The Australian Parliament’s engagement with the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) began in 1906 when the Parliament was invited to join the union. That relationship was formalised in 1956 when Australia became a Member Parliament of the IPU. Over its 70 years of IPU membership, the objective of the Australian Parliament’s engagement has remained to forge inter-parliamentary relations, showcase Australia at the international forum, present its positions on matters of significance to the Australian Parliament and to promote the Asia-Pacific region to which Australia belongs.
As this timeline reveals, Australia has a significant track record with the IPU. From 1960, when Australia co-sponsored its first successful resolution on strengthening democracy in Asia, its delegations have produced scores of proposals for resolutions which were endorsed by the IPU Member Parliaments as IPU resolutions. In addition, Australian delegates secured representation on the IPU’s committees and bodies, including as founding members. Australia has also contributed to the IPU’s own reform agenda by successfully proposing amendments to strengthen the institution to provide for gender equality as well as geographical representation to ensure the equal participation of Pacific Island counterparts.