Produce-aisle probe highlights the rot in parts of our governing system

Seeing the LNP talk about expansion plans for a looming state parliamentary inquiry into supermarket produce prices last week, you’d be forgiven to almost think they had a chance to shift the dial.

“LNP to expand cost of living inquiry” the headline on a media release last week trumpeted, declaring the party would negotiate with crossbench MPs to widen focus to state responsibilities.

During the last sitting week, Labor renamed several standing parliamentary committees – all essentially controlled by the government – with one now featuring one of its own political slogans.Credit: Michelle Smith

But this is Queensland, where – provided you have a majority – you can essentially do what you like in parliament. Labor does, and has given no indication it wants to go down that path.

With an upper house of parliament dissolved in 1922 (a feat celebrated by Labor, which championed the “suicide squad” who did so, at its centenary) we’re left with a “winner takes all” set-up.

The system of committees of MPs meant to provide the scrutiny of government and new laws an upper house gives in every other Australian state was floated seriously after the Fitzgerald Inquiry of the late 1980s, but is not considered to have seriously taken shape until overhauls in 2011.

Beyond professor Peter Coaldrake in his recent review of government accountability and culture, who described a “trivialising” of the committee system, other key figures including long-serving Clerk of the Parliament Neil Laurie, Labor’s Speaker Curtis Pitt and Opposition Leader David Crisafulli have also nodded toward change.

Below the surface, there are hints it is coming. Brisbane Times understands consideration has been given to a review of the committee system, with work ongoing. And it can’t come soon enough.

In an example from the last sitting week, Labor renamed several of the standing committees – all essentially controlled by the government – with one now featuring one of its own political slogans.

The economics and governance committee, with oversight of the Premier and Cabinet, Treasury, and Trade and Investment departments, became the cost of living and economics committee.

Changes to the coverage of another has created the housing, big build, and manufacturing committee, taking on the alliterative slogan Labor applies to its infrastructure program. This cheapens the institution of parliament.

Other changes to how parliament hears what the government, through new leader of the house Mick de Brenni, sets out as its agenda for any sitting week will now see this laid out without debate.

This move prompted the only independent MP, Noosa’s Sandy Bolton, to make her first contribution to that now abolished timeslot, describing the start to the year as “the most disappointing”.

“We need collaborative systems. We need to mature as a chamber,” she said. “The system is not working. We have constantly now for years asked for a review, and it has never been more essential. We can and must do a better job.”

Bolton knows a thing or two about how things operate. She’s currently chairing a rare year-long “bipartisan” committee, set up by the government, to inquire into youth justice reform with an equal split of Labor and LNP members and rules requiring cross-party support for any vote to pass.

Since being established in late October, it has held a series of 15 public hearings and briefings featuring experts, stakeholder and community groups, and government officials, held four site visits, fielded almost 150 submissions, and published documents including its own internal deliberations.

It’s not perfect either, but there are lessons here and further afield for how our parliament could run better.

The last committee system review in 2016 heard so, too, but held back from recommending much change because it deemed the best approach was to allow those made in 2011 to “slowly evolve and develop”.

Some elements have ripened relatively well, compared to what we’ve had. Others have developed like fresh produce left in the car.

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