A workshop entitled Government and Opposition – Roles, Rights and Responsibilities was held in Nadi, Fiji Islands, 29-31 August 2005. This event was organised by the Commonwealth Secretariat and Commonwealth Parliamentary Association in co-operation with the Pacific Islands Forum and the Pacific Islands Association of Non-Governmental Organisations. Over 60 participants from 15 Pacific nations attended the workshop. Australia was represented by former President of the Senate the Hon Margaret Reid, Chairman of the Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit the Hon Bob Baldwin MP, and CDI Executive Officer Mr Luke Hambly.

The Hon Margaret Reid chaired the first session of the workshop entitled ‘How Should Governments Govern?’, The Hon Bob Baldwin co-introduced session six on ‘Accountability: Oversight Institutions, The Media and Civil Society’ with a presentation on the workings of the Australian Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit, and Mr Luke Hambly co-introduced session four on ‘Political parties and Elections’ with a presentation outlining the main points of the CDI Working Paper precirculated to workshop participants entitled 'Political Parties, Parliamentary Governance & Party Strengthening in Melanesia: Issues and Challenges.'

The full paper is available on this website through the link below, and as a work-in-progress will be greatly informed through the debate and discussion that ensued at the Nadi workshop, both on the subject of political parties specifically and across all sessions over the three days, the balance of which explored issues and questions including 'How should Oppositions Oppose?', 'The Challenge of Leadership'. 'Reforming Parliament', and 'The Broader Context - Gender and Human Rights.'

As is evident in these themes, the Commonwealth's purpose in organising this workshop was to 'bring together representatives of governing parties, opposition parties and civil society from commonwealth countries in the Pacific to discuss their relationship with each other and their contribution to the democratic process.' The workshop participants acknowledged that many Pacific nations are in transition, and constructive and useful discussion about the problems, challenges and opportunities for the region at this time flowed from all sessions.

	CDI Working Paper: Political Parties, Parliamentary Governance & Party Strengthening in Melanesia: Issues & Challenges
	The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association
	The Commonwealth Secretariat