Labor legends give Bligh a headache over Speaker rights

TWO Labor legends have delivered the Bligh government another headache by demanding the restoration of traditional rights to the Speaker John Mickel.

Bligh

TWO Labor legends have delivered the Bligh government another headache by demanding the restoration of traditional rights to the Speaker John Mickel.

Former Speakers Jim Fouras and Mike Reynolds said the downgrading of the Speaker's role in Queensland Parliament was a blow to Westminster traditions.

They threw their support behind Accountability Round Table, a parliamentary reform and accountability group that has opened a chapter in Queensland.

Mr Fouras said accountability in Queensland had taken a large step forward with recent improvements to the parliament's committee system.

"Unfortunately, it has also taken a giant leap back with the move to downgrade the role of Speaker.

"The Speaker has been excluded from a new management committee set up to administer the Parliament, yet the Premier and deputy Premier are included as members of the committee.

"This undermines the authority of the Speaker and weakens the position of Speaker. As a direct consequence it also weakens the independence of the Parliament in terms of its relationship with the executive.

"We should be doing everything we can to safeguard and strengthen the independence of the Parliament in the interests of accountable government. Instead we have done the opposite."

Mr Fouras said the foremost priority of the Accountability Round Table would be to repeal the recent changes to the Parliamentary Service Act 1998.

The emergence of the two influential Labor figures is further embarrassment to Labor backbenchers Judy Spence and Robert Schwarten who pushed for the changes.

Under the changes, the Speaker's previous administrative responsibilities have been transferred to the new Committee of the Legislative Assembly.

"Our objective is to restore and enhance the role of Speaker in the Queensland", Mr Fouras said.

"The existing Parliament has voted in favour of these changes. We fundamentally disagree with them.

"They are an affront to the notion of an independent Parliament, and open the way for greater dominance by the executive branch of government over the Parliament. "

Ms Spence dismissed the criticisms.

"Mickel has declared war but I don't care," she said.

"The reform is done and dusted."