CDI & the 10th Biennial ACPAC Conference
New Zealand's Finance and Expenditure Committee hosted the 10th biennial conference of the Australasian Council of Public Accounts Committees (ACPAC) in Wellington from 15 to 17 April 2009. The theme of this conference was sharing lessons—seeking improved accountability—facing new challenges.
The conference usually attracts around 150 delegates and observers from around the world. Attendees include Members and staff of public accounts committees, auditors-general, academics, and representatives of professional bodies.
CDI sponsored the participation of delegations from the National Parliaments of Vanuatu and Timor Leste.
From Vanuatu the members of the delegation were:
- Hon. George Andre Wells MP, Speaker of Parliament
- Hon. Dunstan Hilton MP, member of the Public Accounts Committee;
- Mr Lino Bulekuli dit Sacsac, Clerk of Parliament; and
- Ms Hamilton Moli, Senior Auditor & Officer-In-Charge of the National Audit Office.
The Timor-Leste delegation were members of the Parliament's Committee C (Finance and Economy):
- Mr Rui Meneses (PD);
- Mr Aderito Hugo Fernandes (CNRT);
- Ms Cirpiana Pereira (Fretilin); and
- Ms Maria Exposto (PSD) Chair.
CDI Deputy Director, Quinton Clements accompanyed the delegations and spoke at the conference outlining the issues facing smaller nations with regards to holding executive government to account and what groups such as ACPAC can do to assist.
ACPAC conferences are held every two years. Membership of ACPAC is open to all Australasian parliamentary public accounts committees with Australasia defined as Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, and the Solomon Islands. Associate membership is open to public accounts committees from countries outside this definition.
ACPAC was established in 1989 following a meeting in Queensland of Australian public accounts committees. The aims of ACPAC as set out in its Constitution are to:
- facilitate the exchange of information and opinion relating to public accounts committees and to discuss matters of mutual concern;
- improve the quality and performance of public accounts committees in Australasia;
- liaise with auditors-general to improve the effectiveness of both auditors and public accounts committees;
- communicate with individuals and organisations knowledgeable about matters of concern to public accountability;
- provide an educational service for the elected Members of Parliament, the media, and the general public as to the purposes and activities of public accounts committees.
Click on this link for the 2009 conference program:
