The podcasts have so far included: Episode 1: Theresa Meki; Episode 2: Vagi Hemetsberger; Episode 3: Damarise Bonga; Episode 4: Tania Bale; and Episode 5: Dame Carol Kidu.
According to observer Caitlyn McKenzie: "On the numbers we have seen so far, here are some statistics by province on where women are running in greatest proportions, and where they're most likely to pick up a seat. Morobe is most likely, on the numbers, to elect a woman."
This the Aus-PNG Network's special Women in Politics series, the Lowy Institute's Jessica Collins sits down with prominent women from PNG to discuss the deep-seated challenge of women's political representation in PNG.
"In this fifth and final episode of the series, Jessica speaks with Dame Carol Kidu, about the discrimination and disadvantage experienced by indigenous Papua New Guinean women as they seek to get elected.
"Dame Carol is one of seven women who served in PNG's National Parliament. She also managed to get re-elected twice, despite half of all politicians losing their seat at every election. Her tenure as a politician is remarkable, but she said her husband's legacy and her European background helped secure ongoing community support. She often heard from her community, "We don't mind you being here, but we don't want our own women here [in parliament]."
"Dame Carol talks us through the issues that are increasingly disadvantaging women during campaigns, such as bloc voting and tribal intimidation, campaign or cell houses, violence, and financial barriers. But she offers a silver lining: ‘PNG is a nation based on relationships, and if you can nurture relationships, that will get you into politics'."
The Lowy Institute invites you to join Jessica Collins and Dame Carol as they talk through why women getting elected is critical to PNG's development, and as she shares her views on what women need to do to get over the line at the upcoming election.
Collins is a Research Fellow in the Pacific Islands Program and Aus-PNG Network at the Lowy Institute.
