Exploring oversight with partner parliament

Ratu Josaia Niudamu, Chair of the Fiji Parliament’s Public Accounts Sub-committee, said the program was a valuable learning opportunity about the crucial role of parliamentary committees.

‘We've learned many things, especially the importance of transparency and accountability,’ he said.

‘During our visit the Victorian Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee called Ministers for the budget estimates, and they have to be prepared because they are really scrutinised, which shows that accountability and transparency is working here in Victoria and that's something that we will take back to Fiji.’

The professional development program was undertaken as part of a twinning partnership between the Victorian and Fiji Parliaments established in 2014 and supported by Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Mr Niudamu noted that the mentorship from the Victorian Parliament over the past decade had been invaluable to the Fiji Parliament.

‘It really helps us as individual Members of Parliament in the way we conduct ourselves when we go back home. It improves the way we work,’ he said.

‘It shows us that we have to be transparent and accountable to the people who have elected us in order to have a properly functioning democracy.’

Deputy Chair of the Public Accounts Sub-committee Joseph Nand said the focus of the program on oversight committee functions was a timely opportunity to find out in detail about their operations.  

‘We learnt how they function in terms of dissecting a report, in terms of preparing questions and enquiry methods,’ he said.

Mr Nand said the twinning program between Victoria and Fiji helped to raise the bar in the Fiji Parliament.

‘It improves our performance and one thing I've seen here is a very high level of professionalism and respect for each other's work,’ he said.

‘It will give us an opportunity to develop on a new front and give us an opportunity to learn and move forward with how our Parliament works and operates.’

As part of the visit the Fiji MPs also got the opportunity to meet with members of Victoria's Fijian community.