Bryan Jared Kramer

Kramer is best known for leading a movement in Papua New Guinea against the country's endemic corruption. Tagged PNG's "Anti-Corruption Tsar" by international media,[9] he was elected on a platform of transparency and good governance. Entering Parliament in opposition, he was quick to put transparency and governance on the national agenda. In June 2018 Kramer launched an offensive against Papua New Guinea's daily newspapers, The National and Post-Courier, calling for a boycott to protest corruption and their support for the O'Neill Government.[10] It prompted a rebuke from the Media Council of Papua New Guinea.[11]

In October 2018, Kramer was part of an opposition-led national strike over the purchase of a fleet of Maserati and Bentley cars by the PNG Government for use as PNG hosted the final events of APEC Papua New Guinea 2018.[12] The incident, which became known as Maseratigate,[13] received international attention and ongoing coverage, particularly after it was revealed a number of vehicles procured for APEC had subsequently gone missing.[14] Despite continued international pressure, and a commitment by the Marape-Steven government to release a report into APEC spending after accusations of fraud were made, no public accounting of the cars or APEC finances has been released.[15]

In February 2019, Kramer released an analysis of costs related to the destruction of PNG Parliament Haus property by security personnel shortly after APEC activities ended.[16] Immediate estimates of the costs were up to PGK15 million.[17] Kramer's analysis of costs once details were released suggested inflated contracts were being given to businesses with Government connections.[18][19]

As the COVID-19 crisis struck the world in early 2020, Kramer led the PNG Government's communications efforts, articulating government policies and guiding public acceptance of measures in a country less affected by the pandemic.[20] When rumours surfaced that money had been misappropriated, Kramer was quick to criticise media coverage.[21] However, when he announced a self-led audit of COVID accounts, he attracted strong criticism.[22] In early June, he announced via his Facebook page that he was unable to complete the task. After an independent audit firm was asked to provide services pro-bono, Kramer released a preliminary update on the use of funds, saying a full report would be released at a later date.[23]

From the time he was elected, Kramer mounted a sustained campaign to undermine the leadership of then Prime Minister Peter O'Neill citing corruption and insider dealing.[24] This and increasing dissatisfaction with O'Neill's dealings from within his own party saw opponents coalesce around allegations of corruption in a leaked Ombudsman's report investigating the purchase of Oil Search shares by the State in 2014.[25] The leak prompted a split in O'Neill's People's National Congress Party, led by former Finance Minister James Marape. Kramer worked closely with the opposition (predominantly National Alliance members), Marape and Pangu Pati to trigger O'Neill's resignation on 26 May 2019. On 27 May 2019, a vote of Parliament saw Marape elected 8th Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea.[26] Kramer was subsequently appointed Minister for Police.[27]

Kramer quickly called for renewed investigations into O'Neill government activities, including the purchase of Maseratis for APEC[28] and the controversial state purchase of Oil Search shares.[29] These investigations involve colleagues including Minister for Urbanisation Justin Tkatchenko, who was responsible for the Maserati procurement as Minister for APEC, and Prime Minister Marape, who was implicated in the Ombudsman's Report into the purchase of Oil Search shares as Minister for Finance when the procurement took place.[30] In July 2019, after commitments by the Marape-Steven government to open a Commission of Inquiry into the findings of the Ombudsman Commission report into the UBS Loan,[31] the Australian Financial Review provided further information about concerning transactions.[32] However, the Commission of Inquiry progressed slowly and costs increased dramatically when foreign lawyers became involved; as a consequence, the Committee failed to progress matters in 2019. [33][34]

In October 2019 police issued a warrant for the arrest of O'Neill citing "official corruption."[35] However, O'Neill refused to cooperate, claiming the charges were "false and fabricated in a clumsy way" by Kramer, whom he also accused of politicising the police force and "blatant interference in police operations."[36] After a period in Australia, and after calling for Kramer's removal, O'Neill returned to Papua New Guinea but did not appear for the final sitting of Parliament.[37] Despite this and other calls for Marape to remove Kramer from office, he successfully held his position in the last Ministerial reshuffle for 2019.[38]

After an extended period in Australia, O'Neill returned to Papua New Guinea on 24 May 2020 and was immediately arrested by police in relation to the purchase of two generators from Israeli interests.[39] He was released on bail and allowed to complete the mandatory 14 day quarantine period at home. He subsequently returned to PNG Parliament during its June sitting and challenged the Marape-Steven Government over a range of issues from debt escalation to the management of the COVID-19 crisis.[40][41] However, this renewed vigour did not stop Members of Parliament from continuing to leave his People's National Congress party.[42]

Prior to his appointment as Police Minister, Kramer claimed that members of the police force were actively planning an arrest and/or assassination attempt against him.[43] He was quoted as saying "I have no question of doubt I will eventually get killed for what I do. It goes without saying when you get in the way of those stealing billions in public funds, they will do whatever it takes to get rid of you."[44]

As Minister for Police, Kramer has pursued reform of the police force, which has been troubled by allegations of corruption and abuse. [45] He removed long-term acting Police Commissioner Gari Baki in July 2019, saying he was past compulsory retirement age and needed to be stood down. Despite Baki's attempts at reinstatement, the dismissal was successful.[46] He appointed David Manning as acting Commissioner; Manning was confirmed in the position by a decision of the National Executive Council in December 2019.[47] It was much speculated that Manning received the position because he was "tambu" (an in-law, or relative by marriage) of Kramer; however, Kramer has clarified that this allegation is false.[48]

Concerned about ongoing mismanagement of police finances, in June 2020 Kramer called the Fraud Squad to task about high rental costs. After investigation, Kramer determined that a company owned by a foreign national was charging high and escalating rents on a building leased by the Fraud Squad. He asked Commissioner for Taxation Sam Koim to investigate the company involved.[49]