67th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference
40th CPA Small Branches Conference

CPA Small Branches Workshop A: Strengthening Parliaments Through Twinning

About the Workshop

CPA Small Branches Workshop A: Strengthening Parliaments Through Twinning

Parliamentary twinning is a programme that pairs Parliaments across Australia and the Pacific, but what does that mean in practice?

This workshop will dissect the relationships between Australian and Pacific parliaments, the origins of the twinning programme as a concept, its implementation and the first-hand experiences of those involved in the twinning arrangements.

Discussions will take place between Clerks, Speakers and parliamentary experts, sharing their insights into the success of the programme as well as where it can be improved upon. The roundtable will also explore the potential for the twinning programme to be expanded upon across the other CPA Regions.  

Panellists

CPA Small Branches Workshop A: Strengthening Parliaments Through Twinning
Joy Burch, MLA, CPA Small Branches Chairperson (Australian Capital Territory) - Panel Chair

In 2009, Joy Burch was appointed to the Cabinet, where she was Minister responsible for Ageing, Arts, Children and Youth, Disability, Community Services, Education, Gaming and Racing, Housing, Multicultural Affairs, Police and Emergency Services, and Women.
She also chaired the Administration and Procedure Committee and has been a Member of 10 Assembly Committees.
In 2016, Joy Burch was elected as the Speaker of the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly and was re-elected as Speaker again in 2020.
She has also held membership of Assembly Committees such as: Administration and Procedure, Health, Ageing, and Social Services, Justice and Community Safety, Planning, Environment and Municipal Services, Public Accounts, Education, and Youth Affairs Committees.

She became the Chairperson of the CPA Small Branches network in 2022,, after being the Acting Chairperson previously.

Mr Wilson Orisi (Solomon Islands)

Mr Wilson Orisi is a legal and parliamentary professional with over 14 years of experience serving in various capacities as Committee Secretary within the National Parliament of the Solomon Islands. Currently, Wilson Orisi is the Director of Committees in the Solomon Islands Parliament.  Wilson has demonstrated a high level of expertise in legislative procedures, parliamentary processes, and governance. His academic background includes a Master of Laws (LLM) from Waikato University, a Postgraduate Certificate in Diplomacy from the University of the South Pacific, and other qualifications in legal practice and legislative drafting.  

Throughout his career, Wilson has been integral in providing legal and procedural advice to key parliamentary figures, including the Speaker and the Clerk of Parliament, as well as offering critical support to Members of Parliament. He has served as the Committee Secretary for numerous Parliamentary Committees, such as the Constitution Review Committee, Public Accounts Committee, Police National Security and Correctional Services Committee, and the Foreign Relations Committee, among others. His role has included organising Committee meetings, preparing reports, drafting terms of reference and conducting research on constitutional, political and economic issues. 

Wilson has played a leading role in significant parliamentary inquiries, such as the Special Select Committee on the Short Bus Route in Honiara, and has worked closely with the Constitutional Reform Unit on Solomon Islands' proposed Federal Constitution. His experience extends beyond the Solomon Islands through his participation in international parliamentary workshops in New Zealand, Australia and other Pacific jurisdictions.  

In addition to his parliamentary duties, Wilson has been actively involved in legal advocacy, providing free legal advice to disadvantaged citizens and engaging in land court cases in various provinces. His leadership extends into the community, where he has chaired football clubs and other associations aimed at promoting youth engagement in positive activities. 

With a deep commitment to the development of transparent legal and parliamentary processes, Wilson Orisi continues to contribute significantly to the governance and legislative framework of the Solomon Islands. His leadership and legal expertise have established him as a respected figure within the public service and beyond.  

Ms Beverly Duffy (New South Wales)

Beverly Duffy is currently the Clerk Assistant (Committees) in the New South Wales Legislative Council where she leads the team that provides secretariat support to the Council's Standing and Select Committees.  She was the Chair of the New South Wales Parliament's Twinning Steering Committee from 2018-2023. 

Prior to joining the Council, Beverly worked in research and policy roles for several government agencies and community organisations. She has an honours degree in Social Work and a graduate diploma in Communications. 

Mr Simon Johnston (New South Wales)

Simon Johnston is the Clerk Assistant (House and Procedure) and the Serjeant-at-Arms in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly. The House and Procedure unit supports the sittings of the House by producing papers and records such as the Votes and Proceedings, the Business Paper and the Questions and Answers Paper. It provides high level procedural research, knowledge management, training and development, support for visiting delegations and protocol for the Legislative Assembly. 

As Serjeant-at-Arms, Simon performs a protocol and security role within the New South Wales Parliament, and works with the Legislative Council's Usher of the Black Rod to provide advice to the Presiding Officers on protocol issues.  

Simon has worked for the Parliament since 2004 in various roles including the Coordinator of the Parliament's twinning relationship with the House of Representatives of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville and the National Parliament of Solomon Islands. He joined the Department of the Legislative Assembly in 2015 and has worked in Corporate Services, Committees and House and Procedure roles.  

Mrs Kauae Been Sam (Kiribati)

Mrs Kauae Been Sam, from Tarawa in the Republic of Kiribati, is a dedicated mother, wife and professional with a strong passion for Public Service and Governance. A graduate of the University of the South Pacific in 2022, she began her career as a Human Resource Officer with the Ministry of Health and Medical Services in early 2023. By mid-August 2023, she transitioned to the Kiribati Parliament, where she now serves as Secretary to the Public Accounts Committee.

Driven by a commitment to transparency and accountability, Mrs Sam has demonstrated her dedication by achieving a major milestone in her role. She successfully cleared a backlog of Public Accounts Committee reports spanning from 2010 to 2022 — an accomplishment that no previous secretary in Kiribati had achieved. This remarkable effort exemplifies her work ethic, characterized by perseverance, attention to detail and a focus on delivering results that strengthen parliamentary processes.

Mrs Sam is passionate about enhancing governance and accountability in Kiribati, and she aspires to continue making meaningful contributions to public financial oversight. Her ambition is to further modernise the Public Accounts Committee's operations, ensuring efficiency and transparency in the use of public funds for the betterment of her country

Workshop Recommendation

CPA Small Branches Workshop A: Strengthening Parliaments Through Twinning

The recommendation proposed for endorsement by workshop delegates is as follows:

  • Parliaments should explore the potential to establish twinning arrangements with another CPA Branch to build upon cross-parliamentary relationships.

Workshop Resources

CPA Small Branches Workshop A: Strengthening Parliaments Through Twinning

General Resources

 

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