Opposition slams joint debate as ‘abuse of power’
The state opposition has slammed the Palaszczuk government’s decision to combine parliamentary debate on two key integrity Bills in the house this week.
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The state opposition has slammed the Palaszczuk government’s decision to combine parliamentary debate on two key integrity Bills in the house this week as an “abuse of power”.
Both the public sector Bill and theintegrity Bill will be debated in parliament this week, but the government has taken the unusual step of combining the debates – known as a cognate debate – meaning the usual hours to debate the Bills on the house floor will be cut.
Both Bills – introduced by Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk in October – include key legislative changes, with the integrity Bill tackling the first tranche of legislation to address the recommendations made by Professor Peter Coaldrake in his integrity review, delivered in June.
The public sector Bill also incorporates amendments in light of the Coaldrake review, while delivering changes recommended by the 2019 Bridgman Review into the public sector.
Key changes include the strengthening of the independence of the Auditor-General and the Audit Office, and the establishment of an Office of the Integrity Commissioner.
The government also confirmed on Tuesday that it would amend the Bill so the Electoral Commission of Queensland would be excluded from public sector reviews, after the ECQ had warned of the potentially “chilling effect” of such reviews.
LNP integrity spokeswoman Fiona Simpson slammed the move to a cognate debate for the Bills, saying the LNP opposed the motion to do so “because of all the times there should be more opportunity to oppose legislation, this Labor government is choosing to gag motions and cut down time upon integrity Bills. They talk about integrity, but when they they’ve got an opportunity for scrutiny in this parliament, they don’t like it.”
But a government spokesman said “it is not unusual for parliaments around the world to debate Bills that are similar in subject matter by way of a cognate debate”.
“The LNP debated the Criminal Law (Criminal Organisations Disruption) Amendment Bill; Tattoo Parlours Bill and the Vicious Lawless Association Disestablishment Bill during a Cognate debate in 2013,” he said. “This was led by the person who is now the deputy leader of the opposition (Jarrod Bleijie).
“The former deputy premier also debated the Regional Planning Interests Bill and Protection of Prime Agricultural Land and Other Land from Coal Seam Gas Mining Bill as a cognate debate in 2013 and 2014.
“What is highly unusual is the LNP’s continual inability to tell the truth.”
Opposition Leader David Crisafulli slammed the legislation as a “half-baked effort” to implement the Coaldrake recommendations, accusing the government of walking away from its commitment to implement them “lock, stock and barrel”. “Professor Coaldrake recommends removing the power of the Treasurer to approve the fees of the Queensland Audit Office,” he said.
“Instead, this Bill gives the power to a parliamentary committee which the Treasurer can advise.
“This is the first tranche of Coaldrake review-related reform. The government hasn’t committed when the reforms will be implemented lock, stock and barrel.
“Will they take years to introduce further reforms, like the Bridgman Review? Are they just waiting until people have moved on and we’re all focused on another crisis?”
Ms Palaszczuk has previously said the second tranche of legislation will be introduced next year.
AT A GLANCE: WHAT THE BILL DOES
• strengthens the independence of the Auditor-General, making them an Officer of the Parliament
• establishes an Office of the Queensland Integrity Commissioner, controlled by the Integrity Commissioner
• makes unregulated lobbying an offence
Public Sector Bill
• introduces a new public sector employee framework
• recognises the role of the public sector in supporting the Government to reframe its relationship with Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islander peoples
• reforms recruitment and selection processes, including how equity and diversity considerations may factor into recruitment and selection decisions
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