General elections were held in the Territory of Papua and New Guinea between 19 February and 11 March 1972.
[4] Candidacy in the regional constituencies was limited to people who had received the Intermediate Certificate (or an equivalent) from school.
[6] A total of 611 candidates contested the 100 seats in the House of Assembly,[1] of which four were women and 74 were incumbents running for re-election.
[5] Incumbent MP for Morobe Regional, Tony Voutas, chose not to run after becoming an official within the Pangu Party.
[11] A new government was formed led by Somare as Deputy Chairman of the Administrator's Executive Council.