Member for Davidson and Chair of the NSW Parliament's Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Jonathan O'Dea has welcomed an Afghan Parliamentary Group, including members of the Afghan Budget and Finance Committee.
The parliamentary group is visiting Australia, including Sydney and Canberra as part of an international program aimed at educating Afghan parliamentarians on the operation of democratic governments.
"A mature democracy like Australia has, at both a national and state level, an obligation to share its experiences with developing democratic nations," Mr O'Dea said.
"As part of establishing better oversight processes and institutions, the Afghan National Assembly wants to learn from international practice in conducting their roles in the budget and oversight processes."
"Appropriate methods of checks and balances, particularly with regard to budgetary decisions are important pillars of good governance and the NSW PAC is pleased to assist the Afghan delegation in its reconstruction process," Mr O'Dea said.
Later this year, the NSW PAC will host the Australasian Council of Public Accounts Committees (ACPAC) Conference at Parliament House. The aim of the Conference, to be held from 10-13 April, is to assist democratic processes, particularly in the areas of oversight and accountability.
The event is expected to attract representatives from around Australia as well as from developing democracies such as the Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea. Other countries have been invited from the Asia Pacific region and beyond, including Afghanistan. The theme of the conference is Adapting to a Changing Environment.
"Whether Public Accounts Committees operate in traditional democracies or as new mechanisms aimed at improving systems of government, it is equally important that they adapt to a rapidly changing environment," Mr O'Dea said.
"There is perhaps no other environment changing as quickly as in Afghanistan. Alongside our military and infrastructure support is assistance with the country's transition to a modern democracy with, appropriate checks and balances," Mr O'Dea concluded.
