PNG: Road to Independence by Max Uechtritz 15September 2025
- Sep 25
- 6 min read
Revisiting one of the most extraordinary political transitions in history – and the
people who made it happen.
PNG Road to Independence is a powerful one-hour documentary chronicling one of
the most peaceful and improbable transitions to nationhood in modern history. In
1975, Papua New Guinea, home to over 840 languages and hundreds of distinct
tribes, defied predictions of chaos to become an independent nation. This film
reveals how visionary leaders like Michael Somare and John Guise, with the support
of Australia’s Prime Minister Gough Whitlam, forged unity from extraordinary
diversity.
Directed by Max Uechtritz, an acclaimed PNG-born journalist and filmmaker with
deep ancestral ties to the country, this documentary blends rare archival footage with
intimate interviews from those who shaped the nation’s birth. From former deputy
prime ministers to grassroots voices and Somare’s own daughter, their stories
illuminate the challenges and triumphs of decolonisation.
The film also confronts the historical amnesia surrounding Australia’s colonial legacy
in PNG, offering a timely reflection on shared history, identity and resilience.
With stunning contemporary imagery and rich archival footage, PNG Road to
Independence is essential viewing for audiences seeking untold stories of political
transformation, cultural survival, and the enduring power of unity.
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And a selection of social media tributes after the TV premiere on ABC 16 September
2025:
- This is one extraordinary documentary that will reach into the heart and soul of every one
of us!
- Thank you Max for the wonderful photos. and the ABC Documentary this evening. It
brought back memories of country we loved
- Totally reflects the colour, the diversity, richness and vibrance of PNG. Thank you.
- Images that touch your soul
Now available on ABC Iview
See more at:
ABC celebrates Papua New Guinea’s 50 years of independence - About the ABC
ABC Education has created a digibook for PNG: Road to Independence as a school
resource. See ‘here’
ABC Chair Kim Williams address at Program launch and screening ABC Ultimo 15
September 2025 of the documentary PNG: Road to Independence
I acknowledge the Traditional Owners on these ancestral lands and waterways of the Eora
nation on which we gather today. I pay my respects to Gadigal Elders past and present and
to the Elders of other Indigenous communities in Australia.
I also warmly acknowledge the people of Papua New Guinea, their Prime Minister and his
government, the parliament and the many traditional elders who comprise that nation at this
special time, as we celebrate the 50 th Anniversary of PNG’s independence.
-------------------------------------------
” If history were to obliterate the whole of my public career, save my contribution to the
independence of a democratic PNG, I should rest content” …. so said former Australian
Prime Minister Gough Whitlam, so memorably, in the final paragraph of the ‘International
Relations’ chapter of his large work, The Whitlam Government.
It will surprise few I am sure, that of the twenty-one chapters of that very substantial work
about his government and its implemented policy program, that the longest is dedicated to
Australian foreign policy.
What will not surprise those who knew my father-in-law, but will no doubt surprise others, is
that the longest section of the International Relations chapter (as Foreign Policy was then
described) was about Papua New Guinea. In fact, it occupies around 20% of that chapter.
Gough writes about his never-ending advocacy about, and the eventual legislated
independence he secured for, Papua New Guinea. The legislation passed in August of 1975
just before the official inauguration of the new nation, the following month.
That deep personal conviction extended across his political and parliamentary career right
up until the final ceremonies that took place fifty years ago today and for the next two days,
with the official inaugural Day of Independence being the 16 th September, 1975. Gough
spoke on the evening of the 15 th September enthusiastically and quite emotionally, about the
new nation and about its inaugural Prime Minister, the now revered PNG elder statesman,
Sir Michael Somare.
Long may both those great men rest in peace.
16 September 1975 should be etched in Australian history consciousness as much as that of
PNG itself.
Papua New Guineans never forgot Gough Whitlam’s long and unshakeable commitment to
their nation. Indeed, there were many former PNG Prime Ministers, in fact almost as many
as there were former Australian Prime Ministers, present at the official memorial ceremony
for Gough Whitlam at Sydney Town Hall on 5 November 2014. An event which I had the
privilege to program and supervise on behalf of the family.
I worry that Australia’s colonial experience with Papua New Guinea has largely vanished
from contemporary memory. Indulge me for a moment and let me remind you of some key
elements of our colonial experience and the great importance of PNG to our modern history.
As I am confident everyone here knows, New Guinea is the second largest island on the
planet after Greenland. In 1914 Australia vanquished the Germans in New Guinea taking
over the north-eastern part of the island which was an Australian colony onwards from 1914.
In 1920 the League of Nations gave Australia a mandate to administer it. Eastern Papua had
been under British colonial administration since the late nineteenth century which formally
continued through until 1975, however Australia had administrative responsibility from 1906
after the British requested Australia to step in.
In 1946 the General Assembly of the UN substituted a trusteeship for the mandate and
agreed to the Territory of Papua and the Trust Territory of New Guinea being governed in a
conjoined administrative union under Australia’s control. Australia had mighty obligations
under Article 73 of the UN Charter to ensure political, economic, social and educational
advancement of the Peoples of the Territory of Papua and to develop it for self-government.
Under Article 76 of the same Charter we had to promote the same policy responsibilities for
the Trust Territory of New Guinea in parallel, towards self-government or independence.
The statutory basis for the operation of Australia’s custodianship over PNG was affirmed
through legislation in 1949 by the Chifley government and that provided the basis for
administration for the next 26 years until PNG gained full independence fifty years ago.
It is not well understood in Australia that we effectively operated a colony from 1914 in the
north with the allied incorporation of Papua. That knowledge gap must be resolved, as there
is a rich history between us and an interdependence and responsibility which abides long
into the future.
Australia has only a patchy knowledge of the cultural richness, diversity and complexity of
PNG. With its population easily exceeding 13 million; its languages numbering over 800; its
600 tribal groupings; and its vast geography, and agricultural and mineral wealth. This is a
vital neighbour and partner of Australia’s which is as close to the northernmost part of
Australia in the Torres Strait, as Circular Quay is to us here in Ultimo today.
It was essential for the ABC to mark this vital moment of PNG’s independence in the mutual
history of our two nations, and it has done so – handsomely - with two special films. The first
is a 60-minute screen and audio documentary Wan Kantri: The Next 50 Years, which was
launched in PNG a couple of weeks ago. It examines the history, spirit and diverse traditions
of PNG’s people, deeply connected to their roots and looking to the future.
Wan Kantri was produced by ABC International in conjunction with PNG’s National
Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) and supported under the DFAT-funded Media Development
Initiative, with ABC Backroads’ Kathy McLeish as Executive Producer and NBC’s Maureen
Orea hosting. I warmly recommend it to you all on ABC iview from tomorrow.
The second is the documentary we launch tonight: - PNG: Road to Independence.
PNG: Road to Independence tells the gripping story of the PNG-born leaders who united
multifarious tribes, culturally and linguistically, in a peaceful transition from Australian
colonial rule to birth a proud new nation. The film is an ABC co-production from WildBear
Entertainment, written and directed by PNG-born journalist, filmmaker and former ABC
NEWS Director Max Uechtritz – a true citizen of PNG with a family history that extends back
into the 19 th century. It premieres on iview and ABC main channel tomorrow evening, exactly
fifty years after Independence ceremonies in PNG.
Both programs will have education purpose in a sequence of informative programs that
record the history in durable and useful ways for PNG school children and the broader PNG
and Australian communities to mark PNG independence and assist civics education for
future generations. This was an express wish of PNG Prime Minister, the Honourable James
Marape, to mark PNG independence meaningfully.
Let me close by quoting from Gough Whitlam again:
“on 18 June 1975 the House of Assembly in PNG nominated the 16 th September as the date
upon which Papua New Guinea is to achieve its independence. I immediately wrote to
Somare informing his Government that, ‘The date nominated by the House of Assembly is
acceptable to the Australian Government’….
‘May I offer you my congratulations on the historic decision which the House of Assembly
has taken and express to you my profound admiration for your success in steering Papua
New Guinea to full nationhood. I look forward to continuing close cooperation between our
two Governments and our two nations’.”
And there is only one response to that – long live Papua New Guinea!
And long live the friendship and mutual commitment between Australia and PNG.
Personally, I can’t wait to see PNG: Road to Independence this evening. It embodies so
much of what really matters between these two nations and about the role of the ABC.
Kim Williams AM,
Chair, Australian Broadcasting Corporation
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