{{Short description|Papua New Guinean politician}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2022}} '''Ano Pala''', {{post-nominals|country=GBR|KBE|CMG|ISO}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/58362/supplement/1|title=Page 35 | Supplement 58362, 16 June 2007 | London Gazette | the Gazette}}</ref> (born 15 September 1952) is a Papua New Guinean politician. He has been a member of the National Parliament of Papua New Guinea since 2007, representing the electorate of Rigo Open (in Central Province). He is Minister of Justice and Attorney-General in the government of Peter O'Neill.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.parliament.gov.pg/index.php/member-of-parliament/bio/view/rigo-district | title=Hon. Ano Pala, MP | publisher=National Parliament of Papua New Guinea | accessdate=30 March 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170329200930/http://www.parliament.gov.pg/index.php/member-of-parliament/bio/view/rigo-district | archive-date=29 March 2017 | url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pngec.gov.pg/docs/default-source/default-document-library/nominations.pdf?sfvrsn=0 |title=Nominations By Electorate |publisher=PNG Electoral Commission |accessdate=15 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170712121652/http://www.pngec.gov.pg/docs/default-source/default-document-library/nominations.pdf?sfvrsn=0 |archive-date=12 July 2017 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
He was elected to the National Parliament at the 2007 election and was initially a member of the National Alliance Party. In May 2010, he was appointed Attorney General and Minister of Justice in Prime Minister Michael Somare's Cabinet, replacing Allan Marat who had resigned after breaching Cabinet solidarity by criticising government policy. Pala had, until then, served as parliamentary secretary to Dr Puka Temu, the Minister of Lands and Physical Planning and Mining.<ref name="RNZI_53474">{{cite web |url=http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=53474 |title=PNG gets new Attorney General and Justice Minister |date=10 May 2010 |work=Radio New Zealand International |accessdate=19 September 2011}}</ref><ref>[http://www.islandsbusiness.com/news/index_dynamic/containerNameToReplace=MiddleMiddle/focusModuleID=130/focusContentID=19312/tableName=mediaRelease/overideSkinName=newsArticle-full.tpl "Ano Pala replaces Marat as PNG attorney general"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100526094627/http://www.islandsbusiness.com/news/index_dynamic/containerNameToReplace%3DMiddleMiddle/focusModuleID%3D130/focusContentID%3D19312/tableName%3DmediaRelease/overideSkinName%3DnewsArticle-full.tpl |date=26 May 2010 }}, ''The National'', 7 May 2010</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20030405012506/http://www.dfat.gov.au/geo/png/png_cabinet.html "Papua New Guinea cabinet listing"], Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, 22 March 2010</ref> In July 2010, he was one of four ministers to defect to the Opposition in an unsuccessful attempt to bring down the government,<ref>[http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-world/png-govt-splits-four-ministers-defect-20100719-10h7u.html "PNG govt splits, four ministers defect"], ''The Age'', 19 July 2010</ref> but later rejoined the government ranks and was appointed Minister for Foreign Affairs.<ref>[http://pidp.eastwestcenter.org/pireport/2011/July/07-20-13.htm "OUSTED MINISTER: PNG FLOPS ON FOREIGN RELATIONS"], ''Post-Courier'', 19 July 2011</ref>
At the start of August 2011, he again defected to the Opposition, and this time helped to successfully bring down the government in a parliamentary motion of no confidence. Peter O'Neill became Prime Minister, and appointed Pala as his Minister for Foreign Affairs, Trade and Immigration.<ref>[http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20110809/news.htm "16 first time MPs get into Cabinet"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120323172444/http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20110809/news.htm |date=23 March 2012 }}, ''Post-Courier'', 9 August 2011</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20070612234353/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/world-leaders-1/world-leaders-p/papua-new-guinea.html Cabinet of Papua New Guinea], CIA Factbook, 18 August 2011</ref>
Pala had previously served as parliamentary clerk, but resigned that position to stand (successfully) for Parliament in the 2007 general election.<ref name="RNZI_53474"/><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20100511010818/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/05/07/2893695.htm "Sacked A-G 'breached cabinet solidarity'"], Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 7 May 2010</ref>
In 2009, he publicly supported Eastern Highlands Provincial Governor Malcolm 'Kela' Smith who petitioned the government to "intervene to protect our citizens of [sic] the action of Asian businessmen", who he claimed had "exploited locals" by selling "cheap goods and counterfeit products", and by forcing employees to work long hours for low wages. Pala added that locals should be assisted in setting up their own businesses: there was a "need to support our education system, to create some of the basics of how to make money, how to run a business and how to understand the commercial and business system in the schools".<ref>[http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/pacbeat/stories/200905/s2576253.htm "Some PNG MPs show support for anti-Asian sentiment"], ABC Radio Australia, 20 May 2009</ref>
In January 2012, he joined Don Polye's new Triumph Heritage Empowerment Rural Party.<ref name="new">[http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20120124/tuhome.htm "New party launched"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120127035447/http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20120124/tuhome.htm |date=27 January 2012 }}, ''Post Courier'', 24 January 2012</ref>
==Honours== In the 2001 New Year Honours, Pala was appointed to the Imperial Service Order, for public service.<ref>Papua New Guinea list: {{London Gazette |issue=56074 |date=30 December 2000 |supp=y |pages=36 }}</ref>
He was appointed a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) in the 2007 Birthday Honours for service to the National Parliament and to sport.<ref>Papua New Guinea list: {{London Gazette |date=15 June 2007 |issue=58362 |pages=35 |supp=5 |nolink=yes}}</ref>
Pala was knighted in the 2020 Birthday Honours, being appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire "for services to the Community and to the Parliament of Papua New Guinea."<ref>{{cite web |title=Birthday Honours List 2020 – Papua New Guinea |url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/63139/supplement/B51 |website=The London Gazette |access-date=29 August 2022 |date=10 October 2020}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pala, Ano}} Category:Living people Category:Members of the National Parliament of Papua New Guinea Category:1952 births Category:Government ministers of Papua New Guinea Category:Justice ministers of Papua New Guinea Category:National Alliance Party (Papua New Guinea) politicians Category:Triumph Heritage Empowerment Party politicians Category:Companions of the Imperial Service Order Category:Companions of the Order of St Michael and St George Category:Papua New Guinean Knights Commander of the Order of the British Empire Category:Ministers for foreign affairs of Papua New Guinea