PNG missed its chance for more women in parliament

05:02 am on 5 October 2016

A retired Papua New Guinea MP says the country has missed its opportunity to balance the representation of women in parliament.

In 2011 PNG passed a bill to set up 22 reserved seats for women but enabling legislation was not passed in time for the following year's election.

Dame Carol Kidu entered politics in 1997 and was the only female MP from 2002 till her retirement in 2012.

She told Daniela Maoate-Cox the chance to reserve seats for women has gone and it's now up to political parties to boost the number of women in politics.

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Dame Carol Kidu Photo: RNZ/Daniela Maoate-Cox