Bougainville House of Representatives

The Bougainville House of Representatives is the legislature of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, an autonomous entity within Papua New Guinea. It was established in 2005 under Part 5 of the region's constitution, which specifies that the House of Representatives shall comprise 39 elected members in addition to the President of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, and the Speaker of the House, chosen outside of it.

Bougainville House of Representatives
Type
Type
History
Founded2005
Leadership
Speaker
Simon Pentanu
since 15 June 2015
Seats41 (39 elected and 2 ex officio)
Meeting place
Buka, Bougainville
Website
Official website

Structure

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All elected members are chosen via Instant-runoff voting. Each of the 33 constituencies defined under Part 8 of the Constitution elects a single member to the House. Additionally, the North Bougainville District, South Bougainville District and Central Bougainville District each elect a woman representative and a former combatant representative who fought with the Bougainville Revolutionary Army during Bougainville's armed struggle for independence from Papua New Guinea. Finally, the Vice President of Bougainville, and the Speaker, appointed externally by the elected members, are ex officio members.[1][2]

Representatives of Bougainville who have been elected to the National Parliament of Papua New Guinea are allowed many of the same privileges as members of the Bougainville House of Representatives; but they may not: introduce motions, vote, or be counted towards a quorum. However, they are allowed to attend meetings of the House where they take part in debates and other proceedings.[1]

Speakers

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The Speaker is not an elected member of the House of Representatives, and is elected by a vote by the members.[3]

Speaker Term Notes
Nick Peniai 2005 – 2008
Francesca Semoso 2008 – 22 January 2009
Andrew Miriki 22 January 2009 – 15 June 2015 [4]
Simon Pentanu 15 June 2015 – present [5]

Members

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Constitution of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville 2004".
  2. ^ "Bougainville's unique parliamentary structure". Bougainville 24. Archived from the original on 31 March 2017. Retrieved 31 March 2017.
  3. ^ "Parliament".
  4. ^ "Miriki new speaker in PNG's Bougainville parliament". Radio New Zealand. 22 January 2009.
  5. ^ "Hon. Simon Pentanu". 18 June 2018.
  6. ^ "2nd Autonomous Bougainville Government House of Representatives". New Dawn on Bougainville. 9 June 2010.
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