CDI Organises Training Workshop for PNG Parliament
At the request of the Speaker of the National Parliament of Papua New Guinea, Hon. Jeffrey Nape MP, CDI organised a training workshop for Members and staff of the National Parliament. The focus of the training was on the role of parliamentary committees with an emphasis on engaging the community through committee work. The workshop was held at Parliament House in Port Moresby on Friday 9th and Saturday 10th November 2007.
This workshop is part of an ongoing program of support that CDI is providing the Papua New Guinea Parliament. It follows on from the successful induction program in August 2007 that CDI assisted the Parliamentary Service in organising and running for Members of the new Parliament elected in the June-July 2007 national elections.
The aim of the workshop was to assist the National Parliament with ensuring that its parliamentary committees can perform their proper roles. The program was designed to give Members and parliamentary staff a greater appreciation of the value of parliamentary committees as a means of 'taking Parliament to the people', thus enabling Members to be better informed about community views; of providing a bridge between Members' constituents' concerns and the broader community interest; of promoting public debate; and of scrutinising the Executive and contributing towards better government through a more informed administration and policy making process.
Mr Peter Loney, former Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Victoria and Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee acted as convenor of the workshop. He was assisted by:
- Ms Metiria Turei MP - List Member, Green Party, Parliament of New Zealand;
- Hon. Nicki Peniai - Speaker, Autonomous Bougainville Government House of Representatives;
- Mr Floyd Augustine Fatai - Auditor-General & Secretary, Public Accounts Committee, National Parliament of Solomon Islands;
- Mr David Kusilifu - Committee Secretariat, National Parliament of Solomon Islands ; and
- Mr Quinton Clements - Deputy Director, CDI .
The workshop was officially opened by the Speaker of Parliament, and attended by 40 Committee Chairs and other Committee Members together with a large number of parliamentary officers. The first day of the workshop was focused on the theory behind parliamentary committees in the Westminster system. The key principles underpinning the Westminster system - for example, separation of powers, ministerial responsibility and executive scrutiny - were outlined. Presentations were also given on the purpose of committees, what makes an effective committee, obstacles to effective committee work and the process of conducting inquiries. Members and staff heard how committees operate in the New Zealand and Solomon Islands parliaments, as well as the Bougainville experience of developing a committee system. The second day was devoted to practical exercises. Members and staff formed into actual committees and were guided through the process of designing an inquiry terms of reference, scoping an inquiry, conducting the inquiry, and drafting and tabling an inquiry report to Parliament.
As part of the follow-up to the workshop, CDI is preparing a Guide to Parliamentary Committees for the National Parliament of Papua New Guinea.
Click on these links for more details on this workshop:
