Puka Temu

The Honourable Sir Puka Temu KBE CMG MP
Temu in 2009
Minister for Health & HIV/AIDS
In office 1 October 2020 – 16 November 2020
Prime Minister	James Marape
Succeeded by	Jelta Wong
In office August 2017 – April 2019
Prime Minister	Peter O'Neill
Minister for Bougainville Affairs
In office 7 June 2019 – 30 September 2020
Prime Minister	James Marape
Deputy Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea
In office 29 August 2007 – July 2010
Prime Minister	Michael Somare
Member of the National Parliament of Papua New Guinea
Incumbent
Assumed office 13 January 2004
Preceded by	Puka Temu
Constituency	Abau Open
In office 2002 – 5 March 2003
Preceded by	Kilroy Genia
Succeeded by	Puka Temu
Constituency	Abau Open
Personal details
Born	(1954-01-07)7 January 1954
Nationality	Papua New Guinean
Political party	Our Development Party (2019–), (2012)
Other political affiliations	People's National Congress (2012–2019) National Alliance Party (2002-2012)
Alma mater	UPNG

Sir Puka Temu, KBE, CMG (born 7 January 1954), is a Papua New Guinean politician. He has been a member of the National Parliament of Papua New Guinea since 2002, representing the electorate of Abau Open. A former Deputy Prime Minister under Michael Somare, he is part of Prime Minister James Marape's government as a member of the Our Development Party.^[1][2]

Early life

Temu attended Konepoti Primary School and Iarowari High School. He graduated from the University of Papua New Guinea in 1976 with a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery. He completed a master's degree in Medicine in Sydney and Melbourne in 1985.^[3]

He served in the public service for 29 years, including as Secretary for the Department of Health from 1996 to 2001.^[4]

Political career

Temu was first elected to Parliament in the 2002 elections for the seat of Abau Open, representing the National Alliance Party. He was appointed as Minister for National Planning and Monitoring, Provincial Affairs, Works and Transport in a caretaking capacity following Prime Minister Michael Somare's election. He then became Minister for Public Service on 13 August 2002 and Leader of Government Business on 27 August 2002.^[4]

Temu was disqualified from Parliament on 5 March 2003 by the Court of Disputed Returns due to two campaign donations which the court said was an attempt to bribe voters.^[5] He was re-elected in a by-election on 16 December 2003, which was the first election in the country to use the new limited preferential voting (LPV) system.^[6]

He was sworn in to Parliament again on 13 January 2004. On 15 January, he was sworn in as Minister for State Enterprises and Information, a post he held until 20 December 2004. He remained in Cabinet without a ministry until 7 January 2005 when he was appointed as Minister for Lands and Physical Planning and Minister for State. In June 2006 he relinquished duties as Minister for State.^[1]

He was re-elected at the 2007 election, after which he was appointed Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Lands and Physical Planning and Minister for Mining on 29 August 2007 under Prime Minister Michael Somare.^[7][8]

In July 2010, he spearheaded an attempt to overthrow Somare through a parliamentary vote of no confidence. When the motion failed, he became Leader of the Opposition, and was replaced as Deputy Prime Minister by Don Polye.^[9]

In August 2011, Peter O'Neill became Prime Minister in the wake of a parliamentary motion of no confidence in the government of Acting Prime Minister Sam Abal. O'Neill appointed Sir Puka as his Minister for Agriculture and Livestock on 5 August 2011.^[10]

He was re-elected at the 2012 election as a member of the Our Development Party. Following the election he joined People's National Congress, reportedly to enable O'Neill to form government. He was then appointed as Minister for Transport. He was then appointed Minister for Public Service and then Minister for Health and HIV/AIDS.^[1][11]

In May 2019 Temu returned to the Our Development Party.^[11] He became Minister for Bougainville Affairs in June 2019 and oversaw the 2019 Bougainvillean Independence Referendum.^[12]

At the 2022 election he was re-elected to Parliament and was appointed Deputy Chairman of the Special Parliament Committee on the 2022 General Election by Prime Minister James Marape.^[3]

Personal life

Dr. Temu is a medical doctor. He is a United Church Christian.^[7][1]

He received a Companion Order of St Michael and St George and was made an Honorary Fellow of the Australian College of Health Services Executives in 2000.^[3]

Temu was appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) in the 2009 Birthday Honours.^[13][14]

References

1. "Hon. Puka Temu, MP". National Parliament of Papua New Guinea. Retrieved 30 March 2017.
2. "Nominations By Electorate" (PDF). PNG Electoral Commission. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 July 2017. Retrieved 15 June 2017.
3. "Hon. Dr. Sir. Puka Temu, CMG, KBE, MP - Eleventh Parliament of Papua New Guinea". parliament.gov.pg. Retrieved 23 December 2022.
4. "Hon. Puka Temu, MP - Ninth Parliament of Papua New Guinea". parliament.gov.pg. Retrieved 23 December 2022.
5. "PNG Govt Minister ousted from Parliament". ABC News. 5 March 2003. Retrieved 23 December 2022.
6. "Center for Voting and Democracy". FairVote Archives. Archived from the original on 11 August 2011. Retrieved 23 December 2022.
7. "Temu Is PNG's New Deputy Prime Minister" Archived 27 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine, Pacific Magazine, 30 August 2007
8. "Présentation de la Papouasie-Nouvelle-Guinée: Composition du gouvernement", French Ministry for Foreign Affairs
9. "Somare jets off after cementing rule", The Australian, 23 July 2010
10. Cabinet of Papua New Guinea, CIA Factbook, 18 August 2011
11. "Sir Puka rejoins Our Development Party – The National". www.thenational.com.pg. Retrieved 23 December 2022.
12. "Sir Puka reports on Bougainville vote results". postcourier.com.pg. Retrieved 23 December 2022.
13. "No. 59093". The London Gazette (Supplement). 13 June 2009. p. 2.
14. "Honours: Commonwealth". Independent.co.uk. March 2014.

External links

• Deputy Prime Minister Puka Temu's address to the 63rd session of the United Nations General Assembly, 27 September 2008

Political offices
Preceded by Don Polye	Deputy Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea 2007–2010	Succeeded by Don Polye