25 August 2015

Strengthening Financial Scrutiny in Pacific Parliaments

The New Zealand Parliament will host a meeting of public accounts committees from the Pacific region this week. Committee chairpersons and members from eight legislatures will share experience and best practice of financial scrutiny. The regional meeting is being hosted in partnership with the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and the World Bank Group.

The Speaker of the House, Rt Hon David Carter, said that he was pleased to host this important meeting, “Public accounts committees play an important role in scrutinising the use and management of public funds, and through this work ensure good governance and accountability.”

“Pacific legislatures face challenges specific to their size, capacity and geographic isolation. The exchange of ideas and professional development such meetings provide is invaluable in building stronger parliaments and committees. Effective, independent and transparent parliaments make for better policy and budget outcomes, which benefit the public,” he said.

Members of New Zealand’s Finance and Expenditure Committee will participate in the seminar to build relationships with their colleagues in the region and to share their experiences following recent procedural reform to strengthen financial scrutiny.

The meeting includes sessions on the opportunities and challenges public accounts committees face, improving performance and setting standards, and mobilising support for financial oversight committees. It will also explore the options for creating a regional network of public accounts committee to build on the meeting.

The meeting runs from 26 to 27 August 2015.

ENDS

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