The 67th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference (CPC), hosted by the Parliament of New South Wales and the CPA New South Wales Branch, is taking place in Sydney, Australia from 3 to 8 November 2024. This global event which brings together state and national parliaments from the 56 nations of the Commonwealth provides an excellent platform for networking, sharing best practices, and building capacity for parliamentarians and staff.
The 67th CPC General Assembly focused on important discussions regarding the legal status of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), as it transitions from a charitable organization to an institution with international legal standing. This change is designed to increase the CPA's influence and strengthen its global presence, amplifying the association's voice on the international stage. During the assembly, Hon. Dr. Kilala, MP from Zambia, was elected as the new Chairperson of the CPA Executive Committee, a position he will hold for a three-year term.
During the conference, several additional sessions were held, including workshops and specialized events aimed at addressing key issues facing the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA). Notable sessions included the 40th CPA Small Branches Conference, where Hon. Valerie Woods, Speaker of the House of Representatives of Belize, was elected as the new chairperson. The 8th Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP) Conference also took place, focusing on advancing gender equality and promoting gender-sensitive approaches to climate change and natural disasters.
Additionally, the 58th Conference of the Society of Clerks at the Table (SOCATT) was held, where the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly delivered a presentation to the Clerks of the Commonwealth titled "Parliamentary Privilege—Reaffirmed by Tonga’s Court of Appeal." This annual conference provides clerks and senior parliamentary officers the opportunity to meet in order to find ways to share ways of strengthening the operation of their legislatures and to share knowledge about best parliamentary practices.
All the conferences were designed for the MPs and parliamentary staff to come together to address critical issues such as strengthening parliamentary democracy, advancing gender equality, disability inclusion, combating climate change providing valuable insights and opportunities for collaboration.
For Tonga's delegates, the 67th CPC also serves as a significant opportunity to strengthen ties with international parliamentary peers, enhance knowledge of parliamentary procedures, and explore solutions to common challenges with other parliaments. The conference also featured the 2nd Emilia Monjowa Lifaka Lecture, in which prominent jurist Justice Hon Michael Kirby presented on “Parliaments and Human Rights” adding further significance to this important gathering.
The conference is being attended from the Tonga Legislative Assembly by the Lord Speaker, Noble’s Representative No. 2 for Tongatapu Lord Tui’ivakano, Hon Dulcie Tei, MP who is a member of the CPA Executive Committee (representative the Pacific geopolitical region), the Chief Clerk, Gloria Pole’o as well as Legislative Counsels and parliamentary staff, Silivia ‘Atiola, Annis Taumoepeau and ‘Amelia Taufa.