng Fanhua. There, they discussed about supplies for the damage.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Chinese government reinforces support with relief supplies to PNG |url=https://www.nbc.com.pg/post/12172/chinese-government-reinforces-support-with-relief-supplies-to-png |access-date=2026-01-01 |website=NBC PNG |language=en}}</ref>
During the same month, he announced 'Operation Planti Balus'. The goal of this operation was to provide transportation supplies to rural areas of PNG. He also helped manage activities leading up to the 50th anniversary of PNG's Independence. The operation officially started from September 3 and ended on September 5.<ref>{{Cite web |work=The National |date=2025-09-19 |title='Operation Planti Balus' in August |url=https://www.thenational.com.pg/operation-planti-balus-in-august/ |access-date=2025-09-21 |language=en-US}}</ref>
On 9 April 2026, after a video circulated alleging that Joseph had interfered with army recruitment to favor people from his district of Nipa-Kutubu, he resigned from his position to allow for an independent probe into the allegations.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Blades |first=Johnny |date=2026-04-09 |title=PNG Defence Minister steps aside amid recruitment controversy |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/591897/png-defence-minister-steps-aside-amid-recruitment-controversy |access-date=2026-04-10 |website=RNZ |language=en-nz}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Gunga |first=Presented byTheckla |date=2026-04-08 |title=PNG Defence Minister steps down over new recruit video controversy |url=https://www.abc.net.au/pacific/programs/pacificbeat/recruitscandal-theckla-live/106544872 |access-date=2026-04-22 |website=ABC Pacific |language=en-AU}}</ref>
== Foreign relations == === Australia === {{further|Australia–Papua New Guinea relations}} In April 2024, Joseph began the modernization of the fire services with some to comply with the standards of Queensland.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kia |first=Lendo |date=2024-04-21 |title=PNG Fire Service To Be Modernized, says Defence Minister Joseph - National Information Center |url=https://info.gov.pg/png-fire-service-to-be-modernized-says-defence-minister-joseph/ |access-date=2026-02-20 |language=en-US}}</ref> During the 2024 Egna Landslides, Australia promised to give $2,300,000 AUD in necessary aid and supplies.<ref>{{Cite web |title='We cannot live here': Australian ministers visit PNG landslide zone |url=https://www.sbs.com.au/news/podcast-episode/we-cannot-live-here-australian-ministers-visit-png-landslide-zone/vofd9ac7s |access-date=2025-10-05 |website=SBS News |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Faa |first=Marian |date=2024-06-20 |title=Australia to provide $2 million in extra funding to assist with PNG's landslide recovery |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-06-20/australia-gives-2-million-in-funding-to-png-landslide-relief/104001368 |access-date=2025-10-05 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}}</ref>thumb|Billy Joseph (center) with Papua New Guinean, New Zealand, and Australian officials in April 2024.|258x258pxOn February 20, 2025, Joseph and Australian Minister for Defense Richard Marles began discussing a new defense treaty between the two nations due to pressure from Beijing.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-02-20 |title=Australia, Papua New Guinea vow to strike defense treaty |url=https://www.voanews.com/a/australia-papua-new-guinea-vow-to-strike-defense-treaty/7981558.html |access-date=2025-09-19 |website=Voice of America |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2025-02-19 |title=Australia and PNG to begin negotiations on new defence treaty |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-02-19/australia-papua-new-guinea-defence-treaty-security/104956936 |access-date=2026-02-20 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}}</ref> In June 2025, Joseph went to Canberra for the 2025 Defense Conference ‘Preparedness and Resilience’ meeting. He went on the ''Stop the World!'' Podcast, hosted by ASPI, with the Deputy Party Leader of the Social Democratic Party to discuss the Pukpuk Treaty.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-06-18 |title=Papua New Guinea Defence Minister Billy Joseph on the march towards a security treaty |url=https://www.aspi.org.au/podcasts/papua-new-guinea-defence-minister-billy-joseph-on-the-march-towards-a-security-treaty/ |access-date=2025-09-13 |website=ASPI |language=en-AU}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=PNG AND AUSTRALIA DISCUSS DEFENCE TREATY |url=https://www.pngbusinessnews.com/articles/2025/2/png-and-australia-discuss-defence-treaty |access-date=2025-09-21 |website=www.pngbusinessnews.com |language=en}}</ref> In July 2025, Australian war games were held. Part of the war games were held in PNG, with negotiations for a new military treaty between the two nations underway.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Palmer |first=Joseph |date=February 20, 2025 |title=PNG to partly host Australia's biggest war games amid Pacific security push |url=https://www.skynews.com.au/breaking-news/png-to-partly-host-australias-biggest-war-games-amid-pacific-security-push/news-story/a8876bd4ac37b06f70f64d4b8f00cf4e |access-date=October 1, 2025 |website=Sky News Australia}}</ref>
On September 13, 2025, Joseph and Marles made an agreement to integrate the Australian and PNG militaries, which was a blow to Chinese influence in the Pacific.<ref>{{Cite news |last=McIlroy |first=Tom |date=2025-09-16 |title=Australia and PNG will agree to defend each other from military attack as China's Pacific influence grows |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/sep/16/australia-png-papua-new-guinea-military-defence-treaty-agreement-as-china-pacific-influence-grows |access-date=2025-09-28 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> This coincided with the 50th anniversary of PNG's independence.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2025-09-13 |title=Australia and PNG's militaries to become 'totally integrated' |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-09-14/australia-and-png-defence-treaty-to-integrate-military-forces/105770088 |access-date=2025-09-13 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-09-15 |title=Albanese says Australia-PNG defence treaty on par with US and New Zealand |url=https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/albanese-says-australia-png-defence-treaty-on-par-with-us-and-new-zealand/x532pqku7 |access-date=2025-09-28 |website=SBS News |language=en}}</ref> The treaty was officially signed on September 15.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Doherty |first=Ben |date=2025-08-23 |title='Diplomatic knife fight' over PNG enters new phase with deepening Australia defence deal |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/aug/23/diplomatic-knife-fight-over-png-enters-new-phase-with-deepening-australia-defence-deal |access-date=2025-09-28 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=After Five Decades, It Comes To This: The PNG-Australia Pukpuk Treaty |url=https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL2509/S00033/after-five-decades-it-comes-to-this-the-png-australia-pukpuk-treaty.htm |access-date=2025-10-01 |website=Scoop News}}</ref> On September 19, China responded with a warning claiming that the treaty undermined PNG's own influence.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-09-19 |title=China Warns Papua New Guinea Over Australian Defense Deal |url=https://thedefensepost.com/2025/09/19/china-warns-papua-australia/ |access-date=2025-09-24 |website=The Defense Post |language=en-US}}</ref>
=== United States === In October 2025, Joseph went to The Pentagon and met with Deputy Prime Minister John Rosso, where they discussed opportunities for future engagements and deepening of the security partnership between the U.S and PNG.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Readout of Acting Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Cara Abercrombie's Meeting |url=https://www.war.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3939234/readout-of-acting-deputy-under-secretary-of-defense-for-policy-cara-abercrombie/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260127180046/https://www.war.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3939234/readout-of-acting-deputy-under-secretary-of-defense-for-policy-cara-abercrombie/ |archive-date=2026-01-27 |access-date=2026-02-20 |website=U.S. Department of War |language=en-US}}</ref>
=== Fiji === In April 2024, Joseph and Home Affairs Minister of Fiji Pio Tikoduadua discussed re-establishing the defense relationship between PNG and Fiji after Joseph made a visit to the Taskforce Command Headquarters in Nadi, Fiji.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Reddy |first=Navnesh |date=2024-04-14 |title=Fiji, PNG renew defence ties |url=https://www.fijitimes.com.fj/fiji-png-renew-defence-ties/ |access-date=2025-10-01 |website=The Fiji Times |language=en-US}}</ref> Joseph had also expressed his interests many times in maintaining strong ties between the two by participating in events like the United Nations and their peacekeeping operations.<ref>{{Cite web |title=PNG, Fiji Military Leaders Meet to Strengthen Defence Cooperation |url=https://www.onepng.com/2025/08/png-fiji-military-leaders-meet-to.html |access-date=2025-10-01 |website=One Papua New Guinea}}</ref>
=== Japan === On March 19, 2025, Joseph went to the 2nd Japan Pacific Islands Defense Dialogue and met Japanese Defense Minister Minoru Kihara with the goal of improving defense relations with Japan.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-03-19 |title=Japan-Papua Niugini Minister's Meeting |url=https://www.mod.go.jp/en/article/2024/03/2fb76148a65edefed9f556115614a7fd67f144c7.html |access-date=2025-09-17 |website=Japan Ministry of Defense |language=en}}</ref> In February 2026, he went to the 3rd Japan Pacific Islands Defense Dialogue and met with Shinjirō Koizumi, where they agreed on the Next-Generation Leadership Security Program.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Japan-PNG Defense Minister's Meeting |url=https://www.mod.go.jp/en/ |access-date=2026-03-27 |website=Japan Ministry of Defense |language=en}}</ref>
=== Indonesia === In July 2025, Joseph visited Jakarta with Indonesian Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin to discuss stronger defense ties. They discussed further implementing the Defense Cooperation Agreement, which had been signed in 2010 and ratified by Indonesia in 2012.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-07-08 |title=Indonesia, Papua New Guinea eye stronger defense ties |url=https://en.antaranews.com/news/364949/indonesia-papua-new-guinea-eye-stronger-defense-ties |access-date=2025-09-13 |website=Antara News |language=en}}</ref> In December 2025,<ref>{{Cite web |title=TRT Indonesia - Indonesia, Papua Nugini, dan Australia sepakati penguatan kerja sama pertahanan |url=https://www.trtindonesia.com/article/085e0298e0a3 |access-date=2026-03-24 |website=www.trtindonesia.com |language=id}}</ref> Joseph represented Papua New Guinea during a trilateral Defense Ministers’ Meeting in Port Moresby with Indonesia and Australia, where he stated that they will "deepen trust, harmonize and enhance coordination on issues".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Indonesia and Australia to Expand Security Cooperation to Include Japan, Papua New Guinea |url=https://thediplomat.com/2026/03/indonesia-and-australia-to-expand-security-cooperation-to-include-japan-png/ |access-date=2026-03-13 |website=thediplomat.com |language=en-US}}</ref>
=== Singapore === In June 2025, Joseph went to Singapore for the International Institute of Strategic Studies (IISS) Shangri-La Dialogue to discuss security trends. He held bilateral meetings from the sidelines of IISS with representatives of New Zealand, Singapore and Chile.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-09-26 |title=Minister attends security conference |work=The National |url=https://www.thenational.com.pg/minister-attends-security-conference/ |access-date=2025-09-26 |language=en-US}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == * [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vse5U3vTK6k&ab_channel=EMTVOnline Ministerial Handover Takeover] * [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3V_t8znuIM&ab_channel=ASPICanberra ASPI Podcast] {{Commons}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Joseph, Billy}} Category:Living people Category:21st-century Papua New Guinean politicians Category:Social Democratic Party (Papua New Guinea) politicians Category:University of Papua New Guinea alumni Category:Members of the National Parliament of Papua New Guinea Category:1984 births Category:Ministers of defence of Papua New Guinea