30th Sep 2014, 4:23 PM – Senate Committees - Certain Aspects of the Queensland Government Select Committee - Suspend standing orders

The majority agreed that Palmer United Party Senator Glenn Lazarus should immediately be able to introduce his motion to establish a select committee on certain aspects of the Queensland government administration. In parliamentary jargon, they voted to suspend the standing orders that would have stopped Senator Lazarus from doing this.

What will the committee do?

The select committee will inquire into and report on:

• what the Queensland Government has done with funds given to them by the Federal Government since 26 March 2012 (which is when Premier Campbell Newman took up his office);
• judicial independence and separation of powers;
• the approval process for development projects related to exporting resources or services;
• whether the Queensland Government's policies are consistent with Australia's obligations under international law, including environmental law and human rights instruments; and
• how appropriate it is for the Federal Minister for the Environment to delegate his approval powers to the Queensland Government under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.

But! Because of Australia's federal system of government, the committee can only look into these things if they in some way relate to the Commonwealth.

Palmer United Party Senator Glenn Lazarus explained that he believed the committee was necessary because "serious issues have been raised across the community regarding Queensland government appointments, judicial appointments, project approvals, use of funds, policies and practices, environmental degradation and various other matters" (see his full explanation).

Background to the motion

This is the second time that Palmer United Party Senator Glenn Lazarus has introduced this motion. The first time failed because Liberal Senator Eric Abetz managed to amend the motion so the period of inquiry would begin from 21 March 2009 and therefore include former Labor Premier Anna Bligh's government.

Following that successful amendment, the motion lost the Labor Party's support and so was voted down without a division (see ABC News).