Date: 11 Jul 2025
Vanuatu’s recent elections saw the entry into Parliament of Honourable Marie Louise Milne through one of four seats in Port Vila constituency. Hon Milne is a former Deputy Mayor of Port Vila City Council and is the eighth woman to enter Parliament in Vanuatu. The Port Vila constituency is a notoriously difficult constituency to stand in, as many prominent ni-Vanuatu politicians compete for votes. Hon. Milne’s election has therefore been a significant achievement.
Balance of Power (BOP) held a panel discussion at the 2025 Pacific Update in Suva, organised by the University of the South Pacific (USP) and the Australian National University (ANU) from 3-5 June, to share findings of the recently published research study carried out by Balance of Power and the Australian National University, titled the Unspoken Rules of Politics: Uncovering the Motivations of Voters in Vanuatu’s Elections. Hon. Milne participated in this panel and shared her political journey and its challenges, as well as the support from men and women in getting her elected. Her participation was supported by BOP.
Speaking at the Pacific Update, Hon. Milne said her political journey has not been without its challenges.
“Being elected through a reserved seat, I faced a lot of challenges, especially from my male colleagues. They’d point fingers at me, telling me that I was not here on merit, that I was here through a reserved seat. But that didn’t let me down. I speak, I stand and I back it up with action. These challenges have helped shape me into the person that I am today,” she said.
In a subsequent interview with Balance of Power, Hon. Milne spoke candidly about the barriers she continues to face in her role.
“Sometimes when I walk into a room, people don’t notice me. I must speak three or four times before anyone really listens,” she said.
A strong believer in community engagement, Hon. Milne reflected on lessons learned from her time on the Port Vila Municipal Council.
“I don’t just rely on reports. I go to the markets and talk with the mamas. I meet young people on the streets, people living with disabilities, the unemployed and those who are often forgotten. That’s how I know what they really need,” she said.
Hon. Milne continues to have a passion for community development and serving the people of Port Vila and other municipalities. One of her priorities as an MP is to rebuild Port Vila.
Recognising the need to provide tailored support and accompaniment for women leaders, Balance of Power provided an opportunity for the MP to engage with Nausori Town Council. Hon. Milne visited Nausori Town to observe development activities and approaches currently undertaken by the Nausori Town Council and how the Council is working in collaboration with Government agencies to build a resilient, fast-growing town.
Throughout her week in Suva, Hon. Milne also had the opportunity to engage with ni-Vanuatu people living in Fiji, including the Vanuatu High Commission in Suva and students studying at USP. One particularly moving moment came when she met with descendants of Ni-Vanuatu living in Fiji, where they reflected on their shared heritage, identity and cultural roots.
Hon. Milne hopes her journey will inspire the next generation of women leaders across the region. She emphasized that one woman in Parliament is not enough to represent the diversity and strength of women across Vanuatu. To young women and girls in Vanuatu and across the Pacific, Hon. Milne offered words of encouragement and resolve.
“Believe in yourself. Be confident. You might fail, but you’ll get back up. Find mentors who support you and don’t give up,” she said.
Hon. Milne’s visit to Fiji was more than just an official engagement, it was a powerful statement of resilience, representation and readiness.
As she so clearly put it, “Our time is now.”
End.