|
A Statement from Stephen Andrew MP
I am calling for the reintroduction of an Upper House in Queensland this term.
Whether this is done by having an independent panel carry out an inquiry or by calling a State Referendum on the issue, I don’t really mind but we all need to lobby the Queensland Government together to make sure that something is done soon.
Without an upper house, the Queensland Government has way too much power.
The reintroduction of an Upper House will ensure better oversight and accountability of all government decision-making and give regional Queenslanders a bigger say on public policy.
According to a recent research paper published by the Institute of Public Affairs (IPA), the abolition of Queensland’s Upper House in 1921, has had “a lasting and negative effect” on the State’s democratic processes.
IPA are putting forward a new model for the reintroduction of an upper house in Queensland, that will work to redress the current power imbalance in favour of the State’s South East and return a measure of that power back to the regions.
IPA’s Report also shows how the lack of an upper house has led to the increasing centralisation of power in the Executive branch in Queensland, with Ministerial decisions routinely being given Parliament’s stamp of approval, with almost no proper scrutiny, debate or review.
Not only has it made our Parliament weaker than those in other States it has removed its capacity to provide the level of oversight and scrutiny needed in a robust democracy.
Some people have tried to claim that Queensland’s parliamentary committee system performs the same function as a ‘house of review’ but that is just wishful thinking.
The committee system has neither the power nor the political will to perform such a role.
There is only one way to properly improve the transparency, oversight and accountability of government in Queensland, and that is to bring back our upper house.
|
