So why is the recent Budget Estimates process so important, and why should we all be interested?
It’s all about ramifications – to everyone – on how your funds are spent.
For those who are unfamiliar with what may seem a dry subject, a quick overview.
The operations of Parliament are a key part of how our Queensland democracy works, and its committees are an avenue to provide scrutiny and accountability of government, especially as Queensland does not have an Upper House, unlike other States. Committees handle inquiries, including on legislation before Parliament, and also Estimates Committee Hearings (Estimates) to scrutinise finer details within the State Budget.
The current committee system comes from reforms that were undertaken in 2011. Ten years later in 2021, I was on a livestream panel with the architects of those changes, Judy Spence and Lawrence Springborg, as well Speaker Curtis Pitt , and we gave insights from our perspectives on the committee system, with the video available at sandybolton.com/in-the-spotlight-parliamentary-committees/
As I have shared over the years since first becoming an MP, the committee system and the Estimates process need tweaking, to improve its effectiveness. Some of the issues with the current system that I have raised include the limited time for a diversity of questioning.
For example, in a 45-minute session, non-government members receive half of that time, after the Ministers’ opening remarks of six minutes are taken out, leaving 19 minutes. With the crossbench 17 per cent of the opposition, we receive 17 per cent of the time allocated, or just over three minutes. With the Minister allowed three minutes to answer each question, you can see how this may lead to only one question from the great diversity of the three parties and one independent that make up the crossbench. This is not a practical system at all and is why for a second year in a row I attempted to circumnavigate missing out by submitting Questions on Notice (QONs) to each Minister. Unsuccessfully, I might add.
However, there are opportunities for change.
The Coaldrake Report (released in June), recommended expanding the oversight role of the committees, specifically that, “Integrity bodies independence be enhanced by involvement of parliamentary committees in setting their budgets and contributing to key appointments”. How this is done is important, hence my questions at the Legal Affairs and Safety Committee hearing regarding the role of Committees as key stakeholders in implementing the Coaldrake recommendations.
Further, in response to a question on day one of Estimates, the Clerk of Parliament stated that parliamentary committees have not necessarily been discharging some of the things that were envisaged in the 2011 review, and that we have a long way to go regarding that accountability aspect and the work of committees. To think, I have only been saying this for some four-plus years?
As I continue to request, the Committee of the Legislative Assembly (CLA) must review the Committee system. This should consider submissions put forward by myself and other MPs over the years, including current Opposition MPs, to address the flaws in what is ultimately our defacto Upper House.
A review, plus the implementation of the Coaldrake recommendations, opens the door for greater transparency, accountability and efficiency, not only from governments and their processes, as well as us as MPs. Can I add in equity?
As I have said previously in Parliament, we have nothing to lose and everything to gain, including by making Committee minutes public domain as a standard.
As with Budget, there is always some good news to report back to you after Estimates time, as well some that do not pass the pub test in the many questions as to the whys.
Whether it is funds spend on Wellcamp still sitting empty when we have an accommodations crisis, or misleading Queenslanders via those reply paid envelopes for postal vote applications being returned to a party rather than direct to the Electoral Commission of Queensland, being lawful does not make it OK and I always look to how these can be resolved.
Our questions to all Ministers covered a broad range including a couple of my longstanding pushes such as for an audit of state land and Environmental Upgrade Agreements (EUA’s), which pleasingly now has added advocacy from our Council and hopefully the Local Government Association of Queensland. What is most frustrating is that these should not have taken the time they have to reach this stage (though the Minister’s response to my last QON some weeks ago gave a timeline of September for the EUA’s) and gives argument that there are some other processes that need tweaking, as efficient and timely responses save both time and taxpayer dollars.
The questions I asked at my own Legal Affairs and Safety Committee live hearing included seeking clarification around funding for our coastguards after the Bluewater Review, and the ability of our emergency services ICT upgrade to connect in real time to the new early alert flood monitors that will be on our bridges. As well again, emergency domestic violence accommodations, resourcing for our hotspots, and prison transitional accommodation as examples.
For the list of questions as well responses of my Legal Affairs and Safety Committee, head to bit.ly/3dj10yy which also includes a link to the broadcast from that hearing. Once we have responses to our rerouted Questions on Notice, they will be added to that link.
Until next month, something to contemplate. Any government at any level should have no reason to reject efforts for greater efficiency, as that adds to our sustainability. There should never be a reason to avoid transparency, as we are all grown ups and can handle the truth, even if we do not particularly like that truth.
