Mary, in her role as Deputy Speaker of the ACT Legislative Assembly, hosted a visiting delegation from Papua New Guinea. The Australia-PNG Emerging leaders delegation visited the Assembly with the purpose of promoting a continuing dialogue between young Papua New Guineans and Australians. The visit also gives an insight into parliamentary processes, democratic principles and the unique operations of our unicameral Assembly. While in Australia the group also visited Federal Parliament and the Parliament of NSW. The group included representatives from academic institutions, local and international NGO’s, Auditors, Law firms as well as political bloggers and journalists.
This visit is one of many events in an ongoing relationship between Australia, PNG and the Pacific. As an example the Commonwealth Women’s Parliamentary steering committee recently organised its second young women’s forum. It involved young women from all around Australia as well as women parliamentarians and other women involved in politics. The forum was additionally supported by the Pacific Women’s Parliamentary Partnerships project (an initiative funded through Australia’s international aid program).
These relationships give representatives from both countries an insight into the workings of governments and some of the unique conditions in which each other operate.
For some more information on some of the initiatives including details of the events, please visit www.wcomm.org.au
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