State, Society and Governance in Melanesia Project – Regulating Responsively for Oversight Agencies in the Pacific Targeted research papers for AusAID Regulating Responsively for Oversight Agencies in the Pacific Author: Gregory Rawlings School of Archaeology and Anthropology Faculty of Arts The Australian National University
[email protected] February 2006 State, Society and Governance in Melanesia Project – Regulating Responsively for Oversight Agencies in the Pacific State, Society and Governance in Melanesia Project – Regulating Responsively for Oversight Agencies in the Pacific Contents Executive Summary 1 Introduction 3 Oversight institutions in the Pacific: a review 4 Internal and external levers of oversight accountability 6 1) Oversight performance is undermined by political interference 8 2) The linkages within and between oversight institutions and other agencies within the law and justice sector and the rest of the administration are weak 8 3) There is debate about the reasons for the weak links between the oversight and enforcement branches within the law and justice sector 9 4) Political will is crucial for the effective performance of oversight agencies 10 5) Oversight agencies do not exercise powers to their full potential 11 6) Oversight institutions require budgetary independence to perform effectively 12 7) The designated responsibilities, roles and functions of oversight institutions are often unclear, ill-defined or broad 13 8) The capacities of oversight agencies are impeded by antiquated legislation. 13 9) Leadership codes or codes of conduct for leaders have been developed as a way of addressing shortfalls in legislation 14 10) Regional support bodies are being encouraged to enhance and institutionally strengthen the capacities of national oversight agencies.