CHAPTER 1
Introduction
Terms of reference
1.1
This report sets out the findings of the Select Committee on Certain
Aspects of Queensland Government Administration related to Commonwealth
Government Affairs (committee).
1.2
On 30 September 2014, the Senate established a committee to inquire
into:
(1) (a) the amount of Commonwealth funds allocated or paid to
the State of Queensland since 26 March 2012, with particular reference to:
(i) the purposes for which the
funds were appropriated by the Parliament,
(ii) performance measures in
relation to Commonwealth funds paid to the State of Queensland,
(iii) identified breaches of
funding agreements or conditions,
(iv) the proportion of the
Queensland State budget derived from Commonwealth funds, and
(v) whether any Commonwealth funds
have been used by the State of Queensland for state government advertising or
party political purposes,
(b) the administration of the Queensland courts and judicial
system insofar as it relates to cross vesting arrangements, with particular
reference to judicial independence and separation of powers;
(c) approval process for the development of projects for the
export of resources or services insofar as they are administered by the
Commonwealth or under a bilateral agreement with the Commonwealth;
(d) the extent to which Queensland State Government policies
and practices are consistent with Australia’s obligations under international
environmental law instruments;
(e) whether it is appropriate for the Federal Minister for
the Environment to delegate his approval powers to the Queensland State
Government under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation
Act 1999 by way of approval bilateral agreements or strategic assessments;
(f) the extent to which Queensland State Government policies
and practices are consistent with Australia’s obligations under international
human rights instruments, with particular reference to:
(i) the administration of
prisons, and
(ii) detention without trial; and
(g) any other matter the committee considers relevant.
(2) the adequacy of Commonwealth oversight of the approval of
coal seam gas projects in Queensland.[1]
Conduct of the inquiry
1.3
The committee was created by the Senate on 30 September 2014 to report
by 27 March 2015.
1.4
The inquiry was advertised nationally in The Australian on 5
November 2014. The committee received a total of 167 submissions. They are
listed in Appendix 1.
1.5
The committee held a total of six public hearings in the State of
Queensland. These were conducted in Brisbane, Surfers Paradise, Cairns and
Toowoomba. The public hearings and witnesses are listed in Appendix 2.
Acknowledgments
1.6
The committee appreciates the time and effort of individuals and
organisations who provided written and oral submissions to the inquiry. Their
work has assisted the committee considerably in its inquiry.
Structure of the report
1.7
The report is structured as follows. Concerns relating to public
administration are considered in Chapter 2. Chapter 3 considers a number of
environmental concerns.
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