Community Development Minister Dame Carol Kidu told The National that the motion, introduced last Tuesday to have three nominated women represented on the floor of Parliament, had been shelved for this session.
She said it was necessary that this happened as there had been so much confusion and misinformation circulated on the issue since the introduction of the motion and the failed vote last week.
The PNG government tried but failed in its first attempt to elect the first woman candidate, Mary Toliman. It could only muster 60 votes against the opposition’s 21 votes.
A two-third majority or 73 votes was required.
Apart from Toliman, the other two candidates, all three chosen by Sir Michael after opposition leader Sir Mekere Morauta refused to be a part of the final selection process, are Gulf woman Priscilla Kare and former politician and Morobean, Enny Moitz.
But Dame Carol hoped that when it is reintroduced in May, members of Parliament would have had sufficient time to understand the intentions of the government as they were not what was being portrayed by Sir Mekere in media statements he released regarding the issue.
She said while she did respect the opposition’s stand, she was certain that the opposition’s argument that more time be given for a law on 20 reserved seats to be introduced before it was voted on, was not practical.
