Parliamentary Oversight

Parliamentary Oversight

Parliamentary oversight is one of the three core democratic roles of parliamentarians. GOPAC focuses on oversight as related to financial and operational integrity, rather than broader economic or social policy. It is the duty of parliamentarians to require the Executive Branch to follow the rules related to financial operations, and for the government to openly report to Parliament on its exercise of the Executive’s powers and public resources granted.

Parliamentary Oversight Global Task Force

The Parliamentary Oversight Global Task Force (GTF-PO) focuses on financial and operational integrity which includes: the on-going review of all government revenue and expenditures; and legislation and other parliamentary rules establishing government financial control practices, procedures to account for and report revenues and expenditures, as well as procedures and authorities for parliamentary oversight of financial administration. It also includes legislation and other rules which guide and enable parliament to oversee the implementation of the UN Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC).

GTF-PO believes that improved oversight plays an important role in preventing corruption.

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Mr. John Hyde

Australia (Chair)
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Mr. Bryon Wilfert

Canada
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Mr. Peter James Loney

Australia
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Hon. Mr. Nigel Mills

United Kingdom
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Lord Fusitu’a

Tonga
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Hon. Mrs. Margaret Quirk

Australia
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Mr. Jamal Zahran

Egypt
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Hon. Mr. Abel Pires da Silva

Timor Leste

In order to ensure parliamentary oversight, parliamentarians should encourage regional chapters to consider adapting the GOPAC global position statement and its handbook on parliamentary oversight to better tailor these tools to regional and national needs.

Parliaments should consider undertaking internal and external measures as follows: