Commonwealth Parliamentary Association

Commonwealth Parliamentary Association
Hotel Grand Chancellor
Wednesday 8 October 2008

As Premier of Tasmania, it gives me great pleasure to welcome you to our State, and to Hobart.

Parliamentary democracy is one of the great evolutionary experiments in history.

When this experiment began, it had very little to do with democracy as we know it.

As great lords took on the power of the Crown in the middle ages - it began as an experiment not of national interest, but of self-interest.

Evolution, of course, is a slow process. And through hundreds of years of trials, revolutions, civil wars and social movements – the experiment has survived. It has evolved.

From the relentless laboratory of history, Parliamentary democracy has emerged as the dominant governing ideal of the 21^st century. Through Africa, Asia, the Pacific and beyond – the great experiment continues on – and continues to evolve to meet the needs of the modern world.

What has remained constant is the idea that underpins it all. The idea that men and women should have the right to decide who governs them.

The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association is a celebration of the success of parliamentary democracy. The breadth of your membership, and the growth reflected in the fact that over 50 new Commonwealth Parliaments have joined or rejoined the CPA over the last decade alone – shows the ongoing power of the idea of representative government.

I have looked through some of the topics that will be discussed at this Conference over the coming days – and they look fascinating. They show that new ideas on how Parliaments can continue to evolve are still being put forward.

It is through that continued evolution – that continued debate of ideas – that the ongoing relevance of parliamentary democracy will be assured. And I’m thrilled that the CPA has decided to hold its 29^th meeting of the Australia and Pacific Regions here in Tasmania.

Hobart has a great tradition of being a meeting place. It’s where the southern ocean meets the great southern land. It’s where the modern world meets thousands of years of history. And today, it’s where representatives from across the world have gathered to celebrate the ongoing story of parliamentary democracy.

I hope you’ll take the opportunity to explore our beautiful State while you are here, and wish you all the very best for your deliberations at this conference over coming days.

It gives me great pleasure to declare the 29^th Commonwealth Parliamentary Association - Australia and Pacific Regions Conference, officially open.