The woman gave birth in the toilet during a flight from Samoa to Auckland, New Zealand and then left the baby behind. It has since emerged that she was from a devout Christian family.
The opposition Labor MP, Su’a William Sio’s, who is of Samoan descent, told Radio Australia’s Pacific Beat program its likely the girl was too ashamed to admit she was pregnant.
“I’ve been encouraging the Pacific community, the Samoan community to be talking and creating a safe environment within our homes and our village situations and our church communities and to talk about these issues,” he said.
“Because in a Christian environment these are matters that are regarded by many as sacred and in many Samoan families they are not discussed openly.”
