Don Polye

{{Short description|Papua New Guinean politician}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Don Polye

| honorific-prefix = Hon.

| honorific-suffix = MP

| image = Don Polye.jpg

| office1 = Leader of the Opposition of Papua New Guinea

| predecessor1 = Sam Basil

| termstart1 = May 2016

| termend1 = August 2017

| successor1 = Patrick Pruaitch

| predecessor2 = Belden Namah

| termstart2 = December 2014

| termend2 = May 2016

| successor2 = Sam Basil

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1967|02|1|df=y}}

| birth_place = Enga Province

| alma_mater = Southern Cross University (2004-2007)
Lae University of Technology (1987-1990)

| office3 = Leader of Triumph Heritage Empowerment Party

| termstart3 = 2012

| office4 = Deputy Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea

| termstart4 = 2010

| termend4 = 2010

| predecessor4 = Puka Temu

| successor4 = Sam Abal

| office5 = Member of National Parliament for Kandep Open

| predecessor5 = Don Polye

| termstart5 = 9 November 2009

| office6 = Deputy Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea

| termstart6 = 2006

| termend6 = 2007

| predecessor6 = Moi Avei

| successor6 = Puka Temu

| office7 = Member of National Parliament for Kandep Open

| termend7 = 14 August 2009

| termstart7 = 2002

| successor7 = Don Polye

| predecessor7 = Jimson Sauk

| education = Passam National High School

| party = Triumph Heritage Empowerment Party (2012–present)
National Alliance Party (2002-2012)

Mt. Hagen High School

Avi Community School

}}

Don Pomb Polye[https://archive.today/20120805160347/http://www.immigration.gov.pg/minister/65-ministers-key-note-address-2011.html "Key Note Address to the 27th Papua New Guinea – Australia Business Council Forum by the Hon. Don Pomb Polye, MP"], Papua New Guinean Ministry for Immigration[http://www.bankpng.gov.pg/images/stories/sppeches/2011/Ministers_Speech_for_Launching_of_Strategic_Plan-Final.pdf "Speech by the Minister for Finance & Treasury, Honourable Don Pomb Polye, At the Launch of the Bank of Papua New Guinea Strategic Plan 2012–15"]{{dead link|date=December 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, Bank of Papua New Guinea (born 1 February 1967) is a Papua New Guinean politician from Enga Province. He has been a Cabinet Minister under two Prime Ministers, and was briefly Deputy Prime Minister from July to December 2010. He has held Foreign Affairs, Immigration, Transport, Civil Aviation, Finance and Treasury portfolios.{{Cite web|url=http://www.parliament.gov.pg/index.php/ninth-parliament/bio/view/kandep-district|title=Hon. Don Polye, MP - Ninth Parliament of Papua New Guinea|website=parliament.gov.pg}}

Polye was first elected in 2002 to the National Parliament of Papua New Guinea representing the Kandep Open electorate as a member of the National Alliance Party. He was the Minister for Transport and Civil Aviation from July 2006 to August 2009. Sir Michael Somare, the Prime Minister, appointed Polye to that position in July 2006 as part of a Cabinet reshuffle.[http://www.pm.gov.pg/pmsoffice/pmsoffice.nsf/pages/1785394D4A50905E4A2571A4000C7422?OpenDocument Prime Minister of New Guinea media release "Sir Michael Makes Major Cabinet Reshuffle" 5 July 2006] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011174555/http://www.pm.gov.pg/pmsoffice/pmsoffice.nsf/pages/1785394D4A50905E4A2571A4000C7422?OpenDocument |date=11 October 2007 }} He was also Deputy Prime Minister from July 2006 until August 2007.{{cite news | title=Treasurer, defence minister sacked in Papua New Guinea reshuffle | work=PNG Post-Courier | date=6 July 2006 }}{{cite news | title=Papua New Guinea coalition party leaders take share of cabinet posts | work=The National | date=30 August 2007 }} As Minister for Civil Aviation he introduced an "open air" policy ensuring that Air Niugini faced competition from other airlines starting from 2007.{{cite web |url=http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=22604 |title=Air Brunei set to offer competition for Papua New Guinea carrier |date=3 March 2006 |work=Radio New Zealand International |accessdate=29 September 2011}}

Polye was rushed from a political rally in his Kandep electorate in June 2007 after shots were fired. A rival candidate for his seat was later charged with attempted murder.[http://www.theage.com.au/news/World/Rival-denies-shooting-at-PNGs-deputy-PM/2007/06/19/1182019086293.html The Age, "Rival denies shooting at PNG's deputy PM" 19 June 2007]

Polye was removed from his position as Member of Parliament on 14 August 2009 when the National Court determined that his victory in the 2007 General Election was invalid.[http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20090817/news01.htm Post-Courier, "Polye out" 17 August 2009] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110616211841/http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20090817/news01.htm |date=16 June 2011 }} The judge's ruling included the observation that it was hard to believe that some polling stations had returned a 100% vote for Polye.[http://www.thenational.com.pg/?q=node/209 The National, "Red-faced", 28 August 2009] The by-election for the seat took place on 9 November 2009, and Polye ran as a candidate.[http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20090827/news01.htm Post-Courier, "H’lands ‘hope’ back to polls" 27 August 2009] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110616211844/http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20090827/news01.htm |date=16 June 2011 }} He was successful in regaining his seat.

In July 2010, he replaced Puka Temu as deputy Prime Minister, when the latter tried unsuccessfully to unseat Prime Minister Somare through a parliamentary motion of no confidence.[http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/somare-jets-off-after-cementing-rule/story-e6frg6so-1225895813589 "Somare jets off after cementing rule"], The Australian, 23 July 2010 Polye himself was removed as Deputy Prime Minister on 7 December 2010, in an impromptu cabinet reshuffle conducted under what Australia's ABC News called "unusual circumstances".Fox, Liam: [https://web.archive.org/web/20101210131731/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/12/08/3087673.htm Deputy PM sacked in PNG shake-up], ABC News, 8 December 2010. However he was appointed as Papua New Guinea's Foreign Minister later in December 2010, holding that position until another cabinet reshuffle in June 2011. He supported the Opposition when it brought down the government through a parliamentary motion of no confidence in August 2011, and was appointed Minister of Finance by new Prime Minister Peter O'Neill.[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/world-leaders-1/world-leaders-p/papua-new-guinea.html Cabinet of Papua New Guinea] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110813024602/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/world-leaders-1/world-leaders-p/papua-new-guinea.html |date=13 August 2011 }}, CIA Factbook, 18 August 2011

In October, the National Alliance Party consequently sought to expel him from the party, but was prevented from doing so by a court order.[https://archive.today/20120911032109/http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20111006/news03.htm "Court stops NA from sacking Don Polye"], Post Courier, 6 October 2011 Later that month, it was reported simultaneously that Polye, along with many others, had been expelled from the party "for conduct prejudicial to the interest of the party", and that he had been elected as party leader.[http://www.pina.com.fj/?p=pacnews&m=read&o=20504882634e97b66e5f5e8eed3b3c "National Alliance party sack 12 parliamentarians, leader calls on party executives to resign"], Pacific Islands News Association In fact, the party split into factions, one of which was led by Polye. In January 2012, he announced that he was de-registering the National Alliance Party, despite the existence of a rival faction claiming to be the legitimate party. Polye and his faction launched a new party, the Triumph Heritage Empowerment Rural Party ("T.H.E. Party"), ahead of the June 2012 general election.[https://archive.today/20120910233006/http://www.islandsbusiness.com/news/index_dynamic/containerNameToReplace=MiddleMiddle/focusModuleID=130/focusContentID=26867/tableName=mediaRelease/overideSkinName=newsArticle-full.tpl "Polye splits National Alliance party, forms new group to contest 2012 polls"], Islands Business, 17 January 2012[http://pidp.eastwestcenter.org/pireport/2012/January/01-24-04.htm "PNG’s Defunct Ruling Party Reforms as ‘T.H.E. Party’"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131219195835/http://pidp.eastwestcenter.org/pireport/2012/January/01-24-04.htm |date=19 December 2013 }}, The National, 23 January 2012[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[http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=65706 "New PNG political party to focus on strengthening family unit"], Radio New Zealand International, 24 January 2012

On 27 February 2012, Prime Minister Peter O'Neill relieved him of the Finance portfolio, taking it on himself, citing "the continuing lack of ability by the department and ministry of finance to contain expenditure overruns outside of the budget appropriations". Polye retained the Treasury portfolio, and gained that of Border Development.[http://www.thenational.com.pg/?q=node/29601 "Polye loses powers"], The National, 28 February 2012 Following the results of the 2012 general election Polye retained his position as Treasurer under a new cabinet announced by O'Neill.[http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/international/radio/program/pacific-beat/png-pm-announces-full-cabinet-membership/997290 "PNG PM announces full cabinet membership"], ABC Radio Australia, 11 August 2012 On 10 March 2014, O'Neill sacked him again, accusing him of having a destabilising effect on the government.[http://www.news.com.au/national/breaking-news/png-treasurer-sacked-by-pm-oneill/story-e6frfku9-1226850700461 "PNG treasurer sacked by PM O'Neill"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140311132323/http://www.news.com.au/national/breaking-news/png-treasurer-sacked-by-pm-oneill/story-e6frfku9-1226850700461 |date=11 March 2014 }}, News.com.au, 10 March 2014

In December 2014, he replaced Belden Namah as Leader of the Opposition to O'Neill's government.[http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/international/radio/program/pacific-beat/former-oneill-government-treasurer-don-polye-new-png-opposition-leader/1395615 "Former O'Neill government treasurer Don Polye new PNG opposition leader"], Radio New Zealand International, 3 December 2014

Polye lost the Kandep election in 2017 to Alfred Manase but disputed the results and a series of court cases took place until a recount was ordered.{{cite web|url=https://postcourier.com.pg/court-dismisses-polye-appeal/|title=Court dismisses Polye appeal|access-date=4 August 2022}}

After a recount, he was elected to the tenth Parliament in April 2021.{{cite web |title=Polye lauds court ruling on recount|url=https://postcourier.com.pg/polye-lauds-court-ruling-on-recount/ |access-date=4 August 2022}}

Polye stood again for the eleventh Parliament in 2022. He was declared elected by returning officer Henry Apakali after he had been instructed by Electoral Commissioner Simon Sinai to stop the count due to integrity concerns. The declaration is pending legal review.{{cite web |title=Sinai wants response for why Tapend ballot box was not counted |url=https://postcourier.com.pg/sinai-wants-response-for-why-tapend-ballot-box-was-not-counted/ |access-date=4 August 2022}}