Members, officials meet to tackle social vulnerability
26 November 2015 | Darwin, Australia | Feature
A team from the Assembly is attending the annual Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Australia-Pacific conference in Darwin this week. This year’s conference, hosted by the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly from 24026 November, explores how to tackle social vulnerabilities across the region.
Both MLAs in the Assembly's delegation presented papers. Chris Bourke MLA presented a paper addressing the issue of indigenous representation, while Brendan Smyth MLA presented one called Economic Vulnerability of a City State, based on the ACT's dual state-local governing arrangement.
This annual conference offers MPs and parliamentary officials from across the region the opportunity to exchange ideas, hear from experts, identify benchmarks of good practice, and explore new policy approaches.
In-conference workshops cast a wide net, focusing on many elements of social vulnerability. These included just and honest government, poverty alleviation, fundamental human rights, international peace and order, global economic development, the rule of law, gender equity, the separation of powers, and democratic political processes.
During the conference, the ACT delegation took the opportunity to meet with their i-Kiribati counterparts from the Maneaba ni Maungatabu. The Assembly and Maneaba are 'twin' parliaments, working together since 2007 in a direct professional and legislative development arrangement. Click here to find out more about the relationship between the i-Kiribati and ACT parliaments.
Why does the Assembly attend these conferences?
The ACT Legislative Assembly is an active member of the international parliamentary community. We participate in several inter-parliamentary organisations and partner directly with other parliaments. These activities ensure we remain innovative and connected, and use our experience and knowledge to provide assistance to developing parliaments in the region. Working with other legislatures in common areas grows mutual understanding between jurisdictions and helps build stronger, more resilient democracies which benefits us all.
Learn more about our inter-parliamentary relations here.