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'''Bire Kimisopa''' (born 22 December 1962) is a [[Papua New Guinea]]n politician. He was a member of the [[National Parliament of Papua New Guinea]] from 2002 to 2007 and from 2012 to 2017, both times representing the seat of [[Goroka District|Goroka Open]]. He was Minister for Internal Security (2003–2006) and Minister for Justice (2006–2007) in [[Michael Somare]]'s third government. He was the leader of the [[United Party (Papua New Guinea)|United Party]] from 2002 to 2007 and leader of the [[New Generation Party (Papua New Guinea)|New Generation Party]] from 2016 to 2017.<ref name="bio">{{cite web | url=http://www.parliament.gov.pg/index.php/member-of-parliament/bio/view/goroka-district | title=Hon. Bire Kimisopa, MP | publisher=National Parliament of Papua New Guinea | accessdate=29 April 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170508163054/http://www.parliament.gov.pg/index.php/member-of-parliament/bio/view/goroka-district | archive-date=8 May 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>

==Early life and election to parliament==

Kimisopa was educated at the [[Papua New Guinea University of Technology]] and the [[University of New England (Australia)|University of New England]] in [[Australia]], and was an accountant before entering politics.<ref name=bio /><ref name=nowhas>{{cite news | title=Goroka now has representative | work=PNG Post Courier | date=1 August 2002 }}</ref> He was elected to the National Parliament for the [[United Party (Papua New Guinea)|United Party]] at the [[2002 Papua New Guinean general election|2002 election]], and was immediately appointed party leader following the defeat of his predecessor at the election.<ref name=nowhas /><ref>{{cite news | title=United Party appoints new leader | work=The National | date=8 August 2002 }}</ref> In his first months in office, he called for a budget honesty and integrity bill to prevent over-expenditure for political reasons and called for a hold to be placed on appointments to statutory bodies after a number of appointments he viewed as political in nature.<ref>{{cite news | title=Push for integrity Bill | work=PNG Post Courier | date=9 September 2002 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title=Call to freeze new appointments | work=PNG Post Courier | date=15 October 2002 }}</ref>

==Minister for Internal Security==

In August 2003, he was promoted to Minister for Internal Security in the [[Michael Somare|Somare]] government.<ref>{{cite news | title=Papua New Guinea premier says cabinet reshuffle aimed at stability | work=Radio Australia | date=4 August 2003 }}</ref> He pledged to clean up the national Department of Immigration, claiming that some government officers were taking bribes to "turn a blind eye" to human-smuggling and gun-running, called for proper post-mortems to determine causes of death and prevent revenge killings for perceived "sorcery" and pledged to ban MPs from using police officers as private bodyguards.<ref>{{cite news | title=PNG minister pledges to "clean up" Immigration Department | work=Radio Australia | date=24 August 2003 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title='Police guards' out | work=PNG Post-Courier | date=10 September 2003 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title=Deaths from witchcraft, sorcery a big problem | work=PNG Post Courier | date=29 August 2003 }}</ref> He proposed to change the constitution to allow Papua New Guinean police to deploy overseas on regional assistance missions, which would be supported by the parliament in January 2004.<ref>{{cite news | title=Bill on police | work=PNG Post Courier | date=10 September 2003 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title=Parliament clears Papua New Guinea police to serve abroad | work=Radio Australia | date=20 January 2004 }}</ref> He also proposed introducing curfews on major highways and extending the term of the police commissioner to reduce political influence.<ref>{{cite news | title=Minister calls for curfew on highways | work=PNG Post Courier | date=23 September 2003 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title=Six-year term to stablise force | work=PNG Post-Courier | date=23 September 2003 }}</ref>

In early October, he declared the police force was in "crisis" due to poor discipline, political interference, low wages and poor housing, and called for increased funding, the recruitment of 2,000 more officers, and a one-off aid assistance package from Australia to remedy a series of issues.<ref>{{cite news | title=PNG police force 'in crisis' | work=Australian Broadcasting Corporation | date=1 October 2003 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title=PNG appeals to Aust for one-off police help | work=Australian Associated Press | date=2 October 2003 }}</ref> He initiated a review committee to identify problems that could be tackled within the police force, and lamented that while low wages were causing major problems, the government could not afford a salary increase.<ref>{{cite news | title=Low morale, cops paid 'pittance' | work=PNG Post-Courier | date=21 October 2003 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title=Police crisis in PNG: A policeman s lot is not a happy one in PNG. | work=Townsville Bulletin | date=25 October 2003 }}</ref> In November, he announced that there would be no police recruitment in 2004 due to a lack of funds; however, following the December announcement of an Australian aid package, he announced that 400 officers could now be recruited.<ref>{{cite news | title=No police recruits in 2004 | work=PNG Post Courier | date=20 November 2003 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title=Papua New Guinea police minister welcomes Australian aid | work=Radio Australia | date=12 December 2003 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title=Forum negotiates K2b aid | work=PNG Post-Courier | date=18 December 2003 }}</ref>

The proposed Australian assistance package also involved the deployment of 300 Australian officers, which saw Kimisopa involved with the passage of legislation surrounding the powers and liabilities of the officers, as well as defending them from claims that the deployment breached the country's sovereignty.<ref>{{cite news | title=Papua New Guinea drafting immunity legislation for Australian police | work=The National | date=27 January 2004 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title=PNG defends deployment of Australian police to help battle crime | work=Agence France Presse | date=2 February 2004 }}</ref> He was subjected to particular criticism from some MPs for the proposed immunity for the Australian police.<ref>{{cite news | title=Governor resumes criticism of PNG immunity for Australian police | work=The National | date=11 March 2004 }}</ref> In March 2004, he was involved in the deployment of Papua New Guinean police to the [[Solomon Islands]], following the January passage of enabling legislation.<ref>{{cite news | title=Papua New Guinea to send 22 police to Solomons | work=The National | date=2 March 2004 }}</ref> Domestically, he continued attempts to limit the supply of firearms and ammunition within Papua New Guinea, ultimately proposing a total ban on the sale of guns.<ref>{{cite news | title=Papua New Guinea forum hears of "mass proliferation of guns" | work=PNG Post-Courier | date=22 April 2004 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title=Kimisopa to push gun ban | work=PNG Post Courier | date=4 June 2004 }}</ref> In September 2004, he called for new legislation to crack down on illegal immigration to Papua New Guinea.<ref>{{cite news | title=Minister wants new law | work=PNG Post Courier | date=24 September 2004 }}</ref>

In late 2004, Kimisopa clashed with his own government over police funding, submitting a request for a 10-million-kina increase and lashing out at a budget that delivered a 10% cut in funding for 2005. He also repeatedly advocated for mandatory funding of police by provincial and local governments from their own budgets.<ref>{{cite news | title=PNG security minister attacks cut to police budget | work=PNG Post-Courier | date=24 September 2004 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title=Minister sets plan | work=PNG Post Courier | date=27 September 2004 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title=Money for Force | work=PNG Post Courier | date=8 October 2004 }}</ref> His advocacy was successful, and in October won executive approval for a one-off 10% pay rise for police.<ref>{{cite news | title=Cops get 10% pay increase | work=PNG Post Courier | date=8 October 2004 }}</ref> In the same month, he announced that women would form half of the next intake of police recruits in an attempt to improve gender parity in the police force.<ref>{{cite news | title=More women to be recruited | work=PNG Post Courier | date=6 October 2004 }}</ref> In November 2004, he initiated a bill to regulate the security industry in Papua New Guinea, which was passed unanimously by parliament, successfully separated the pay structure for police from the other uniformed forces, permitting the police union to negotiate their own pay, and won executive support for the establishment of a gun control committee headed by former PNGDF commander [[Jerry Singirok]].<ref>{{cite news | title=Security Bill unanimously passed by Parlt | work=PNG Post-Courier | date=11 November 2004 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title=New committee to control guns approved in Papua New Guinea | work=PNG Post-Courier | date=12 November 2004 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title=Cops now able to negotiate pay | work=PNG Post Courier | date=18 November 2004 }}</ref>

In December 2004, as Australian police finally prepared to arrive in Papua New Guinea, Kimisopa argued that the five-year timeframe of the program should be doubled.<ref>{{cite news | title=Visiting force faces PNG's old-style policing | work=Sydney Morning Herald | date=4 December 2004 }}</ref> He continued to be outspoken about the poor state of the police, declaring that corruption went "right to the top" and that "Chinese mafia have bought off officials throughout the system...they are siphoning money out, corrupting Government officials, colluding with police and making attempts to kill officials as well."<ref>{{cite news | title=Mafia, corrupt police cripple PNG bid for law and order | work=The Age | date=19 February 2005 }}</ref> In February 2005, he called for an amnesty for corrupt police who admitted wrongdoing and promised to reform, and suggested introducing a standing Police Complaints Tribunal if the situation did not improve.<ref>{{cite news | title=Amnesty offer for bent cops | work=PNG Post Courier | date=22 February 2005 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title=PNG bid to unmask bent cops | work=PNG Post-Courier | date=23 February 2005 }}</ref> He also announced an urgent review of firearms legislation in Papua New Guinea in his ongoing campaign against illegal weapons.<ref>{{cite news | title=Firearms laws to be reviewed | work=PNG Post Courier | date=8 March 2005 }}</ref> He also faced ongoing opposition to the Australian police deployment, with the [[Police Association of Papua New Guinea]] calling for their removal and one-time ally [[Luther Wenge]] launching a court challenge to the program.<ref>{{cite news | title=PNG police decry aid project | work=Australian Financial Review | date=6 May 2005 }}</ref>

The [[Supreme Court of Papua New Guinea|Supreme Court]] ruled that the enabling legislation for the Australian deployment was unconstitutional in May 2005, forcing Kimisopa to concede that the Australian police would have to leave the country.<ref>{{cite news | title=Papua New Guinea minister says Australian police will have to leave | work=Radio Australia | date=13 May 2005 }}</ref> He labelled the ruling "devastating", declaring that the Australian assistance was vital for planned reforms to the police and suggesting a solution be found to "resuscitate" it.<ref>{{cite news | title=Police pullout plunges PNG into aid crisis | work=The Age | date=13 May 2005 }}</ref> He flew to [[Canberra]] later that month for negotiations with Australian officials, but faced problems around the issue of immunity for the Australian police.<ref>{{cite news | title=PNG seeks to review Aust aid program | work=Australian Broadcasting Corporation | date=25 May 2005 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title=PNG wants police back | work=The Advertiser | date=24 June 2005 }}</ref> In July 2005, a long-planned gun summit was held in [[Goroka]] to finalise a report on addressing illegal firearms, resulting in wide praise for Kimisopa's efforts on the issue.<ref>{{cite news | title=Gun summit opens in Papua New Guinea | work=The National | date=4 July 2005 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title=Time to act on illegal firearms | work=PNG Post Courier | date=11 July 2005 }}</ref> In late August he faced the international media over a [[Human Rights Watch]] report about police abuses against children in Papua New Guinea, declaring that it was "something we cannot hide from" and again emphasising the need to reform in concert with Australian assistance.<ref>{{cite news | title=Papua New Guinea Police Said to Beat Kids | work=Associated Press | date=1 September 2005 }}</ref> In September, a revised agreement was agreed with the Australian government, which Kimisopa criticised for its more limited role for Australian police and lower levels of financial assistance.<ref>{{cite news | title=Papua New Guinea minister criticizes revised Australian aid programme | work=Radio Australia | date=12 September 2005 }}</ref>

==Minister for Justice and 2007 defeat==

In April 2006, Kimisopa was shifted from the internal security portfolio to the role of Minister for Justice.<ref>{{cite news | title=Reshuffle shock | work=PNG Post-Courier | date=4 April 2006 }}</ref> He announced his opposition to the death penalty in his new role, declaring "killing Papua New Guineans is out of my calendar" and expressing concern about the state of forensic facilities in death penalty cases.<ref>{{cite news | title=Papua New Guinea justice minister against death penalty | work=PNG Post-Courier | date=13 April 2006 }}</ref> He split with his government over the [[Julian Moti]] extradition, declaring that "the law should take its course and diplomatic sensitivities should not override that", in contrast to Prime Minister Somare's staunch opposition, and stating that Moti's escape from Papua New Guinea "compromises the integrity of this nation"<ref>{{cite news | title=PNG PM slams Aust over pursuit of Solomons A-G | work=Australian Associated Press | date=5 October 2006 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title=Minister decries Moti escape | work=SBS World News | date=10 October 2006 }}</ref> He suggested that if the government of the [[Solomon Islands]] were found to have been involved in the escape, that Papua New Guinea would "now critically have to assess our relationship in terms of the bilateral relationship we have with the Solomon Islands".<ref>{{cite news | title=Australia imposes travel ban on Michael Somare; Somare denies authorising defence plane to fly Moti | work=Australian Broadcasting Corporation | date=16 October 2006 }}</ref> In November, it was reported that Kimisopa may be sacked as Minister for Justice over his position on the Moti affair; however, this did not occur.<ref>{{cite news | title=Kimisopa to be replaced | work=PNG Post-Courier | date=14 November 2006 }}</ref>

A pre-election poll by a Port Moresby firm in April 2007 found Kimisopa was seen as the best performing minister in the government.<ref>{{cite news | title=Briefly | work=PNG Post-Courier | date=30 April 2007 }}</ref> However, Kimisopa lost his seat to [[Pangu Party]] candidate [[Thomson Harokaqveh]] at the [[2007 Papua New Guinean general election|2007 election]].<ref>{{cite news | title=Briefly | work=PNG Post Courier | date=30 July 2007 }}</ref> He was succeeded as leader of the United Party by [[Bob Dadae]].<ref>{{cite news | title=UP heads to Kokopo camp | work=PNG Post Courier | date=31 July 2007 }}</ref> Following his defeat, Kimisopa served as director of the Goroka Preparatory School, and continued to be involved in justice-related issues as a member of the Community Coalition Against Corruption.<ref>{{cite news | title=Goroka school links with Qld | work=PNG Post Courier | date=3 September 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title=Ex-MP: Corruption spiralling | work=PNG Post Courier | date=2 October 2008 }}</ref>

==Return to parliament==

Kimisopa was re-elected to his old seat at the [[2012 Papua New Guinean general election|2012 election]], alternatively described as either an independent or a [[New Generation Party (Papua New Guinea)|New Generation Party]] candidate, defeating Harokaqveh.<ref>{{cite news | title=Former MPs make a comeback | work=PNG Post-Courier | date=1 August 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title=Elections nearing close | work=PNG Post-Courier | date=26 July 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title=Party eyes quality leaders | work=PNG Post Courier | date=23 February 2012 }}</ref> He was appointed chairman of the Public Sector Reform Special Committee and as a member of the Communications Referral Committee in his second term.<ref name=bio /> He attacked Prime Minister [[Peter O'Neill]] over corruption issues in early August following his re-election, to which his New Generation Party, a member of O'Neill's coalition, distanced themselves.<ref>{{cite news | title=PM must tell people all: Kimisopa | work=PNG Post-Courier | date=13 August 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title=Kimisopa's comments not NGPs | work=PNG Post Courier | date=15 August 2012 }}</ref> He opposed [[National Capital District (Papua New Guinea)|National Capital District]] Governor [[Powes Parkop]]'s "[[betel nut|buai]] ban", suggesting Parkop have compassion for [[Central Province (Papua New Guinea)|Central Province]] growers who relied on betel nuts for economic sustenance.<ref>{{cite news | title=MPs debate buai ban | work=PNG Post-Courier | date=17 February 2014 }}</ref> In May 2015, he spoke out about the dire state of medical facilities in [[Mabudawan]] in [[Western Province (Papua New Guinea)|Western Province]], declaring that he "broke down in tears" in response to what he witnessed on a fact-finding trip, and raised concerns about the impact of severe underfunding on an outbreak of drug-resistant [[tuberculosis]] in the province.<ref>{{cite news | title=Parliamentary committee eases villagers' medical burden | work=PNG Post Courier | date=27 May 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title=Western crippled by lack of funds | work=PNG Post-Courier | date=28 May 2015 }}</ref>

In September 2015, Kimisopa sharply criticised the Australian government over high visa fees "only on Papua New Guinea citizens", declaring them "blatantly discriminatory".<ref>{{cite news | title=Aussie charge of K346 for visa is unfair | work=PNG Post-Courier | date=29 September 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title=Hefty visa fees offend Kimisopa | work=PNG Post Courier | date=30 September 2015 }}</ref> In June 2016, he broke with protocol to publicly release two damning reports on public health management before they had been tabled in parliament, citing "the national tuberculosis health emergency" and stating "we simply cannot wait forever to take strong and decisive action on health management...the health system is in disarray and incapable of meeting public expectations." He noted the government's refusal to table other critical reports placed on the parliamentary notice paper as justification.<ref>{{cite news | title=Health reports leaked | work=PNG Post-Courier | date=22 June 2016 }}</ref> He succeeded [[William Tongamp]] as leader of the [[New Generation Party (Papua New Guinea)|New Generation Party]] in mid-2016.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.onepng.com/2016/05/new-generation-party-holds-caucus.html | title=New Generation Party holds caucus meeting | work=One PNG | date=15 May 2016 | accessdate=30 April 2017}}</ref>

Kimisopa lost his seat to [[Henry Ame]] at the [[2017 Papua New Guinean general election|2017 election]].<ref>{{cite news | title=List of current MPs in Alotau camp | work=Loop PNG | date=29 July 2017 }}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|3}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-par|png}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Henry Smith (Papua New Guinean politician)|Henry Smith]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Member for [[Goroka District|Goroka Open]]|years=2002–2007}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Thompson Harokaqveh]]}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Thompson Harokaqveh]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Member for [[Goroka District|Goroka Open]]|years=2012–present}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Henry Ame]]}}
{{s-ppo}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Gabia Gagarimabu]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Leader of the [[United Party (Papua New Guinea)|United Party]]|years=2002–2007}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Bob Dadae]]}}
{{s-bef|before=[[William Tongamp]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Leader of the [[New Generation Party (Papua New Guinea)|New Generation Party]]|years=2016–present}}
{{s-inc}}
{{s-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kimisopa, Bire}}
[[Category:1962 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Members of the National Parliament of Papua New Guinea]]
[[Category:New Generation Party (Romania) politicians]]
[[Category:Government ministers of Papua New Guinea]]