Greater Autonomy and Independence for Bougainville: Institutional Options and Issues for Transition

Abstract

At a referendum in late 2019, the people of Bougainville voted to express their choice between greater autonomy and independence for Bougainville. The main purpose of the report is to enable possible future arrangements to be compared. This structure may also assist to inform transitional arrangements in a move towards either greater autonomy or independence. Most of the steps necessary to complete the present level of autonomy would also be necessary as a foundation for greater autonomy or for independence, although in the case of independence, significant additional changes would also be required. The report is designed to assist the governments and the peoples of Papua New Guinea (PNG) an..