A summary of news from overseas parliaments.
Canada
Quarantine period for politicians turning lobbyist
All members of Parliament, senators and senior staff in the offices of the Leader of the Opposition in both Houses are to be covered by the government's proposed extension of the Lobbying Act, which currently applies to ministers, certain members of their staff, and senior public servants. Under the Act paid lobbyists must register to lobby these 'designated public office holders', and disclose their lobbying contacts with them. Designated public office holders are prohibited from lobbying the Canadian government for five years after leaving office. There has been much publicity about, and a House of Commons investigation into, the lobbying activities of a former MP who lost his seat in the 2008 election.
Press release: Government of Canada to increase parliament's transparency, Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat, 5 August 2010 http://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/media/nr-cp/2010/0805a-eng.asp
Caucus advisory committees
In order to increase the Conservative parliamentary party's involvement in policy-making, the Prime Minister has created 23 caucus advisory committees, comprising members of both Houses. The committees will help develop new legislation and major policies before they are presented to Parliament, and advise ministers on the most important issues facing their ministries. Ministers will be expected to consult the committees regularly.
Media articles: Ministers expected to consult caucus advisory committees, The Hill Times, 16 August 2010 http://www.thehilltimes.ca/page/view/angelo-08-16-2010; Tory committees will help ministers avoid missteps, The Hill Times, 23 August 2010 http://www.thehilltimes.ca/page/view/caucuscommittees-08-23-2010
Norway
Quarantine period for politicians turning lobbyist
Controversy arose when a former minister, who now works for a PR firm, gave advice that ran counter to government policy, although not in an area in which he had held portfolios. The minister, who resigned last October, had been 'quarantined' for six months before he could start work for the PR firm, and for a further six months until October this year before he could undertake work in his former portfolio areas. The Storting's Third Vice President thinks the quarantine period for a former minister should be two years rather than six months and that, with the lobbying industry becoming more aggressive than Norway has been accustomed to, the quarantine rules should be extended to cover the Storting also.
Glossary: Stortinget – Parliament; Vice –President – Deputy Speaker
Media articles: Bjarne Håkon Hanssen slår tilbake, Aftenposten, 2 August 2010 http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/iriks/article3753741.ece; Regelverk aldri endret, Aftenposten, 3 August 2010 http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/iriks/article3754874.ece
Attendance at committee hearing declined
Committees have the power to hold public hearings and request people's attendance at them. People whose attendance has been requested are free to attend or not, as they wish, and to choose whether or not to answer questions put to them. Two former Ministers of Defence have reportedly declined to attend a hearing to be held as part of an investigation into a possible breach of procurement rules by the armed forces. Some members of the committee concerned have called for a discussion on whether it should be compulsory for people to attend hearings when they have been requested to do so.
Media article: Krohn Devold vil ikke møte til høring i Stortinget, Aftenposten, 23 August 2010 http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/iriks/article3779189.ece
Substitute members and conflicts of interest
The President of the Storting informed a substitute member who had asked for clarification that there is nothing in the Storting's rules about what types of work substitute members can undertake, but that in his view the parties should have rules governing what is acceptable, and substitute members should refrain from taking jobs that could put their independence in question. In certain circumstances substitute members, who are elected at a general election from the same party lists as full members, may substitute for full members of the Storting. The substitute member concerned had attended committee meetings on a bill that his intended employer, a PR firm, was lobbying against on behalf of a client.
Glossary: Stortinget – Parliament
Media article: Dropp lobbyist-jobb, Aftenposten, 27 August 2010 http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/article3786852.ece
Papua New Guinea
Sitting days
All 107 MPs could face prison sentences or fines the Ombudsman Commission has warned, because of Parliament's failure to sit for 63 days in 2009. The Constitution requires Parliament to meet at least three times within a 12 month period, and in principle for a total of at least nine weeks in that period. The Supreme Court has interpreted nine weeks as meaning 63 days. The Ombudsman Commission lacks the resources for a formal investigation, and has opted for a public awareness programme on leadership responsibilities.
Media article: 10-year jail terms or K10,000 fines possible for failure of House to sit for 63 days, Papua New Guinea Post Courier, 3 August 2010 http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20100803/news01.htm
Queensland
Statutory basis for members' staff
The second of the Integrity Reform Bills, the Ministerial and Other Office Holder Staff Bill 2010, creates a new stand-alone framework for the employment of staff members to support ministers, the Leader of the Opposition and, where necessary, other non-government MPs, and provides statutory recognition to electorate office staff as a distinct category within the Parliamentary Service.
Bill: Ministerial and Other Office Holder Staff Bill 2010, 3 August 2010 http://www.legislation.qld.gov.au/Bills/53PDF/2010/MinisterOOHSB10.pdf
Explanatory note: Ministerial and Other Office Holder Staff Bill 2010: explanatory notes, 3 August 2010http://www.legislation.qld.gov.au/Bills/53PDF/2010/MinisterOOHSB10Exp.pdf
Press release: Premier, Next step in delivering a more transparent, accountable political system, 2 August 2010 http://www.cabinet.qld.gov.au/MMS/StatementDisplaySingle.aspx?id=70908
Public interest disclosures
The Public Interest Disclosure Bill 2010, the third of the Integrity Reform Bills, replaces the Whistleblowers Protection Act 1994. The Bill includes MPs among the proper authorities to whom disclosure may be made, provides for them to refer the disclosure to another public sector entity, and states that the Bill does not limit the immunities, powers, privileges or rights of the Legislative Assembly in relation to a public interest disclosure made to an MP. The provisions are similar to those in the current Act.
Bill: Public Interest Disclosure Bill 2010, 3 August 2010 http://www.legislation.qld.gov.au/Bills/53PDF/2010/PublicInDiscB10.pdf
Explanatory note: Public Interest Disclosure Bill 2010: explanatory notes, 3 August 2010 http://www.legislation.qld.gov.au/Bills/53PDF/2010/PublicInDiscB10Exp.pdf
Press release: Premier, Next step in delivering a more transparent, accountable political system, 2 August 2010 http://www.cabinet.qld.gov.au/MMS/StatementDisplaySingle.aspx?id=70908
Member's failure to disclose gifts
In June the Integrity, Ethics and Parliamentary Privileges Committee found that a now former member had failed to disclose in the Register of Interests payments that he had received. The Committee recommended the House should find the member had committed a contempt of Parliament and should impose a fine. The Speaker has sought legal advice as to whether the Committee's recommendations should be implemented prior to the conclusion of the current criminal proceedings involving the former member.
Hansard: Speaker's statements, Legal advice from Senior Counsel, Record of proceedings (Hansard), 4 August 2010 http://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/view/legislativeAssembly/Hansard/documents/2010.pdf/2010_08_04_WEEKLY.pdf
Media article: Speaker seeks second opinion on Nuttall fine, ABC News, 4 August 2010 http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/08/04/2973312.htm?site=news
Solomon Islands
Election of Prime Minister
The Prime Minister's election by the newly elected members of Parliament took place at Parliament on 25 August. The Speaker issued a statement clarifying that the meeting to elect the Prime Minister was not a proceeding of Parliament, and therefore did not need to be open to the public.
Press release: The Speaker, Election of the Prime Minister, National Parliament of Solomon Islands, [August 2010] http://www.parliament.gov.sb/
Pecuniary interests
The Clerk to the Parliament said that members had until early September to declare their private business interests or be barred from being officially inducted as members of Parliament. The declaration is a requirement under Standing Orders, but has been overlooked in the past.
Press release: MP-elects to declare private business interest, Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, 23 August 2010 http://www.pmc.gov.sb/content/mp-elects-declare-private-business-interest
Tonga
Parliamentary workshop
A delegation from New Zealand held a series of workshops over three days for MPs, officials and election candidates. The workshops covered aspects of New Zealand's Parliament such as support for Parliament, the role of members, standing orders, transparency and accountability, and elections.
Media article: Tonga reviews New Zealand Parliament process, Pacific Islands Report, 17 August 2010 http://pidp.eastwestcenter.org/pireport/2010/August/08-17-12.htm
Victoria
Select committee witnesses and contempt
Earlier this year the State Attorney-General directed several ministerial advisers not to attend hearings of the Legislative Council's Standing Committee on Finance and Public Administration. The Committee has now issued a report stating that its investigations have been significantly hindered as a result of the Attorney-General's interference, and has recommended that the Legislative Council resolve to order those witnesses to appear before the Committee.
Report: Legislative Council Standing Committee on Finance and Public Administration, Inquiry into Victorian government decision making, consultation and approval processes: second interim report, 10 August 2010 http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/images/stories/downloads/Committee_reports/SCFPA_Report11Windsor.pdf
Western Australia
More opportunities for members to raise issues
To increase the opportunities for members to express their views and press for action, the Legislative Assembly's Procedure and Privileges Committee has recommended changes to the Standing Orders. These would allow six instead of four grievances to be aired in the weekly hour set aside for them; increase the number of members' statements on topics of interest each week from six to ten; and set time limits on questions without notice and their answers in the interests of a more effective question time.
Report: Legislative Assembly, Procedure and Privileges Committee, Minor adjustments to the standing orders, 12 August 2010 http://www.parliament.wa.gov.au/parliament/commit.nsf/(Report+Lookup+by+Com+ID)/6060A45C3507AFD84825777E002AC414/$file/Minor+Adjustments+to+the+Standing+Orders.pdf
Prepared by Pleasance Purser
Research Analyst
Parliamentary Library
