Mike J. Manning
Encyclopedia
Michael John Manning, OBE (1943 22 August 2008), was an Australia
n-born Papua New Guinea
n anti-corruption activist and economist
. Manning served as the second Chairman of Transparency International PNG
(TIPNG), one of Papua New Guinea's largest organizations dedicated to eradicating corruption
, from 2003 until 2008. He was a naturalized citizen of Papua New Guinea.
, New South Wales
, Australia
, but raised in Coonabarabran, New South Wales
. He was the son of Margot Manning and Alan Manning, one of the founders of the Democratic Labor Party
.
Manning's father, Alan Manning, became a protege and supporter of Ben Chifley
and the Australian Labor Party
(ALP) following his return from World War II
. Alan Manning ran for office as an Australian Labor Party candidate three times, losing on each try. Manning's ALP affiliation did not sit well with others in rural Coonabarabran. The Manning family was eventually removed from their family farm by the ownership trust for "spending too much time in politics." Alan Manning and other ALP dissenters were expelled from the political party in 1956 after openly criticizing the "36 faceless men" of the ALP federal executive. In response to his expulsion, Alan Manning, a Protestant, joined the Democratic Labor Party, which was dominated by Catholics. Manning became the president of the Democratic Labor Party in New South Wales.
Manning contracted polio when he was just five years old. He spent one year inside an iron lung
for treatment. He recovered from the disease. Manning went onto attend the The King's School, Parramatta thanks to a trust fund set up by his grandfather, who was a wealthy grazier.
Manning left his university studies for five years after the death of his mother, Margot Manning. He returned to farming at a town near Canberra
before moving to Rylstone
, where he helped to raise his younger brothers.
He returned to university and received his bachelor's degree
in economics
from Australian National University
in Canberra. He then obtained a job with the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics
while he worked to obtain his master's degree
in economics.
. Manning was known to be thorough in his oversight of provincial finances, even threatening to shut down provincial governments who deviated from official policy.
Manning worked in a number of other positions within the Papuan public
and private sector
s throughout his career. He worked for many PNG consultancies and board of directors throughout the country. Much of his work, lectures and economic studies centered on the expansion of smallholder production within the tree crops industry of the Papuan economy
. The tree crop industry, such as cacao, is seen as a way to increase employment, living standards and prosperity for millions of Papuans who live in villages far from major population centers.
Manning moved to Rabaul
on the island of East New Britain
in 1980 to run the New Guinea Islands Produce Company, which managed local cocoa plantations. He resided in Rabaul from 1980 until 1993. He met his wife, Relly, a local Tolai
woman. Manning was inducted into Tolai society.
The cocoa industry in New Britain
was severely hurt by the Rabaul volcanic eruption of 1994, which also damaged parts of the town. The eruption led to the restructuring
of the cocoa industry and Manning left his company.
Manning moved back to Port Moresby
, the capital of Papua New Guinea, following the volcanic eruptions. In 1997, Manning became the director
of the PNG Institute of National Affairs, the country's leading independent economic agency and think tank
. He served as director of the institute for eight years. Manning became a vocal critic of corruption and the decline of good governance
within the PNG government, especially in Parliament
. He was especially critical of the government of Prime Minister Michael Somare
. He also became an ardent supporter of reforms undertaken by Sir Mekere Morauta
when he was Prime Minister
from 1999 until 2002.
In 2003, Manning authored a study for the Centre for Independent Studies
, an Australian think tank. He suggested in the study that the government of Papua New Guinea was in danger of collapse due to corruption and lawlessness
, similar to what had occurred in the neighboring Solomon Islands
in the early 2000s. Manning's report also stated that PNG had lost control of large parts of its territory. PNG MP
s, angered by bad press in the Australian media, called for Manning's deportation, some yelling "Put him (Mr Manning) on the plane tomorrow," during a parliamentary session. PNG Prime Minister Michael Somare
called for Manning to pack up and leave the country.
Manning was referred to the PNG privileges committee
for contempt
by Prime Minister Michael Somare and Speaker
Bill Skate
as a prelude to Manning's deportation. Manning's referral was supported by a number of other Ministers and MPs, including Fisheries Minister Andrew Baing.
The referral led to a kangaroo court
meant to silence Manning's criticism of the government. However, the referral failed when MPs were reminded that Manning, who had renounced his Australian citizenship, was a full PNG citizen, had married a PNG Tolai woman, had been inducted into Tolai society, and had raised three children in Papua New Guinea.
PNG
board of directors
beginning in 1999. He was elected the Chairman of Transparency International PNG (TIPNG) in 2003 following the death of the organization's first chairman, Sir Anthony Siaguru.
Manning was a prominent critic of the improper use of public funds and government corruption. He advocated for the creation and improvement of a network of organizations within Papua New Guinea to fight corruption. Manning also served on the global accreditation board of Transparency International and was re-elected to that position at TI's 2007 meeting in Bali
.
He once again came under fire from Prime Minister Michael Somare in December 2007 when he stated in a TIPNG anti-corruption seminar
that two thirds of PNG's total annual revenue, equal to 2.5 billion PGK
a year, was being stolen by corrupt politicians and government bureaucrats. Somare, who viewed Manning's statements as an attack on MPs, blasted him saying "Mr. Manning’s latest outburst in the media
direct attack on the intelligence
and commonsense of the people of Papua New Guinea who have mandated us to represent them in Parliament." Somare called on TIPNG and Manning to stop "hasty generalizations" and "stop playing power games under the guise of transparency."
Manning was elected a full member of Transparency International
's global governing board of directors on 19 August 2008, just three days before his death.
within Melanesia
. He also championed the recreation of the PNG Growers' Association, an agricultural pressure group.
He and his wife built a house in East New Britain
in 2006.
, East New Britain
, on 22 August 2008. He was 65 years old. He was survived by his second wife, Relly Manning, and their children, David, Alan, and Belinda. He was also survived by his children from his first marriage in Australia - James, Kate, Samuel - and his grandchildren. His brothers, Chris and Ned, also survived him.
Manning's funeral
, which was attended by hundreds of people, was held at an outdoor church in Port Moresby
. Prominent dignitaries who attended included Governor General
Paulias Matane
, the Australian High Commissioner to PNG Chris Moraitis and the deputy leader of the opposition, Bart Philemon. Manning was buried in his wife's, Relly Manning, home village of Baai, which is located on New Britain near Rabaul.
Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea
Michael Somare
, who often clashed with Manning, said that "PNG has lost a son" and was "passionate about PNG" in a written statement. Somare further wrote that "While I have not always agreed with his views on issues, I respect his courage to speak his mind without fear or favour."
Transparency International PNG announced that Peter Aitsi had been chosen as Manning's interim successor as chairman on 9 September 2008.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n-born Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
n anti-corruption activist and economist
Economist
An economist is a professional in the social science discipline of economics. The individual may also study, develop, and apply theories and concepts from economics and write about economic policy...
. Manning served as the second Chairman of Transparency International PNG
Transparency International
Transparency International is a non-governmental organization that monitors and publicizes corporate and political corruption in international development. It publishes an annual Corruption Perceptions Index, a comparative listing of corruption worldwide...
(TIPNG), one of Papua New Guinea's largest organizations dedicated to eradicating corruption
Political corruption
Political corruption is the use of legislated powers by government officials for illegitimate private gain. Misuse of government power for other purposes, such as repression of political opponents and general police brutality, is not considered political corruption. Neither are illegal acts by...
, from 2003 until 2008. He was a naturalized citizen of Papua New Guinea.
Early life
Manning was born in 1943 in SydneySydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, but raised in Coonabarabran, New South Wales
Coonabarabran, New South Wales
Coonabarabran is a town in Warrumbungle Shire in northern New South Wales, Australia. At the 2006 census, the town had a population of 2,609.-History and description:...
. He was the son of Margot Manning and Alan Manning, one of the founders of the Democratic Labor Party
Democratic Labor Party
The Democratic Labor Party is a political party in Australia that espouses social conservatism and opposes neo-liberalism. The first "DLP" Senator in decades, party vice-president John Madigan was elected to the Australian Senate with 2.3 percent of the primary vote in Victoria at the 2010 federal...
.
Manning's father, Alan Manning, became a protege and supporter of Ben Chifley
Ben Chifley
Joseph Benedict Chifley , Australian politician, was the 16th Prime Minister of Australia. He took over the Australian Labor Party leadership and Prime Ministership after the death of John Curtin in 1945, and went on to retain government at the 1946 election, before being defeated at the 1949...
and the Australian Labor Party
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
(ALP) following his return from World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Alan Manning ran for office as an Australian Labor Party candidate three times, losing on each try. Manning's ALP affiliation did not sit well with others in rural Coonabarabran. The Manning family was eventually removed from their family farm by the ownership trust for "spending too much time in politics." Alan Manning and other ALP dissenters were expelled from the political party in 1956 after openly criticizing the "36 faceless men" of the ALP federal executive. In response to his expulsion, Alan Manning, a Protestant, joined the Democratic Labor Party, which was dominated by Catholics. Manning became the president of the Democratic Labor Party in New South Wales.
Manning contracted polio when he was just five years old. He spent one year inside an iron lung
Iron lung
A negative pressure ventilator is a form of medical ventilator that enables a person to breathe when normal muscle control has been lost or the work of breathing exceeds the person's ability....
for treatment. He recovered from the disease. Manning went onto attend the The King's School, Parramatta thanks to a trust fund set up by his grandfather, who was a wealthy grazier.
Manning left his university studies for five years after the death of his mother, Margot Manning. He returned to farming at a town near Canberra
Canberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
before moving to Rylstone
Rylstone
Rylstone is a village and civil parish in the Craven district of North Yorkshire, England. It is situated very near to Cracoe and about 6 miles south west of Grassington....
, where he helped to raise his younger brothers.
He returned to university and received his bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in economics
Economics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
from Australian National University
Australian National University
The Australian National University is a teaching and research university located in the Australian capital, Canberra.As of 2009, the ANU employs 3,945 administrative staff who teach approximately 10,000 undergraduates, and 7,500 postgraduate students...
in Canberra. He then obtained a job with the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics
Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics
The Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics , is located in Canberra, Australia. ABARE, established in 1945, is an Australian government economic research agency, it is also involved in commercial consultancy.Their mission is:...
while he worked to obtain his master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
in economics.
Papua New Guinea
Before he completed his master's degree, Manning was recruited to work as an employee for the newly independent government of Papua New Guinea, which gained independence from Australia in 1975. He relocated to Papua New Guinea in 1975. Manning first worked for the Papuan government ministry in charge of minerals and energy. He then moved to the finance ministry, where he oversaw the finances of all ninenteen provincial governmentsProvinces of Papua New Guinea
The provinces of Papua New Guinea are the primary administrative divisions of the country. Provincial governments are branches of the national government– Papua New Guinea is not a federation of provinces...
. Manning was known to be thorough in his oversight of provincial finances, even threatening to shut down provincial governments who deviated from official policy.
Manning worked in a number of other positions within the Papuan public
Public sector
The public sector, sometimes referred to as the state sector, is a part of the state that deals with either the production, delivery and allocation of goods and services by and for the government or its citizens, whether national, regional or local/municipal.Examples of public sector activity range...
and private sector
Private sector
In economics, the private sector is that part of the economy, sometimes referred to as the citizen sector, which is run by private individuals or groups, usually as a means of enterprise for profit, and is not controlled by the state...
s throughout his career. He worked for many PNG consultancies and board of directors throughout the country. Much of his work, lectures and economic studies centered on the expansion of smallholder production within the tree crops industry of the Papuan economy
Economy of Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea is richly endowed with natural resources, but exploitation has been hampered by the rugged terrain and the high cost of developing infrastructure. Agriculture provides a subsistence livelihood for the bulk of the population. Mineral deposits, including oil, copper, and gold,...
. The tree crop industry, such as cacao, is seen as a way to increase employment, living standards and prosperity for millions of Papuans who live in villages far from major population centers.
Manning moved to Rabaul
Rabaul
Rabaul is a township in East New Britain province, Papua New Guinea. The town was the provincial capital and most important settlement in the province until it was destroyed in 1994 by falling ash of a volcanic eruption. During the eruption, ash was sent thousands of metres into the air and the...
on the island of East New Britain
East New Britain
East New Britain is a province of Papua New Guinea, on the north-eastern part of the island of New Britain and it also includes the Duke of York Islands. The capital of the province is Kokopo, not far from the old capital of Rabaul, which was largely destroyed in the 1994 volcanic eruption...
in 1980 to run the New Guinea Islands Produce Company, which managed local cocoa plantations. He resided in Rabaul from 1980 until 1993. He met his wife, Relly, a local Tolai
Tolai
The Tolai are the indigenous people of the Gazelle Peninsula and the Duke of York Islands of East New Britain in the New Guinea Islands region of Papua New Guinea...
woman. Manning was inducted into Tolai society.
The cocoa industry in New Britain
New Britain
New Britain, or Niu Briten, is the largest island in the Bismarck Archipelago of Papua New Guinea. It is separated from the island of New Guinea by the Dampier and Vitiaz Straits and from New Ireland by St. George's Channel...
was severely hurt by the Rabaul volcanic eruption of 1994, which also damaged parts of the town. The eruption led to the restructuring
Restructuring
Restructuring is the corporate management term for the act of reorganizing the legal, ownership, operational, or other structures of a company for the purpose of making it more profitable, or better organized for its present needs...
of the cocoa industry and Manning left his company.
Manning moved back to Port Moresby
Port Moresby
Port Moresby , or Pot Mosbi in Tok Pisin, is the capital and largest city of Papua New Guinea . It is located on the shores of the Gulf of Papua, on the southeastern coast of the island of New Guinea, which made it a prime objective for conquest by the Imperial Japanese forces during 1942–43...
, the capital of Papua New Guinea, following the volcanic eruptions. In 1997, Manning became the director
Executive director
Executive director is a term sometimes applied to the chief executive officer or managing director of an organization, company, or corporation. It is widely used in North American non-profit organizations, though in recent decades many U.S. nonprofits have adopted the title "President/CEO"...
of the PNG Institute of National Affairs, the country's leading independent economic agency and think tank
Think tank
A think tank is an organization that conducts research and engages in advocacy in areas such as social policy, political strategy, economics, military, and technology issues. Most think tanks are non-profit organizations, which some countries such as the United States and Canada provide with tax...
. He served as director of the institute for eight years. Manning became a vocal critic of corruption and the decline of good governance
Good governance
Good governance is an indeterminate term used in development literature to describe how public institutions conduct public affairs and manage public resources in order to guarantee the realization of human rights. Governance describes "the process of decision-making and the process by which...
within the PNG government, especially in Parliament
National Parliament of Papua New Guinea
The National Parliament of Papua New Guinea is the unicameral national legislature in Papua New Guinea. It was first created in 1964 as the House of Assembly of Papua and New Guinea, but gained its current name with the granting of independence in 1975....
. He was especially critical of the government of Prime Minister Michael Somare
Michael Somare
Sir Michael Thomas Somare, GCL, GCMG, CH, CF, KStJ, MP was Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea from 2002 to 2011; he had previously been Prime Minister from independence in 1975 until 1980 and again from 1982 until 1985. Somare's first two terms were as a member of the Pangu Party, but he then...
. He also became an ardent supporter of reforms undertaken by Sir Mekere Morauta
Mekere Morauta
Sir Mekere Morauta, KCMG is a Papua New Guinean political figure. He served as the sixth Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea between 1999 and 2002, and later as Leader of the Opposition. He is the sitting member for Moresby North-West in the national parliament, and he was until recently the...
when he was Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea
The Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, is Papua New Guinea's head of government, consequent on being the leader of the party or coalition with majority support in the National Parliament. Since 2 August 2011, the Prime Minister has been Peter O’Neill of the People's National Congress Party.-List...
from 1999 until 2002.
In 2003, Manning authored a study for the Centre for Independent Studies
Centre for Independent Studies
The Centre for Independent Studies is a libertarian think tank founded in April 1976 by Executive Director Greg Lindsay. The CIS is one of six think tanks recognised by the National Institute for Research Advancement in Tokyo, Japan...
, an Australian think tank. He suggested in the study that the government of Papua New Guinea was in danger of collapse due to corruption and lawlessness
Lawlessness
Lawlessness may be:* lack of law, in any of the various senses of that word ;* chaos;* anomie;* anarchy;* anarchism* anarchism* randomness;* antinomianism;...
, similar to what had occurred in the neighboring Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands is a sovereign state in Oceania, east of Papua New Guinea, consisting of nearly one thousand islands. It covers a land mass of . The capital, Honiara, is located on the island of Guadalcanal...
in the early 2000s. Manning's report also stated that PNG had lost control of large parts of its territory. PNG MP
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
s, angered by bad press in the Australian media, called for Manning's deportation, some yelling "Put him (Mr Manning) on the plane tomorrow," during a parliamentary session. PNG Prime Minister Michael Somare
Michael Somare
Sir Michael Thomas Somare, GCL, GCMG, CH, CF, KStJ, MP was Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea from 2002 to 2011; he had previously been Prime Minister from independence in 1975 until 1980 and again from 1982 until 1985. Somare's first two terms were as a member of the Pangu Party, but he then...
called for Manning to pack up and leave the country.
Manning was referred to the PNG privileges committee
Parliamentary privilege
Parliamentary privilege is a legal immunity enjoyed by members of certain legislatures, in which legislators are granted protection against civil or criminal liability for actions done or statements made related to one's duties as a legislator. It is common in countries whose constitutions are...
for contempt
Contempt
Contempt is an intensely negative emotion regarding a person or group of people as inferior, base, or worthless—it is similar to scorn. It is also used when people are being sarcastic. Contempt is also defined as the state of being despised or dishonored; disgrace, and an open disrespect or willful...
by Prime Minister Michael Somare and Speaker
Speaker (politics)
The term speaker is a title often given to the presiding officer of a deliberative assembly, especially a legislative body. The speaker's official role is to moderate debate, make rulings on procedure, announce the results of votes, and the like. The speaker decides who may speak and has the...
Bill Skate
Bill Skate
Sir William Jack Skate KCMG was a Papua New Guinea politician and statesman. He was the son of an Australian father and a native PNG mother...
as a prelude to Manning's deportation. Manning's referral was supported by a number of other Ministers and MPs, including Fisheries Minister Andrew Baing.
The referral led to a kangaroo court
Kangaroo court
A kangaroo court is "a mock court in which the principles of law and justice are disregarded or perverted".The outcome of a trial by kangaroo court is essentially determined in advance, usually for the purpose of ensuring conviction, either by going through the motions of manipulated procedure or...
meant to silence Manning's criticism of the government. However, the referral failed when MPs were reminded that Manning, who had renounced his Australian citizenship, was a full PNG citizen, had married a PNG Tolai woman, had been inducted into Tolai society, and had raised three children in Papua New Guinea.
Transparency International PNG
Manning's reputation as a well-respected anti-corruption campaigner led to his seat on the Transparency InternationalTransparency International
Transparency International is a non-governmental organization that monitors and publicizes corporate and political corruption in international development. It publishes an annual Corruption Perceptions Index, a comparative listing of corruption worldwide...
PNG
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
board of directors
Board of directors
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
beginning in 1999. He was elected the Chairman of Transparency International PNG (TIPNG) in 2003 following the death of the organization's first chairman, Sir Anthony Siaguru.
Manning was a prominent critic of the improper use of public funds and government corruption. He advocated for the creation and improvement of a network of organizations within Papua New Guinea to fight corruption. Manning also served on the global accreditation board of Transparency International and was re-elected to that position at TI's 2007 meeting in Bali
Bali
Bali is an Indonesian island located in the westernmost end of the Lesser Sunda Islands, lying between Java to the west and Lombok to the east...
.
He once again came under fire from Prime Minister Michael Somare in December 2007 when he stated in a TIPNG anti-corruption seminar
Seminar
Seminar is, generally, a form of academic instruction, either at an academic institution or offered by a commercial or professional organization. It has the function of bringing together small groups for recurring meetings, focusing each time on some particular subject, in which everyone present is...
that two thirds of PNG's total annual revenue, equal to 2.5 billion PGK
Papua New Guinean kina
The kina is the currency of Papua New Guinea. It is divided in 100 toea. The kina was introduced on 19 April 1975, replacing the Australian dollar at par...
a year, was being stolen by corrupt politicians and government bureaucrats. Somare, who viewed Manning's statements as an attack on MPs, blasted him saying "Mr. Manning’s latest outburst in the media
News media
The news media are those elements of the mass media that focus on delivering news to the general public or a target public.These include print media , broadcast news , and more recently the Internet .-Etymology:A medium is a carrier of something...
direct attack on the intelligence
Intelligence
Intelligence has been defined in different ways, including the abilities for abstract thought, understanding, communication, reasoning, learning, planning, emotional intelligence and problem solving....
and commonsense of the people of Papua New Guinea who have mandated us to represent them in Parliament." Somare called on TIPNG and Manning to stop "hasty generalizations" and "stop playing power games under the guise of transparency."
Manning was elected a full member of Transparency International
Transparency International
Transparency International is a non-governmental organization that monitors and publicizes corporate and political corruption in international development. It publishes an annual Corruption Perceptions Index, a comparative listing of corruption worldwide...
's global governing board of directors on 19 August 2008, just three days before his death.
Semi-retirement
Manning partially retired in 2006, but remained active with Transparency International and other organizations. Manning became chairman of Peace Foundation Melanesia, which works for local community conflict resolutionConflict resolution
Conflict resolution is conceptualized as the methods and processes involved in facilitating the peaceful ending of some social conflict. Often, committed group members attempt to resolve group conflicts by actively communicating information about their conflicting motives or ideologies to the rest...
within Melanesia
Melanesia
Melanesia is a subregion of Oceania extending from the western end of the Pacific Ocean to the Arafura Sea, and eastward to Fiji. The region comprises most of the islands immediately north and northeast of Australia...
. He also championed the recreation of the PNG Growers' Association, an agricultural pressure group.
He and his wife built a house in East New Britain
East New Britain
East New Britain is a province of Papua New Guinea, on the north-eastern part of the island of New Britain and it also includes the Duke of York Islands. The capital of the province is Kokopo, not far from the old capital of Rabaul, which was largely destroyed in the 1994 volcanic eruption...
in 2006.
Death
Manning died of a sudden heart attack while walking near his home in RabaulRabaul
Rabaul is a township in East New Britain province, Papua New Guinea. The town was the provincial capital and most important settlement in the province until it was destroyed in 1994 by falling ash of a volcanic eruption. During the eruption, ash was sent thousands of metres into the air and the...
, East New Britain
East New Britain
East New Britain is a province of Papua New Guinea, on the north-eastern part of the island of New Britain and it also includes the Duke of York Islands. The capital of the province is Kokopo, not far from the old capital of Rabaul, which was largely destroyed in the 1994 volcanic eruption...
, on 22 August 2008. He was 65 years old. He was survived by his second wife, Relly Manning, and their children, David, Alan, and Belinda. He was also survived by his children from his first marriage in Australia - James, Kate, Samuel - and his grandchildren. His brothers, Chris and Ned, also survived him.
Manning's funeral
Funeral
A funeral is a ceremony for celebrating, sanctifying, or remembering the life of a person who has died. Funerary customs comprise the complex of beliefs and practices used by a culture to remember the dead, from interment itself, to various monuments, prayers, and rituals undertaken in their honor...
, which was attended by hundreds of people, was held at an outdoor church in Port Moresby
Port Moresby
Port Moresby , or Pot Mosbi in Tok Pisin, is the capital and largest city of Papua New Guinea . It is located on the shores of the Gulf of Papua, on the southeastern coast of the island of New Guinea, which made it a prime objective for conquest by the Imperial Japanese forces during 1942–43...
. Prominent dignitaries who attended included Governor General
Governor-General of Papua New Guinea
The Governor-General of Papua New Guinea is the viceregal representative of Queen Elizabeth II, known in Tok Pisin as 'Missis Kwin', Papua New Guinea's head of state, performing the duties of the Queen in her absence...
Paulias Matane
Paulias Matane
Sir Paulias Nguna Matane GCL, GCMG, OBE, KStJ , formerly a career civil servant, was the eighth Governor-General of Papua New Guinea from 29 June 2004 to 13 December 2010.-Personal life:...
, the Australian High Commissioner to PNG Chris Moraitis and the deputy leader of the opposition, Bart Philemon. Manning was buried in his wife's, Relly Manning, home village of Baai, which is located on New Britain near Rabaul.
Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea
Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea
The Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, is Papua New Guinea's head of government, consequent on being the leader of the party or coalition with majority support in the National Parliament. Since 2 August 2011, the Prime Minister has been Peter O’Neill of the People's National Congress Party.-List...
Michael Somare
Michael Somare
Sir Michael Thomas Somare, GCL, GCMG, CH, CF, KStJ, MP was Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea from 2002 to 2011; he had previously been Prime Minister from independence in 1975 until 1980 and again from 1982 until 1985. Somare's first two terms were as a member of the Pangu Party, but he then...
, who often clashed with Manning, said that "PNG has lost a son" and was "passionate about PNG" in a written statement. Somare further wrote that "While I have not always agreed with his views on issues, I respect his courage to speak his mind without fear or favour."
Transparency International PNG announced that Peter Aitsi had been chosen as Manning's interim successor as chairman on 9 September 2008.