Billy Joseph
William 'Billy Joseph' is a Papua New Guinean politician and former surgeon who currently serves as the Minister for Defence of Papua New Guinea since 2024. 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.
Early life and education
William Billy Joseph was born on 24 September 1984. 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.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 He cited violence against women and outdated medical infrastructure as examples of such problems, noting how the COVID-19 pandemic had strained the medical system. He joined fellow doctors Wabag MP Dr. Lino Tom, Tewai-Siassi MP Dr. Kobby Bomareo, and Abau MP Dr. Sir Puka Temu in Parliament.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.
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.After the 2024 Enga landslide, he flew to the site in a helicopter and took some pictures of the damage. He then went to Yambali where he gave a check of 500,000 kina for buying supplies for 4,000 displaced survivors. Joseph met with Chinese Foreign Affairs Minister Wang Yi and Chinese Ambassador to PNG Zeng Fanhua. There, they discussed about supplies for the damage.
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.
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.
Foreign relations
Australia
On February 20, 2025, Joseph and Australian Minister for Defense Richard Marles began discussing a new defense treaty between the two nations. 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. 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.During the 2024 Egna Landslides, Australia promised to give $2,300,000 AUD in necessary aid and supplies.
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. This coincided with the 50th anniversary of PNG's independence. The treaty was officially signed on September 15. On September 19, China responded with a warning claiming that the treaty undermined PNG's own influence.