OPPORTUNITIES FOR CPA SMALL BRANCHES: GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT FOR YOUR PARLIAMENT

Chairperson of the CPA Small Branches, Joy Burch, MLA, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of the Australian Capital Territory

The 65th CPA General Assembly saw changes to the CPA Small Branches network’s membership, subsequently resulting in CPA Branches from within the CPA’s wider membership becoming part of, or rejoining, the network. The key change of eligibility from a population level of 500,000 people to 1 million has seen Solomon Islands, Fiji, Melaka, Sikkim, Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick, Maldives, Malta, and Tasmania, now an active part of the network.

It is timely to remind ourselves of the core purpose of the network and of the opportunities that are provided through the CPA. The CPA Small Branches network recognises the particular needs and requirements in parliamentary strengthening, development and cooperation across the CPA Small Branches, some of the smallest jurisdictions in the Commonwealth. Whilst differences in population can seem extreme – common threads that bind the CPA Small Branches are strong.

Through cooperation, access to CPA programmes, and a focus on good democratic processes, CPA Small Branches are positioned to overcome national and global challenges. The CPA Small Branches network has access to the full range of programmes on offer from the CPA, affording the same growth opportunities as larger networks. The CPA Small Branch network provides a means of mutual support through an exchange of ideas and successful parliamentary processes.

Post-Election Seminars are a good example of beneficial programmes that CPA Small Branches can access. I recently had the privilege of being part of such a seminar. In March 2023, the CPA Secretary-General, Stephen Twigg, as well as Hon. Jan Logie, MP and Gabor Hellyer, Principal Clerk of Committee (both from the New Zealand Parliament), and myself, travelled to the Legislative Assembly of Tonga to work with new and returning Members of the Parliaments of Tonga, Tuvalu and Fiji. The seminar examined the core elements of democratic governance and identified examples of best practice from Tonga, the Pacific and the wider Commonwealth.

Lord Fakafanua, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Tonga, gave a keynote address at the opening ceremony and captured the sentiment of the participants. He said:

“This seminar is valuable and opportune as there is never an expiration date on the importance of capacity building, institutional strengthening and professional development for both new and veteran MPs. We have constitutional mandates, roles, duties and responsibilities that we must adhere to.”

At the CPA seminar, Parliamentarians and Parliamentary Clerks from New Zealand, Australia, Tonga and Niue gave presentations both in-person and virtually on parliamentary practice and procedure. Local experts on climate change and gender equality were also invited to the seminar to offer specialist insights on how Parliamentarians can support progress in these areas. To read more about the CPA Post-Election Seminar in Tonga turn to page 106.

Further opportunities for CPA Small Branches’ development include improving and refining Standing Orders and other related processes towards good governance. For example, the Anguilla House of Assembly recently passed a motion approving a new code of conduct for Members. The code, which recognises community expectations and elected Member standards, was developed with support of the CPA through a technical assistance programme and collaboration from the ACT Legislative Assembly Clerk, Tom Duncan.

The Regional Initiative Fund (RIF) is offered on an annual basis to all CPA Small Branches and whilst there is a monetary cap and not all requests can be achieved, it is a great opportunity for CPA Small Branches and a further demonstration of CPA offerings for growth and collaboration.

The Speaker of the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly, Joy Burch, MLA and the Chair of the Public Accounts Committee, Elizabeth Kikkert, MLA welcomed representatives from the Kiribati Audit Office who are working together with Michael Harris, the ACT Auditor-General and the ACT Audit Office to improve performance audit capability.

Image: ACT Legislative Assembly

In 2022, proposals from St Helena, Seychelles and Northern Territory were accepted under the RIF with innovative and sustainable outcomes. In November 2022, the Northern Territory Speaker, Hon. Mark Monaghan, MLA, together with the first Clerk Assistant, Russell Keith, visited Niue. Several meetings and workshops looking at parliamentary practice, procedure and administration were hosted alongside the Speaker, Clerk and Members of the Niue Assembly. This visit resulted in the successful exchange of ideas and experiences across these two Parliaments, it was agreed their efforts had a positive impact on them both.

Several CPA Branches in the CPA Australia Region and CPA Pacific Region have an active twinning programme, administered through the Pacific Parliamentary Partnerships (PPP) Fund at the Australia Federal Parliament, which provides targeted assistance through the provision of training and equipment as well as other bilateral links. The CPA Australian Capital Territory Branch, for example, is twinned with the CPA Kiribati Branch.

In January 2023, the National Assembly of Seychelles hosted a workshop on ‘Implementing a Parliamentary Service Act’. This workshop, which included two-days of learning and development specific to the subject of parliamentary independence, supported the National Assembly’s long-term pursuit of establishing a Parliamentary Services Commission. The CPA sent Huw Williams from the Scottish Parliament and Matthew Salik, Head of Programmes at the CPA Headquarters, to deliver the programme. To date, a draft Bill has been produced based on the CPA’s Model Law for Independent Parliaments.

The CPA offers the Small Branches Scholarship Programme. This programme provides support for Clerks and officials to participate in the Professional Development Certificate in Parliamentary Management, delivered by McGill University in Canada. Designed to develop well-informed, skilled parliamentary officials who will contribute to the effective management of Parliaments and the strengthening of democratic processes in small jurisdictions.

In 2022, the CPA Small Branches awarded five scholarships to nominees from Tuvalu, St Lucia, Niue, Kiribati and Grenada. Due to ongoing restrictions from COVID-19, the course was moved to a fully online attendance. For 2023, two nominees from the Maldives and Guyana have been accepted for scholarships for this programme which will include a 1-week residency at McGill University in May 2023.

Members and parliamentary staff from the CPA Small Branches network also have free access to a wide range of online courses through the CPA Parliamentary Academy, including a specific course on parliamentary action on climate change designed for small jurisdictions.

As CPA Small Branch Network chair, I am a member of the CPA Coordinating Committee and the CPA Executive Committee. In these roles, I always ensure that the voice of CPA Small Branches are heard and opportunities for further development and collaboration are explored.

I encourage all Members of the CPA Small Branches to think about the opportunities offered through the CPA and utilise these opportunities for your Parliaments and communities.

I also encourage Members of the CPA Small Branches to consider active participation and engagement with the upcoming 39th CPA Small Branches Conference to be held at the 66th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference in Accra, Ghana in September/October 2023.