Inquiries into possible changes to Queensland Parliamentary terms

• Inquiry Overview
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About the inquiry

The Finance and Administration Committee is inquiring jointly into the following matters involving possible changes to the duration of terms for the Queensland Parliament:

• a general inquiry into the introduction of four year terms for the Queensland Parliament
• the Constitution (Fixed Term Parliament) Amendment Bill 2015
• the Constitution (Fixed Term Parliament) Referendum Bill 2015

The Committee is required to report on each of these matters by 9 November 2015.

Inquiry into the introduction of four year terms in Queensland Parliament

On 15 September 2015 the Parliament resolved that the committee inquire into the introduction of four year terms for the Queensland Parliament.  In undertaking the inquiry, the committee is to consider, but not be limited to:

• a comparison of three and four year parliamentary terms, including advantages and disadvantages
• a comparison of parliamentary terms in other Australian jurisdictions
• mechanisms for determining the referendum question that will be put to the Queensland public
• the possible starting date of any new arrangements, if adopted.

Private Members Bills

On 17 September 2015 Ian Walker MP, Shadow Attorney-General and Shadow Minister for Justice, Industrial Relations and Arts, introduced the Constitution (Fixed Term Parliament) Amendment Bill 2015 and the Constitution (Fixed Term Parliament) Referendum Bill 2015.  These bills have been referred to the committee for detailed consideration.  The Parliament resolved that the Committee consider these bills as part of its general inquiry into four year terms and report by 9 November 2015.

The policy objectives of the Bills, as outlined in the explanatory notes, are to:

• provide that a general election must be held on the second Saturday in March in the fourth calendar year after the calendar year in which the last election was held.
• provide that the Legislative Assembly expires on the day that is four years from the day the writ for the general election was returned for the Assembly (thus ensuring a fixed, four year term).
• provide for exceptional circumstances in which the Governor must dissolve the Legislative Assembly and issue a writ for a general election.
• provide that the Governor may, despite the advice of the Premier of the day or the Executive Council, dissolve the Legislative Assembly and issue a writ for a general election, in accordance with established constitutional conventions.
• provide that the amendment Bill is not presented to the Governor for assent, unless it has been passed by the Legislative Assembly and has been approved by a majority of electors at a referendum (held on a Saturday at least 2 months after the Bill has been passed by the Legislative Assembly).
• provide for the facilitation of a referendum (if the Constitution (Fixed Term Parliament) Amendment Bill 2015 is passed), including when the referendum is to be held and who is eligible to vote.

Public forums

The Committee will be holding public forums in Brisbane and regional areas between 30 September and 16 October 2015 as detailed here.

Issues paper

The committee will shortly release an issues paper to facilitate the committee’s call for public submissions and discussion at upcoming public forums. When available, it will be accessible from this page.

Call for submissions

The Committee invites submissions addressing any aspect of the terms of references for the inquiry and the two Bills from all interested parties.   Guidelines for making a submission to a parliamentary committee are available here:  Guide to making a submission. 

Submissions closing at 4.00pm, Tuesday 20 October 2015.

Please note that late submissions may not be accepted unless agreed to prior to the closing date.

Submissions should be sent to:   

Email:   fac@parliament.qld.gov.au 

Post:     Research Director
             Finance and Administration Committee
             Parliament House
             George Street
             Brisbane Qld 4000

Fax:       3553 6699 

Inquiry timeline

Submissions close on:             4:00pm Tuesday 20 October 2015
Public forums:                         Schedule can be viewed here
Public hearing date:                Wednesday 28 October 2015 (to be confirmed)

Reporting due date:                Monday 9 November 2015