Questions over reform push as LNP opts for less independent body

The news

An LNP election promise to “re-establish” an independent body to advise on approaches to economic and social issues in Queensland will lack key independence held by its predecessor.

Proposed laws introduced to parliament on Thursday will require the new Productivity Commission to get ministerial approval for any work launched on its own initiative and intended for publication.

Treasurer David Janetzki told parliament on Thursday that the return of the commission promised by Premier David Crisafulli’s team would remain independent. But there are differences.Credit: Matt Dennien

The departure from the fuller independence of the former commission, which Labor established in 2015 and wound up in 2020, has been criticised by a former commissioner and the new opposition.

But a spokesperson for Treasurer David Janetzki insisted the statutory body would have “full independent scope”, albeit limited to proposing “research areas of interest to the government”.

Why it matters

The commission was set up as a statutory and independent economic advisory body “with the broad aims of lifting productivity, improving living standards and driving economic growth.”

Such efforts have been a major part of the LNP’s focus, particularly in the building and construction space with significant infrastructure pipelines and housing needs ahead.

The commission completed many inquiries as directed by the government, including landmark work on jails and recidivism, which recommended major drug law reforms rejected by both major parties.

But the commission also had powers to carry out and publish its own research, including work looking into service delivery to First Nations communities and the Container Refund Scheme.

However, the proposed laws now being considered to “re-establish” the commission would see this latter type of work requiring approval or amendment by the minster of the day.

What they said

Introducing the bill on Thursday, Janetzki criticised Labor for folding the commission into the Treasury department after a report found productivity had declined.

“The previous Treasurer abolished the commission when it provided this awkward truth that did not suit the then Labor government’s narrative,” the new Treasurer told parliament.

“Productivity slowed before going into neutral and then in many sectors into reverse. Just look at BPIC, Labor’s CFMEU tax.”

“The objective of our bill is to enable the commission to operate as an independent statutory body to tackle the challenges of a growing state and manage cost-of-living pressures.”

Asked about the difference between the independence of the new and old bodies, and whether this contradicted with the LNP’s promise, a spokesperson for Janetzki defended the chosen model.

“The Crisafulli government has delivered a Productivity Commission with full independent scope to give frank and fearless assessments of the Queensland economy and present its view of policy direction to the government,” the spokesperson said in a statement on Friday.

“The Productivity Commission will also have the ability to put forward research areas of interest to the government, which will be prioritised in line with resource considerations.”

Another perspective

Former commissioner Bronwyn Fredericks, now a deputy vice-chancellor at The University of Queensland, told Brisbane Times: “I’m happy to hear that they are reinstating the Productivity Commission.”

“But it would be good if they reinstated it with the full powers it had previously, and that they would publicly assure it has independence from government.”

Opposition Leader Steven Miles labelled the new commission a “hoax” that lacked the power and independence of its predecessor.

“David Crisafulli promised Queenslanders a Productivity Commission, but what he is giving them is an LNP think tank to fabricate his arguments to sack public servants, scrap infrastructure projects and reduce workers’ rights,” he said in a statement.

What you need to know

Laws setting out the proposed new commission will be considered by parliament’s Governance, Energy and Finance Committee, due to report back to MPs by January 31.

The commission’s first order of business, once established, has been promised by the LNP to be a wide-ranging review of the state’s building and construction sector.

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