About
News
Locating Democracy: Representation, Elections and Governance, is now available from CDU press. This book contains a selection of papers presented at this symposium.
Making democracy more representative in East Timor was the major focus of the Locating Democracy: Representation, Elections and Governance in Timor-Leste symposium, held in Dili on April 26 and 27.
The symposium was co-hosted by Charles Darwin University and the National University of Timor-Leste, and allowed a range of agencies to review the process of local government reform being undertaken in East Timor.
Symposium co-convenor, CDU Associate Professor Dennis Shoesmith said local government in East Timor was entering a new phase of development.
“Part of the reform program is the establishment of municipal assemblies, with the aim of making democracy more representative," Dr Shoesmith said.
"The Northern Territory and Australia in general have a strong interest in a stable and prosperous East Timor.
“The successful application of the local government reform program will provide greater stability in the country and facilitate economic development and opportunities for further development of the fruitful partnership with the Northern Territory," he said.
Dr Shoesmith said the symposium was a timely opportunity to review the local government program as associated laws are about to be introduced to parliament.
“The symposium has, for the first time, brought all the stakeholders together to exchange ideas and views about government reform," Dr Shoesmith said.
"It was an opportunity for the East Timorese Government and Parliament to review the local government program," he said.