20 July 2012

Assistant Speaker to attend regional conference in the Solomon Islands

Assistant Speaker, Lindsay Tisch, and Deputy Clerk, Debra Angus, will represent the New Zealand Parliament at the 43rd Conference of Regional Presiding Officers and Clerks which is being held in Honiara, Speaker Dr The Rt Hon Lockwood Smith said today.

“The annual conference is attended by Presiding Officers and Clerks from the Australian and Pacific parliaments and is an important opportunity for professional development and knowledge sharing.”

“Through jurisdictional reports and the presentation of papers by participants, Presiding Officers and Clerks from the Pacific are able to discuss parliamentary practice and procedure in their respective parliaments and learn from each other”.

During the conference Lindsay Tisch and Debra Angus will present papers on effective use of House time and streamlining House procedure, and issues for parliament around openness, transparency and respect for institutions.

Following the conference a one day Twinning Conference will be held, which both Lindsay Tisch and Debra Angus will attend.

“The Australian state parliaments are in twinning arrangements with the Pacific parliaments in order to foster parliamentary cooperation, through the exchange of information, assistance with training, and exchanges of visits between parliaments”, Mr Speaker said.

“The New Zealand Parliament and the Commonwealth Parliament of Australia are responsible for managing the twinning arrangements and providing advice and support, so our attendance at this conference will provide a valuable opportunity to work on enhancing these important relationships”.

The Solomon Islands Parliament will host both events, with the Regional Presiding Officers and Clerks conference taking place from 23 to 26 July and the Twinning Conference being held on 27 July.

ENDS

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Scoop Business: Bathurst Gets Nod For DoC Access To Denniston Mine

Conservation Minister Nick Smith has approved access over conservation estate land for Bathurst Resources to develop an open cast coal mine on the Denniston Plateau, above Westport, to the dismay of environmental opponents.

The timing for Smith’s move avoids Bathurst having to resubmit applications for access agreements under the revised Crown Minerals Act, which comes into force tomorrow and would have required public consultation.

The announcement lands in the middle of delicate negotiations between the company, environmental groups and other interested parties that could pave the way to a broader agreement on the Escarpment proposal, whose resource consents are still subject to court appeals. More>>