People's Labour Party (Papua New Guinea)

The People's Labour Party is a political party in Papua New Guinea.

People's Labour Party
PresidentBenedict Simanjuang [1]
SecretaryCharles Loke [1]
FounderPeter Yama
Founded2001 (2001)
National Parliament
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History

It was founded in April 2001 by Madang businessman and former MP Peter Yama, who sought a return to politics after having lost his seat at the 1997 election.[2][3] He pledged that, if the party formed the next government, it would give ten percent of the national budget to churches to assist young people, stating that "PNG proclaimed itself to be a Christian country but the Government had not made that a reality."[4] He also pledged to fight corruption and to investigate a number of past financial deals involving the national government.[5]

The party won four seats at the 2002 election: Yama (Usino-Bundi Open), Yuntavi Bao (Kainantu Open), Miki Kaeok (Wapenamanda Open) and Ekis Ropenu (Kerema Open).[6][7] It supported Michael Somare for Prime Minister and was to be allocated one ministry in his government, but Yama stated that he would step aside due to a misconduct investigation.[8][9] Three more MPs were reported to have joined the party in December 2002: Cecilking Doruba (sole MP for the PNG First Party), Gordon Wesley (sole MP for the One People Party) and independent Fabian Ine, although they faced issues with anti-floor crossing laws.[10] The misconduct proceedings against Yama were quashed in March 2003.[11]

The party won an additional seat at the Southern Highlands supplementary election in May 2003, with the election of Balus Libe in Komo-Magarina Open. Yama claimed at that time that with further defections the party had a total of 10 MPs[12][13] Yama was promoted to the ministry in August 2003 as Minister for Labour and Industrial Relations, but was sacked in November.[14][15] Bao also served as a minister in Somare's government, but was himself sacked in January 2004 after the party voted against an attempted constitutional amendment to curb no-confidence votes.[16]

Following their sacking, the party moved to the opposition and attempted to oust the Somare government. In May 2004, Yama was briefly recognised as Leader of the Opposition when Speaker Jeffrey Nape attempted to prevent Peter O'Neill from taking the office.[17] However, in July, the party announced that Repenu had replaced Yama as leader, and that the party would again support the government.[18] The party again reversed later in the term, with Yama regaining the leadership and the party pledging to strongly oppose the re-election of the Somare government by the time of the 2007 election.[19][20]

The party won two seats at the 2007 election: Patrick Kondo in Daulo Open and Koni Iguan in Markham Open, while Yama was defeated in a bid for Governor of Madang Province.[21][22] Iguan succeeded Yama as party leader.[23] However, Iguan crossed to the Papua New Guinea Party in January 2011.[24] Yama attempted to re-enter parliament at the 2012 election but was unsuccessful, and was again defeated in a 2013 by-election.[25][26]

The party was registered to contest the 2017 election, and won two seats in the National Parliament.[27] As of May 2019, the party has 1 seat in the National Parliament.

References
  1. "REGISTRY OF POLITICAL PARTIES" (PDF). Integrity of Political Parties and Candidates Commission. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 April 2017. Retrieved 11 April 2017.
  2. "Governor says ruling party "not welcome in Highlands"". The National. 30 April 2001.
  3. "Yama v Gubag [1998] PNGLR 146 (3 April 1998)". PacLII. Retrieved 2 January 2017.
  4. "PLP promises youth support". PNG Post Courier. 3 December 2001.
  5. "Yama pledges probes into past govt deals". PNG Post Courier. 4 March 2002.
  6. "House faces numbers dilemma". PNG Post-Courier. 31 July 2002.
  7. "NATIONAL ELECTION 2002". PNG Electoral Commission. Archived from the original on 14 October 2002. Retrieved 2 January 2017.
  8. "Chief ready for changes". PNG Post Courier. 15 August 2002.
  9. "News in brief - Misconduct". PNG Post-Courier. 15 August 2002.
  10. "Three MPs join Yama". PNG Post-Courier. 23 December 2002.
  11. "Yama freed". PNG Post-Courier. 5 March 2013.
  12. "Parliament to sit today after break". PNG Post Courier. 20 May 2003.
  13. "n brief. Differences stunt growth". PNG Post-Courier. 29 May 2003.
  14. "Papua New Guinea premier says cabinet reshuffle aimed at stability". PNG Post-Courier. 4 August 2003.
  15. "Baing is DPM". PNG Post-Courier. 13 November 2003.
  16. "Papua New Guinea housing minister sacked". Radio Australia. 22 January 2004.
  17. "PNG Opposition leader not recognised in Parliament". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 27 May 2004.
  18. "Stand off in Parliament". PNG Post-Courier. 5 July 2004.
  19. "Bill Skate's son nominates for father's seat in PNG". Australian Associated Press. 18 May 2006.
  20. "PLP to declare war". PNG Post-Courier. 27 March 2007.
  21. "Small parties fared well in elections". PNG Post-Courier. 2 August 2007.
  22. "NATIONAL ELECTION 2007". PNG Electoral Commission. Archived from the original on 23 August 2007. Retrieved 2 January 2017.
  23. "PLP wants to be in govt". PNG Post-Courier. 10 August 2007.
  24. "Four MPs join PNG Party". PNG Post-Courier. 11 January 2011.
  25. "Yama urged to rescind". PNG Post-Courier. 3 September 2012.
  26. "Duban leads in Madang by-election count". PNG Post Courier. 9 December 2013.
  27. "Total number of parties 34: Gelu". The National. 25 July 2016. Retrieved 2 January 2017.
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