Twinning
What is twinning?
The twinning program, initiated by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association in 2007, links every Australian state and territory parliament with one or more parliaments in the Pacific region. Twinning is designed to promote collaboration and understanding between parliaments to ensure they each fulfil their legislative, representative and oversight roles.
The concept of twinning is similar to the ‘sister city’ relationships that exist between cities of different countries.
The national parliaments of Australia and New Zealand provide an overall coordination role for the twinning program, which was established in June 2007.
Who are we twinned with?
The New South Wales Parliament has a partnership arrangement with the parliaments of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville (the Bougainville House of Representatives) and the Solomon Islands (the National Parliament of Solomon Islands).
The New South Wales Parliament Twinning Steering Committee coordinates all activities undertaken under the twinning agreement. The committee comprises representatives of the three parliamentary departments.
Our current activities are the latest development in a long tradition of participating in training and development projects aimed at supporting parliamentary democracy elsewhere in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond.
You can read more about our twinning projects and events below.
'Twinning bilong yumi': the 10th anniversary of the twinning agreement
In 2017 we celebrated 10 years of partnership with our twinned parliaments.
Anniversary celebration in Bougainville
The first of several events to celebrate the anniversary took place in Buka, Bougainville on 15 June 2017. Celebrations coincided with the annual 'ABG Day', which marks the establishment of the Autonomous Bougainville Government in 2005.
Twinning bilong yumi scholarship
A delegation of members led by the Hon. John Ajaka, President of the Legislative Council, visited Honiara between 17-20 April 2018 to launch the Twinning Bilong Yumi scholarship, a program aimed at supporting professional development of staff of the National Parliament of Solomon Islands and the Bougainville House of Representatives.
Bougainville House of Representatives First Clerk Assistant Peter Topura attached to the NSW Parliamentary Library
In November 2017, the NSW Parliament welcomed colleague Peter Topura, First Clerk Assistant in the Bougainville House of Representatives.
Peter visited Sydney on attachment with the Parliamentary Library, having just concluded a three-week attachment to the Australian Parliament's Library Research Service as the recipient of a Pacific Women's Parliamentary Partnerships (PWPP) Research Scholarship. Peter spent his weeks in Canberra working on a project to identify ways in which parliamentary rules and procedures can be used to promote female representation in parliament, and used his time in Sydney to finalise his research and work with Procedure and Library staff to identify the procedural changes necessary to implement recommendations arising from his project.
An 'insightful, educational and wonderful experience': Attachment of Jean Sahu from the National Parliament of Solomon Islands
Between 3 and 28 October 2017, the Parliament of NSW had the privilege of hosting Ms Jean Sahu from the National Parliament of Solomon Islands Procedure Office.
Of her stay, Jean reflected that she had 'gained a lot of knowledge regarding skills and procedure. In turn, I feel I can carry out my job in the Solomon Islands Parliament with much more confidence and put the skills which I have learnt here to good use when I return home'.
Commemorative exhibition
In October 2017 commemorative celebrations continued with the launch of a commemorative exhibition, booklet and video at the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association's Australia and Pacific Regional Conference, held at the NSW Parliament. You can read the commemorative booklet using the link below.
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Twinning news and events
Induction for the Autonomous Region of Bougainville House of Representatives (October 2025)
In October 2025, the Parliament of New South Wales, supported by the United Nations Development Programme, delivered a week-long professional development program for Members and staff of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville House of Representatives. The delegation from the Parliament of New South Wales included the Hon. Nichole Overall MLC and Mr Roy Butler MP.
Induction for the National Parliament of Solomon Islands (June 2024)
In June 2024, the Parliament of New South Wales commenced an induction program for Members of the 12th National Parliament of Solomon Islands, elected in April 2024. The New South Wales Parliament delegation included the Hon. Rod Roberts MLC, the Hon. Sonia Hornery MP, the Hon. Stephen Lawrence and Mr Mark Taylor MP.
Professional development attachment (October 2023)
In October 2023, Members and staff from the National Parliament of Solomon Islands and the Bougainville House of Representatives attended a week-long professional development program at the Parliament of New South Wales.
As part of the program, attendees met with Mr David Mehan MP, Member for The Entrance, while visiting his electorate.
52nd Presiding Officers and Clerks Conference at the National Parliament of Solomon Islands (June 2023)
In June 2023, the 52nd Presiding Officers and Clerks Conference brought together parliamentary leaders from across Australia and the Pacific. The conference focused on “Building Strong and Resilient Parliaments”.
Committee Refresher Workshops - National Parliament of Solomon Islands (August 2022)
On 15 and 29 August 2022, New South Wales Parliament staff delivered 'Committee refresher' workshops to counterparts in the National Parliament of the Solomon Islands.
The two online workshops focused on principles relating to minutes and report drafting, also providing an overview of the inquiry process and the committee system in place in the NSW Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council.
The workshops were interactive and acted to reinvigorate the twinning relationship between NSW Parliament and the National Parliament of Solomon Islands following disruptions associated with COVID-19.
NSW delegation to the Bougainville House of Representatives (July 2022)
In July 2022, a delegation from the NSW Parliament visited the Autonomous Region of Bougainville House of Representatives, continuing the long-standing partnership agreement between our parliaments. The delegation consisted of four members – the Hon. Leslie Williams MP, Mr Mark Taylor MP, Mr David Mehan MP, and Ms Sue Higginson MLC – and two parliamentary officers, Mr Simon Johnston and Ms Clara Hawker.
The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association's 'twinning' arrangements between parliaments in the Australian and Pacific regions were established in 2007 and reinforced in 2010 with signed 'Partnership Agreements'.
This 2022 visit was an opportunity to reaffirm the partnership and allow members and staff to meet and develop relationships – the last delegation from NSW Parliament was in 2018, with COVID-19 making travel impossible until recently.
The delegation met with the President, Ishmael Toroama, and Speaker, Hon. Simon Pentanu, as well as the Clerk, Robert Tapi, and other staff over three days in Buka, the site of the House of Representatives.
Meetings included an open forum held in the House following a Parliamentary sitting, and more focussed sessions with the BHOR's female members and Committee Chairs. Topics covered included challenges and priorities, as well as upcoming opportunities and ways that the NSW Parliament can support the Bougainville House of Representatives as they work towards formal independence for Bougainville between 2025 and 2027.
Left to right: Mr Simon Johnston, Clerk-Assistant; Mr Robert Tapi, Clerk of the Bougainville House of Representatives; the Hon Leslie Williams MP, Deputy Speaker; the Hon Simon Pentanu, Speaker of the Bougainville House of Representatives; Mr Mark Taylor MP; Ms Sue Higginson MLC; Mr David Mehan MP.
Members of the NSW Parliament delegation meet with Bougainville House of Representatives Committee Chairs.
Twin Peeks: Twinning featured on the 'The House in Review' blog (2021)
As the COVID-19 pandemic prevented us from conducting our twinning relationships in person, we aimed to connect with our twinned parliaments via social media.
In 2021, the twinning program was featured in posts on the Legislative Council's blog The House in Review:
● Twin Peeks: A closer look at parliamentary 'twinning'
● Twin Peeks: Meet the Speaker of the National Parliament of Solomon Islands, the Hon Patteson Oti
Conference papers
2017 CPA Australia and Pacific regional conference
How can Parliament participate effectively in measuring and assessing the performance of governments' climate change policies?, Nanise Saune-Qaloewai, Deputy Team Leader & Programme Manager (Parliamentary Development & Women in Politics- UNDP Pacific Office)
Engaging with public finances, Margaret Crawford, Auditor-General of New South Wales
The Fairfield Express, Helen Minnican, Clerk of the Legislative Assembly, New South Wales
Parliament and its members: Engaging with remote communities and peoples in the Northern Territory of Australia, Chanston Paech, Member for Namatjira and Deputy Speaker, Northern Territory, and Michael Tatham, Clerk of the Legislative Assembly, Northern Territory
Engaging with and through your staff, Sharon Bent, Organisational Psychologist and Executive Coach, Bent Psychology
Engaging with ‘good’ public policy – concepts and practice, Dr Randal Stewart
48th Presiding Officers and Clerks Conference, 2017
Re-engaging the disengaged - Why Parliamentary education and community engagement is core business, the Hon John Ajaka MLC, President (NSW)
Resignation of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker, Ray Purdey, Clerk (Vic)
Presiding Officers and public controversies, the Hon Bruce Atkinson MLC, President (Vic)
Leadership for SDGs, the Hon Dr Juko Lueni, Speaker (Fiji)
The accountability of statutory bodies to Parliament: Greyhound Racing NSW, David Blunt, Clerk of the Parliaments (NSW)
The ICAC is Coming, Michael Tatham, Clerk (NT)
A dilemma of rights, powers and immunities, Michael Ries, Clerk (Qld)
Search warrants and privilege, Richard Pye, Clerk of the Australian Senate (Cth)
Parliamentary practice and procedures, the Hon Lauofo Pierre Lauofo, Speaker (Samoa)
Striking the balance: Impartiality and representation in the Queensland Parliament, the Hon Peter Wellington MP, Speaker (Qld)
Decoding the code: Applying the CPA Code of Conduct benchmarks, Tom Duncan, Clerk (ACT)
The Australian Speakership, the Hon Tony Smith MP, Speaker, House of Representatives (Cth)
Reflections of a new Speaker in Parliament House, the Hon Peter Watson MLA, Speaker (WA)
Innovation in the New Zealand Parliament, the Hon Chester Borrows, Deputy Speaker (New Zealand)