Peter O'Neill
Encyclopedia
Peter Charles Paire O'Neill, CMG
(born 13 February 1965) is the current Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea
. He is the leader of the People's National Congress
and represents the constituency of Ialibu-Pangia
.
n-born magistrate
of Irish
descent and his mother, Awambo Yari, was a Papua New Guinean from the Southern Highlands
. His father had moved to Papua New Guinea in 1949 as an Australian government field officer, known in Tok Pisin
as a kiap
, later serving as a magistrate in Goroka
until his death in 1982.
He was educated at the Pangia Primary School, Ialibu High School and Goroka High School. After leaving school he was educated at the University of Papua New Guinea
, graduating with a Bachelor of Accountancy and Commerce in 1986.
O'Neill was a businessman before entering politics. He now lives in Port Moresby with his partner and has five children; two daughters and three sons, all of whom are currently attending boarding school in Australia (except his eldest and youngest son).
in 2002 and became a minister in the same year.
He became the leader of Papua New Guinea's opposition in 2004. He joined the government of Prime Minister Michael Somare
in 2007, serving as treasurer.
During Somare's absence due to illness he served as works minister under acting prime minister Sam Abal
. In August 2011 he joined with opposition MPs to topple Abal. O'Neill was elected as the acting Prime Minister in a parliamentary vote on 2 August 2011 and was sworn in later in the day by the Governor-General.
One of his first measures as Prime Minister in August, alongside his Public Enterprises Minister Sir Mekere Morauta
, was to dismiss Glen Blake, the managing director of the Independence Public Business Corporation, a state-owned enterprise. The government accused Blake of "misconduct in office", namely an illegal and ill-advised use of funds. Morauta said the IPBC had been operating under a "thick veil of secrecy", and that the O'Neill government wanted to "restore open honest governance to the operations of IPBC".
Also in August, the O'Neill announced the establishing of a new public holiday
, Repentance Day
, set on 26 August. The announcement was made just eleven days before that date, and with minimal information. The public holiday was established at the request of a "group of churches", which had approached Abal with the idea shortly before he lost office.
Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
(born 13 February 1965) is the current Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea
Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea
The Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, is Papua New Guinea's head of government, consequent on being the leader of the party or coalition with majority support in the National Parliament. Since 2 August 2011, the Prime Minister has been Peter O’Neill of the People's National Congress Party.-List...
. He is the leader of the People's National Congress
People's National Congress Party
The People's National Congress Party is a political party in Papua New Guinea. Its former leader Bill Skate served as prime minister from 1997 to 1999 and as speaker of Parliament from 2002 to 2004. Skate died in 2006 and the party is now led by Peter O’Neill....
and represents the constituency of Ialibu-Pangia
Ialibu-Pangia District
Ialibu-Pangia District is a district of the Southern Highlands Province of Papua New Guinea. Its capital is Ialibu. The population was 50,243 at the 2000 census....
.
Biography
O'Neill's father, Brian O'Neill, was an AustraliaAustralia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n-born magistrate
Magistrate
A magistrate is an officer of the state; in modern usage the term usually refers to a judge or prosecutor. This was not always the case; in ancient Rome, a magistratus was one of the highest government officers and possessed both judicial and executive powers. Today, in common law systems, a...
of Irish
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
descent and his mother, Awambo Yari, was a Papua New Guinean from the Southern Highlands
Southern Highlands (Papua New Guinea)
Southern Highlands is a province in Papua New Guinea. Its provincial capital is the town of Mendi. According to Papua New Guinea's national 2000 census, the total population of Southern Highlands is 546,265 spread across , which makes it the most highly populated province in the country.-Split to...
. His father had moved to Papua New Guinea in 1949 as an Australian government field officer, known in Tok Pisin
Tok Pisin
Tok Pisin is a creole spoken throughout Papua New Guinea. It is an official language of Papua New Guinea and the most widely used language in that country...
as a kiap
Kiap
Kiaps, variously known as district officers and patrol officers, in pre-independence Papua New Guinea were travelling representatives of the British and Australian governments.-History:...
, later serving as a magistrate in Goroka
Goroka
Goroka is the capital of the Eastern Highlands Province of Papua New Guinea. It is a town of approximately 19,000 people , 1600m above sea level. It has an airport and is on the "Highlands Highway", about 285 km from Lae in Morobe province and 90 km from the nearby town of Kainantu also...
until his death in 1982.
He was educated at the Pangia Primary School, Ialibu High School and Goroka High School. After leaving school he was educated at the University of Papua New Guinea
University of Papua New Guinea
The University of Papua New Guinea was established by ordinance of the Australian administration in 1965. This followed the Currie Commission which had enquired into higher education in Papua New Guinea...
, graduating with a Bachelor of Accountancy and Commerce in 1986.
O'Neill was a businessman before entering politics. He now lives in Port Moresby with his partner and has five children; two daughters and three sons, all of whom are currently attending boarding school in Australia (except his eldest and youngest son).
Politics
O'Neill was elected to the National Parliament of Papua New GuineaNational Parliament of Papua New Guinea
The National Parliament of Papua New Guinea is the unicameral national legislature in Papua New Guinea. It was first created in 1964 as the House of Assembly of Papua and New Guinea, but gained its current name with the granting of independence in 1975....
in 2002 and became a minister in the same year.
He became the leader of Papua New Guinea's opposition in 2004. He joined the government of Prime Minister Michael Somare
Michael Somare
Sir Michael Thomas Somare, GCL, GCMG, CH, CF, KStJ, MP was Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea from 2002 to 2011; he had previously been Prime Minister from independence in 1975 until 1980 and again from 1982 until 1985. Somare's first two terms were as a member of the Pangu Party, but he then...
in 2007, serving as treasurer.
During Somare's absence due to illness he served as works minister under acting prime minister Sam Abal
Sam Abal
Samuel Tei "Sam" Abal is a Papua New Guinean politician. Abal, who previously served as Foreign Minister from August 2007 to December 2010, became the Deputy Prime Minister of the country in a cabinet reshuffle by Michael Somare on 7 December 2010...
. In August 2011 he joined with opposition MPs to topple Abal. O'Neill was elected as the acting Prime Minister in a parliamentary vote on 2 August 2011 and was sworn in later in the day by the Governor-General.
One of his first measures as Prime Minister in August, alongside his Public Enterprises Minister Sir Mekere Morauta
Mekere Morauta
Sir Mekere Morauta, KCMG is a Papua New Guinean political figure. He served as the sixth Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea between 1999 and 2002, and later as Leader of the Opposition. He is the sitting member for Moresby North-West in the national parliament, and he was until recently the...
, was to dismiss Glen Blake, the managing director of the Independence Public Business Corporation, a state-owned enterprise. The government accused Blake of "misconduct in office", namely an illegal and ill-advised use of funds. Morauta said the IPBC had been operating under a "thick veil of secrecy", and that the O'Neill government wanted to "restore open honest governance to the operations of IPBC".
Also in August, the O'Neill announced the establishing of a new public holiday
Public holiday
A public holiday, national holiday or legal holiday is a holiday generally established by law and is usually a non-working day during the year....
, Repentance Day
Repentance Day
Repentance Day, on 26 August, is a public holiday in Papua New Guinea. It is celebrated by "prayer ceremonies" across the country.It was established on 15 August 2011 by Prime Minister Peter O'Neill, who had come to power less than two weeks earlier. The announcement came only eleven days before...
, set on 26 August. The announcement was made just eleven days before that date, and with minimal information. The public holiday was established at the request of a "group of churches", which had approached Abal with the idea shortly before he lost office.
External links
- People's National Congress Party, PNG-Integrity of Political Parties & Candidates Commission
- The Australian: Highlander with big shoes to fill