Parliamentary overhaul - key points

A summary of the major recommendationsput forward today by the team reviewing Queensland Parliament’s committee system:

Committee overhaul

• Nine portfolio-based committees should be set up,such as a health committee and an education committee,to investigate “all aspects of government activities” such as the health payroll bungle
• The existing Parliamentary Crime and Misconduct Committee should remain in place but would be chaired by a non-government MP for the first time and possibly include lay members of the public
• Legislation underpinning the PCMC should be reviewed following concerns about a lack of transparency at present
• A new Committee of the Legislative Assembly would be made responsible for overseeing standing orders,parliamentary privilege issues and ethical conduct of MPs
• Instead of the current seven,all committees should consist of six MPs – three nominated by the government and three nominated by the opposition,with the chair having a casting vote

New oversight

• Expect in extraordinary cases,new bills should be referred to a committee for review with committee input before it is passed
• Senior public servants should be able to be directly questioned during budget estimates committee hearings,rather than just ministers
• Bipartisan support of a parliamentary committee should be required to appoint or reappoint key officers including the Auditor-General,Crime and Misconduct Commission chairperson and commissioners,Information Commissioner,Privacy Commissioner,Integrity Commissioner and Ombudsman

They’re important

• The “status” of chairs of parliamentary committees,along with the leader of opposition business,should be increased to reflect the responsibilities of their positions
• At least three dedicated committee rooms should be provided for exclusive use of committees

Talking the talk

• The opening of State Parliament should be pushed back from 9.30am to a new time of 2.30pm on Wednesdays,to allow morning committee meetings
• An hour a week in the Legislative Assembly should be spent debating committee reports
• Less time should be spent on ministerial statements in the Legislative Assembly and it would be better to have more speeches by local MPs
• Stricter time limits should be imposed on some parliamentary debates on bills that have been considered and reported on by a committee

The full report,containing all 55 recommendations,can be viewedon the Queensland Parliament website.