Queensland’s Parliamentary Committees have continued to progress the Parliament’s work through inquiries into Bills, public accounts, public works and a range of policy issues. The inquiries have involved committees holding proceedings around the state, hearing from 329 individual and organisational stakeholders as part of the process. Stakeholder input is an important part of the inquiry process, with committees using it to inform the advice they give to the Parliament, which then uses that advice in making decisions that affect Queensland.

Recent notable committee activities. Some notable committee inquiry news is detailed below:

Termination of Pregnancy Bill inquiry

The Health, Communities, Disability Services and Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Committee completed its inquiry into the Government’s proposed laws in respect of terminations of pregnancies.
The inquiry received 5,130 submissions and heard from 44 witnesses in person, in Townsville, Cairns and Brisbane.
The committee’s report on the Bill was tabled on 5 October 2018 – you can read it here.

Waste Reduction and Recycling (Waste Levy) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill inquiry

The Infrastructure, Tourism Development and Environment Committee held a public hearing in Ipswich on 4 October, hearing from stakeholders about the government’s proposals in respect of a proposed waste levy. Local Government Authorities have comprised a significant number of the submitters. The committee tabled its report on 22 October and is available here.

Inquiry into job creation opportunities in Queensland arising from the establishment of an Australian space industry

The Parliament has asked the State Development, Natural Resources and Agricultural Industry Development Committee to consider economic opportunities including job creation in Queensland, associated with the development of an Australian space industry. This follows the Australian Government’s establishment of an Australian Space Agency on 1 July 2018. The committee received submissions up until 11 October, and was briefed by the Department of State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning on Monday 15 October in Brisbane. That briefing can be viewed on the Parliament.TV website here.

The committee also held a public hearing at the University of Queensland on Friday 19 October.

Current Inquiries

A complete list of all inquiries underway by Queensland’s seven portfolio committees is below. Each portfolio is linked to their respective online pages which provides further details, including how you can be involved in the respective inquiry processes. Queenslanders are encouraged to make submissions to any inquiry in which you have an interest, before the closing date for submissions to any inquiry.

Economics and Governance Committee

• Electoral Legislation (Political Donations) Amendment Bill 2018
• Auditor-General reports referred to the committee for consideration
Education, Employment and Small Business Committee
• Inquiry into wage theft in Queensland
• Auditor-General reports referred to the committee for consideration
Health, Communities, Disability Services and Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Committee
• Oversight of the Health Ombudsman and the health service complaints management system
• Auditor-General Reports referred to the committee for consideration
Innovation, Tourism Development and Environment Committee
• Auditor-General Report referred to the Committee for Consideration
Legal Affairs and Community Safety Committee
• Auditor-General reports referred to the committee – 2017/2018
• Auditor-General reports referred to the committee – 2018/2019
• Anti-Discrimination (Right to Use Gender-Specific Language) Amendment Bill 2018
• Protecting Queenslanders from Violent and Child Sex Offenders Amendment Bill 2018
• Inquiry into the Strategic Review of the Office of the Queensland Ombudsman
• Statutory Bodies Oversight 2018
State Development, Natural Resources and Agricultural Industry Development Committee
• Economic Development and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2018
• Inquiry into job creation opportunities in Queensland arising from the establishment of an Australian space industry
• Fisheries (Sustainable Fisheries Strategy) Amendment Bill 2018
• Auditor-General Reports referred to the Committee for Consideration
Transport and Public Works Committee
• Transport Technology
• Queensland Tennis Centre
• Auditor-General Reports referred to the Committee for Consideration

Information about Queensland parliamentary committees is published on the Parliament’s website, here- http://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/work-of-committees