08/01/2024
The Committee on Children and Young People at the Parliament of New South Wales has marked a historic milestone as the first-ever all-female Parliamentary Committee.
The appointment of an all-female membership to an important oversight Committee is an example of pioneering women lawmakers progressing women's roles in the state Parliament.
06/01/2024
Speakers and Presiding Officers from across the Commonwealth have met in Kampala, Uganda for the 27th Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth (CSPOC) which took place from 3 to 6 January 2024.
03/01/2024
Happy New Year from the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Secretariat. 2023 was a very busy year for the CPA, culminating in December with our online conference on the Fourth Industrial Revolution. And I am delighted that this month, January 2024, we're launching our new Parliamentary Handbook on Artificial Intelligence, as part of our work on technology and innovation. This will be a busy and important year for the Commonwealth and indeed for the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association.
08/12/2023
I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to this celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Commonwealth (Latimer House) Principles on the Three Branches of Government in this issue of The Parliamentarian. I do so from an Australian perspective on the separate but interacting functions of the Parliament and the Judiciary in making laws and interpreting them.
18/11/2023
The Speaker of the Cook Islands Parliament, Hon. Tutai Tura visited the Parliament of Western Australia in September 2023. The Cook Islands Speaker was welcomed by the President of the Western Australia Legislative Council, Hon. Alanna Clohesy, MLC and the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, Hon. Michelle Roberts, MLA then met with Parliamentary Clerks and staff, toured Parliament
House and observed question time in both Chambers.
16/11/2023
Commonwealth Parliamentarians from the National Parliament of the Solomon Islands and the Bougainville House of Representatives visited their counterparts at the Parliament of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia in October 2023 as part of an ongoing twinning programme between the Legislatures.
08/11/2023
Commonwealth Parliamentarians from across two CPA Regions have come together to discuss the importance of youth engagement in Parliaments at the 40th Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Australia and Pacific Regional Conference in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia from 1 to 3 November 2023.
28/10/2023
The IPU Assembly focused on the theme of ‘Parliamentary action for peace, justice and strong institutions’ (SDG 16) with Speakers and Members of Parliaments discussing the role of Legislatures in promoting a resilient and peaceful world. The President of the National Assembly of Angola, Hon. Carolina Cerqueira welcomed delegates to Luanda.
24/10/2023
A rarely passed Private Member’s Bill - The Restoring Territory Rights Bill – was introduced in the Australian Federal Parliament in 2022 which aims to restore the rights of self-determination to the people and Parliaments of the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) and the Northern Territory (NT). The two Federal Members of Parliament who co-sponsored the Bill explain its impact.
20/10/2023
Lessons from the CPA Small Branches Workshop on Disaster Risk Management
05/10/2023
CPC Workshop F: 20 Years of the Latimer House Principles on the Separation of Powers: Is it Working?
This workshop session focused on the significance of the Commonwealth Latimer House Principles and examined strategies to strengthen the relationship among the three branches of government. It also highlighted best practices for embedding these Principles in Commonwealth Parliaments. For democracy to thrive, the Executive, the Legislature and the Judiciary must operate within their constitutional mandates. The Legislature makes laws, the Executive implements and the Judiciary, which is the final arbiter of a state, exercises the powers of adjudication and interpretation.
05/10/2023
The Youth Roundtable Session explored the opportunities and challenges that the Commonwealth faces in respect to international security and peacebuilding. It featured delegates from CPA Branches and representatives from a cross-section of Ghanaian youth, including Youth Parliaments, students and student leaders.