Kiwi insights on parliamentary democracy Whole Parliament tends to take a New Zealand incorporated view - Gerry Brownlee

Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives Gerry Brownlee

We are two countries, with a Westminster system of government that have enjoyed democracy for a very long time. And I think, as such, we both have a responsibility to demonstrate good practice as democratic governments; cooperating and learning from each other, about the way in which we conduct democracy

The potential for tourism in Sri Lanka is high. We need to work out how we can promote tourism more

During our visit here, we met several members of Sri Lanka’s Women’s Parliamentary Caucus who visited New Zealand and heard about what they picked up there.  They’ve been able to put in place several initiatives since coming back here - all about promoting the position of women in politics

We have a common language- English. That’s useful from our perspective to strengthen tourism and build strong connections through sports, like rugby and cricket, and arts, like drama and literature

We seldom find differences among parties on foreign policy in New Zealand

 

New Zealand imported about NZ$87 million worth of goods and services from Sri Lanka between March 2023-2024 which is very small

From an opposition point of view, you could oppose legislation, but you also have to accept that a government is elected to govern

Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives Gerry Brownlee who led a parliamentary delegation to Sri Lanka shared his views on the way forward for cooperation between the two countries. He also shared his insights on the governing model in New Zealand.  
He has been a Member of Parliament consecutively since 1996 when he was first elected to Parliament as the National MP for Ilam. 
He has served as a Senior Cabinet Minister in both the John Key and Bill English-led Governments, most noticeably for his work as the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Minister soon after devastating earthquakes struck Christchurch. 
During his stint in Parliament, he has held a range of positions including Leader of the House, Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Energy and Resources, Defence, Economic Development, Canterbury Earthquake Recovery, and Associate Minister for the Rugby World Cup. He has also been the National Party Deputy Leader twice and in October 2022 he became Father of the House in recognition of his long service. 

Q:Your visit takes place at a time when Sri Lanka and New Zealand are trying to strengthen bilateral relations.  How will this visit help strengthen parliamentary cooperation? 

Well, the first point to note is there are a lot of similarities between our two countries. We have both come out of a British colonial system, which has left us with good and bad.  We are two countries, with a Westminster system of government, that have enjoyed democracy for a very long time. And I think, as such, we both have a responsibility to demonstrate good practice as democratic governments; cooperating and learning from each other, about the way in which we conduct democracy.  New Zealand, for a long time, has not taken advantage of the opportunities we have to be closer to countries like Sri Lanka, who share similarities and backgrounds. We have common legal systems, political systems, and aspirations. In 2021, New Zealand opened its High Commission in Colombo, as a tangible way of saying ‘Look, we want a better relationship with Sri Lanka’. This visit builds on that sentiment.

Q:Recently a delegation of women parliamentarians from Sri Lanka visited New Zealand. What kind of insights can New Zealand offer to increase women’s representation in the country? 

During our visit here, we met several members of Sri Lanka’s Women’s Parliamentary Caucus who visited New Zealand and heard about what they picked up there.   They’ve been able to put in place several initiatives since coming back here - all about promoting the position of women in politics. We don’t particularly set out to say that countries should look at us for x or y.  I think with exchanges like these, it’s more that you’ve got two countries that have similar political systems, looking at each other’s work programs, the way we operate, and picking out of those things that we think are useful and good.  
At the time of their visit, prior to the 2023 election, we had a Parliament comprising 50 percent men and women. In the post-election period, that balance has changed a bit. But over time, it will come back. New Zealand for a long time has not seen any difference between the representations offered by women as opposed to men - we are used to and expect female role models in politics, this helped ensure women’s representation. At one point, we had a female Prime Minister, a female Chief Justice, and a female Governor-General. It has not been that we had to have women in those positions; they were viewed as the best and most qualified to do the job.  

Q:The increased presence of women in Parliament, some argue, is good to reduce corruption. What is New Zealand’s experience?

Well, I think the experiences of men and women are often quite different, each will bring a different perspective to things. You certainly see it in select committees considering a piece of legislation. A number of men on that committee might have been hitting in a particular direction, and when women come in as part of the discussion, they bring up other things that hadn’t been thought of.  I don’t think it is black and white, that this happens, or that happens, when you have women in Parliament. I think it’s best described as you get a more rounded perspective of what the voters out there, and what the public who expect politicians to deliver opportunities for better lives, would want. Having both men and women helps ensure that all those aspects are covered.

Q:What has New Zealand’s experience of using and strengthening the parliamentary committee system been? 
We have a Finance and Expenditure Select Committee, and that’s generally comprised of MPs who have some knowledge of how the financial system works. And when the government brings in a budget, there is especially a process of estimates, where a select committee considers the budget and looks at whether the estimates are appropriate for the coming year. It can make recommendations about the reasonableness of any particular budgetary proposal. There will always be a government majority. So, while those opposition voices will be heard, they may not be able to change everything. But nonetheless, the government is aware that they will be questioned on all those things. At the end of the financial year, we go into what’s called financial reviews, which is where you look back and say, well, line by line, this department said they will do this, have they done it, etc. 
To try and improve that, we recently introduced a thing called scrutiny weeks. Rather than Parliament sitting during that week, all the select committees have Ministers turn up to them throughout the week, accounting for the budget estimates and each of the portfolios they represent. We used to have a sort of time-constrained process. We’ve now allowed much more time so that ministers have to be more accountable to the budgetary spending committee. We’ve only done it once. It’s quite new. It was a  successful week. Everybody came out of it - both the Opposition and the government - saying that was valuable.  

Q: In parliamentary democracy, when the government becomes weak and the Opposition strong, governing becomes very challenging.  How can the Opposition and the government cooperate in a   healthy democracy according to insights from New Zealand?

We have a number of areas where we have proven programs that remain pretty much the same, from one party to the other. For example, in foreign affairs, we seldom have any differences at all. The whole parliament tends to take a New Zealand Incorporated view. When it comes to trade, for example, there’s a lot of similarity in our approach. We’ve just had a change of government from what would be considered a left-leaning government to a right-leaning government. But the trade policy will remain pretty much the same from one to the other. The other thing is, I think having opportunities for MPs to understand each other. On a personal level, this is quite valuable. So for example, this delegation that is visiting Sri Lanka - of six parties in the New Zealand Parliament, four of them are represented in this delegation. We do that as much as we can, so that MPs get an appreciation for where the other body in Parliament is coming from. 
In the end, we have a Westminster system. We have a coalition at the moment in New Zealand - the National Party, the New Zealand First Party and the ACT Party. They do have a right to govern.  I think that’s the other thing.  I’ve been in the Opposition and the government on two occasions. This is my third where I’m the Speaker and quite neutral. I think, from an opposition point of view, you could oppose legislation, but you also have to accept that a government is elected to govern. As long as it’s reasonable activity, you shouldn’t be stopping it. 

 
Q:As for the role of individual MPs. If I go by the Sri Lankan experience, especially for an Opposition MP, it is always challenging to get initiatives across – or get their own piece of legislation enacted?

That is the unfortunate part of democracy. But if you hold an opposition view, your role is to point out the aspects of government policy that, people may not be so favourable to. That is not easy, because you don’t have the same amount of resources or support. But it’s an obligation that you have.  
qNew Zealand opened its diplomatic mission here in 2021. This is the highest level visit received from New Zealand to Sri Lanka recently. What are the opportunities you have seen and interactions you have had with Sri Lankan authorities?
New Zealand focuses a lot on trade. We’re only five million people. So trade affords us a lifestyle far beyond what a local domestic economy would produce. We’re very strong internationally on pushing for less trade barriers to be in place. Between March 2023-2024, New Zealand imported about NZ$87 million worth of goods and services from Sri Lanka, which is very small. Most of it was tea and other products like cinnamon. We think, if we’re serious about the value of trade and advancing relations, that it is important to improve and diversify our trade balance, and this is something we have looked at while we’re here. We’ve seen some of your agricultural production, like pineapples, mangoes, etc. There will be a market for these in New Zealand. We’ve got to tidy up our own regulatory barriers to that – which is something that we’ll take back with us.
But I think another big realisation is that here in Sri Lanka, not only are you, like us, pretty mad on cricket, you’ve also got quite an interest in rugby. I think, expanding those connections would be valuable.  We also had the opportunity to visit the elephant orphanage in Pinnawala. It just was a  special occasion to be able to go there, see these magnificent animals and to feed them. Things like that are quite extraordinary. So, the potential here for tourism, from New Zealand is high.  We need to work out how we can promote that more. We don’t have a direct flight at the moment. But it’s not too hard to reach Sri Lanka. It is a flight to Singapore, then a shorter flight to Colombo. So that’s something that we’ve certainly picked up and want to take away. It’s a very easy country to be in; friendly, very clean and wherever you look there is beautiful scenery.   
Q:What about people-to-people exchanges?

We will encourage that more. Particularly, we have a lot of foreign students coming to New Zealand for education, including from Sri Lanka. We’ve encouraged that as much as we can. We have some government programmes that could help young people. And we’ll look at what we can do further, in that regard with Sri Lanka. 
But I think you have people to people links based around things that you have in common. So importantly, we have a language that’s in common - English. That’s useful from our perspective to strengthen tourism and visitors to Sri Lanka, and to have stronger connection through sports, like rugby and cricket, and arts, like drama and literature. The High Commissioner here is keen to expand people to people connections in this regard.
And of course, the Sri Lankan diaspora plays a significant role in New Zealand. We have a lot of Sri Lankan trained doctors, nurses, and other professionals working in New Zealand. And that’s, been of enormous value to us – and will continue to boost our people to people connections.