Fixed terms and the QLD upper cut

Queenslander!

I have to disagree with Andrew Bartlett's notion that fixed four year terms is not very Queenslanderish. A fair go Andrew? It seems to be more about the benefits of incumbency to me. With the year leading up to an election essentially lost, we basically are now seeing a two year term. The ability to call it when the incumbent wants is not exactly displaying the virtue of a fair go. The idea of an upper house is vital, as we currently have a situation in QLD where the Criminal Code has been amended to allow ministers to lie with absolute impunity to parliamentary committees. A Californian style recall system may also have merit and I personally know of a couple of top notch Queenslanders who have come from there.

I've noted before with my argument for four year fixed terms comes the need for an upper house. These two ideas must be considered together.

A New Alternative for Queensland

Queenslander!

Steve Lewis writes today on the question of a new non-Labor political force and I have long agreed with the notion, especially needed in the context of QLD politics.

With a new party you’d have the capacity for a strong regional emphasis, as well as a strong small-business emphasis, also a family-based emphasis, and that is going to be very attractive to those on both the conservative and the center of politics. Powerebrokers from the Liberals and Nationals are pushing forward, including Liberal Senator Nick Minchin who told the Young Liberal Movement National Convention in Perth recently that the parties had to merge to remain a 'competitive adversary' to the ALP's federal and state dominance. The arguments against have included the threat of a split of the conservative vote, though I have to disagree. A new party would attract many from the conservative side of QLD politics (the Nats are almost unanimous and there are many state and federal Liberals who are ready to go), those on the right of Labor, centrists and obviously if the party is perceived as having good policy, the swing votes necessary to win government in this state start to come your way. That is the key.

It is probably the most pressing in Queensland (and in NSW) where the status quo is almost untenable and a result is a failing state government who is rarely questioned. The Borg has continued his conversation with QLD and with his push for a single force to unite against the juggernaut that is QLD Labor and he should be commended for doing so. It will not be easy and some short-sighted operators from both the Liberals and the Nationals will resist, so be it. They will not be part of the next government. But it must be done, not for the good of politicians but for the good of Queensland and the health of democracy in general .

Play the game not the man

Frankly, this is turning me off the game. It'd be good if all this talking resulted in some good cricket. But the overall performances (from both sides) have been less than spectacular. Little less talk and a little more action.

Bipartisanship on fixed terms

Queenslander!

Was hoping this was going to get through. With more support, maybe it will. And it will be about time. Can we ask for an upper house too?

Bligh's léger de main

Queenslander!

After Anna Bligh was sworn in as Premier, one of her first decisions of office was to review freedom of information legislation, giving this task to Dr David Soloman. This culminated in the Enhancing Open and Accountable Government discussion paper that was recently released and is most certainly worth a look. I was amongst the chorus of applause for such a move. After all, it was an important issue in the last federal election for the media, blogosphere and concerned citizens alone.

FOI was introduced in the early 1990’s after the Bjelke-Petersen regime. Goss did some good in regards to FOI, however subsequent Premiers Borbidge and Beattie subverted FOI to the point of which a minister may simply certify material is (or at some point might be) for Cabinet's consideration, and that secrecy status is assured.

Recently, the State Government has introduced legislation into Parliament that ensures thousands of documents held by the parliamentary secretaries can now be covered by the 30-year Cabinet confidentiality rule. Crown Law advice previously questioned whether the current practice of hiding parliamentary secretary documents under these circumstances was legal.

Premier Anna Bligh has been hypocritical at best and dishonest at worst with this underhanded amendment, covertly placed in the Professional Engineers and Other Legislation Amendment Bill. It is a provision to extend ministerial exemptions to parliamentary secretaries and basically an opportunity for 11 more MPs to make sure any documents they choose are hidden from the public for the next 30 years.

FOI is simply a fundamental to the openness, transparency and accountability of Governments. Access to information must be regulated and sufficient reasons given. However, this development is an abuse of the notion. Amendments that allow ministers to apply a Cabinet exemption for no reason other than the sole purpose of avoiding documents being accessible through FOI are not the products of healthy democracy.

UPDATE:

Opposition Leader Lawrence Springborg basically asks the question as to why the need for such secrecy- what have they got to hide?

Clean Up Queensland

Queenslander!

Bottles are fast becoming a major litter problem, with a Clean Up Australia survey finding plastic beverage and other containers account for about half of the top 10 litter items.The recovery rates in South Australia for beverage containers are close to 90 percent. The rest of the country it is 38 per cent. South Australia has a container deposit scheme. Queensland doesn't. Founder of Clean Up Australia Day, Ian Kiernan wants to change this.

The QLD government rejects the idea.

We should be the smart state.

The Queen Vic sails in

Queenslander!

Majestic indeed. Lucky sods. And they get to head up to Port Douglas too. A beautiful spot, no matter what the weather is doing. After many bucks spent on a terminal of questionable location it will be interesting to see how it goes.

(BTW- In no way am I sponsored by downunderonline.com just the first livecam I found, of a fav spot of mine. )

UPDATE:

Oh dear. Seems there were many red faces and wet feet. The people up in Rocky would feel their pain.