Ano Pala

Who is Ano Pala?

Ano Pala MP is a Papua New Guinean politician. He is Member of Parliament for Rigo, 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. In July 2010, he was one of four ministers to defect to the Opposition in an unsuccessful attempt to bring down the government, but later rejoined the government ranks and was appointed Minister for Foreign Affairs.

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.

Pala had previously served as parliamentary clerk, but resigned that position to stand for Parliament in the 2007 general election.