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By AUGUSTINE KINNA
THE Bougainville House of Representatives is using the New Zealand
parliamentary system model to strengthen governance on Bougainville.
Two Members of the Autonomous Bougainville Government recently underwent
a one-week intensive study on the New Zealand parliamentary select
system..
The ABG member of Kokoda constituency Rodney Job Osioco and Member for
Haku constituency Jan Tenevi undertook the study, which was funded by
the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and the New Zealand
government.
Mr Tenevi is the chairman for parliamentary sectoral and advisory
committee (PSAC) and Mr Osioco is the acting chairman for the public
accounts committee (PAC) for the Bougainville House of Representatives.
Mr Tenevi said the study gave him the opportunity to learn how the
various parliamentary committees of the New Zealand parliament operated.
He said they would set up a similar system to inquire into the work of
the public service and scrutinise legislations before they were passed.
Mr Osioco said the strengthening of the PAC would see a reduction in
lack of financial accountability.
The House of Representatives Speaker Nick Peniai said what the leaders
had learnt from the New Zealand system would help give them a clearer
picture for a way forward for them.
ABG members have also visited Australia and Great Britain for similar
purposes.
Mr Penia said the PAC and the PSAC were expected to be fully set up and
running by the end of the year.
“We need to move forward with the scrutiny of the government through our
committee system,” Mr Peniai said.
He said all the laws must reflect the people’s views and every move by
the government must be watched by the committee to avoid corrupt
practices.
He said proposed bills for the House must pass scrutiny by the
committees.
 
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