The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) has announced that Tonga’s Legislative Assembly has successfully met numerous recommended benchmarks, highlighting significant areas for reform and improvement.
Tonga’s Legislative Assembly aspires to be “fit for purpose, resilient, and inclusive for all,” a motto that reflects its commitment to democratic governance. The people of Tonga can take pride in their Legislature and the manner in which it conducts parliamentary business.
This information comes from the CPA’s Benchmarks for Democratic Legislatures Final Report for Tonga, a comprehensive 29-page document tabled in Parliament last week and finalized recently.
The Benchmarks establish essential standards for how a Parliament should operate and serve as a guide to enhance the effectiveness of parliamentary institutions across the 180 Parliaments and Legislatures within the CPA, including Tonga. They also support the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals.
Since joining the CPA in 1958, Tonga has worked collaboratively with this international community to uphold the highest standards of democratic governance. Founded in 1911, the CPA connects Members of Parliament and parliamentary staff to identify benchmarks of good governance and promote the Commonwealth’s enduring values.
In November 2023, Tonga’s Parliament became the 24th Commonwealth Legislature to conduct a self-assessment against the CPA Benchmarks, approved by Lord Speaker Hon. Lord Fakafanua and coordinated by parliamentary staff.
Fraser McIntosh (Good Governance Project Manager, CPA HQ) and Tom Duncan (Clerk, The Legislative Assembly for the Australian Capital Territory) led the assessment from November 13-17 in Nuku’alofa as part of the CPA’s Good Governance Project, which is partially funded by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
During their visit, Fraser and Tom engaged with Lord Speaker Fakafanua, Members of Parliament, and senior parliamentary staff, as well as external stakeholders, including the Auditor General, the Attorney General, and representatives from civil society and the media. They also reviewed key documents such as the Constitution of Tonga and the Rules of Procedure for the Legislative Assembly.
The Assessment revealed that Parliament has met many of its recommended benchmarks, reflecting positively on its senior leadership at both political and staff levels. It noted that the Parliament operates effectively in various areas, adhering to clear Rules of Procedure and benefiting from a dedicated parliamentary administration led by the Clerk.
Tonga’s Parliament has shown resilience following the 2010 constitutional reforms and the destruction caused by Cyclone Gita in 2018, which necessitated relocating to temporary premises. However, the CPA Report identified several areas for further reform, offering 19 recommendations aimed at fostering a Parliament that is truly “fit for purpose, resilient, and inclusive.”
Key recommendations include enhancing parliamentary infrastructure, updating the Rules of Procedure, expanding professional development opportunities, and establishing functional human rights and anti-corruption authorities. The report also emphasizes the need for the government to increase female representation in Cabinet positions and to facilitate greater scrutiny of legislative processes.
The CPA commended Tonga’s Parliament for proactively choosing to assess itself against the CPA Benchmarks, recognizing the commitment of Lord Speaker Fakafanua and Clerk Gloria Pole’o in this endeavor. Their dedication to continuous improvement is noteworthy.
The CPA extends its gratitude to all stakeholders involved in the assessment, with special thanks to Linda Filiai, the Parliament Education Officer, for her exceptional coordination and hospitality during the visit.
Together, these efforts reflect a strong commitment to enhancing parliamentary democracy for the people of Tonga.