Seriously look at women’s reserve seats: Sir Puka

Despite numerous attempts to get the support of the National Parliament to create reserve seats for women, Sir Puka Temu wants it to be "seriously looked at".

The local MP for Abau Electorate in Central Province said mandated leaders in parliament continue to ignore the recommendation of the Special Parliamentary Committee.

"The committee recommends the National Parliament pass a constitutional amendment, supported by amendments to relevant Organic Laws, to introduce 22 reserve seats for women in parliament," said Sir Puka, a former member of the special parliamentary committee.

Speaking at the Election Reform Conference on Tuesday in Port Moresby, Sir Puka said, "any reforms of election must include greater representation of women on the floor of parliament that is a strong recommendation by the special parliamentary committee."

Political scientist Michael Kabuni stated in his blog that "when the vote of enabling legislation, the Organic Law on National and Local Level Government Elections, was taken in early 2012, it failed to reach the two-third majority."

In the last term of parliament, the bill never reached the floor before it rose for the 2022 National Elections.