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The LNP MPs paid extra to lead scrutiny of the government’s new laws
By Matt Dennien
After the LNP’s controversial youth justice changes were introduced to parliament, the long-promised, fast-tracked bill sailed through scrutiny under committee chair Marty Hunt.
While the MPs elevated to the top of Queensland parliamentary committees may get less attention than ministers or opposition frontbenchers, on paper they perform a key role.
As Queensland is the only Australian state without an upper house, these positions, often appointed by the government, hold the task of steering groups of MPs meant to act as one.
The Queensland LNP MPs also serving as chairs of nine of the 10 state parliamentary committees.Credit: Queensland Parliament
To reflect this, a committee chair role comes with a $64,364 boost to an MP’s $183,985 base salary – equal to that of shadow cabinet. Other committee members get an extra $25,000 a year.
Under laws setting out the arrangements for different parliamentary makeups, the number of non-government members on the committees changes depending on the government’s majority.
Majority being the operative word.
While thumping majorities can reduce non-government numbers on committees to just two, a 50-50 split is the outcome for governments with as many as 60 MPs or those working in minority.
Outside a minority government, where the parliament would nominate the chair, the practice is also for the government’s Leader of the House to do so – usually from the governing party.
This is key because the chair, in the event of a split decision by the committee on a matter, can use a casting vote to break the deadlock.
While three committees are more administrative or specialised – including the only one not chaired by a government MP, but with a majority of government members – most are not.
These portfolio committees are sent newly introduced bills into which they hold inquiries over weeks or months, featuring public submissions and hearings, before reporting back to parliament.
Often, as seen last week, the recommendations within these can be as simple as calling for the bill to be passed into law by a parliament in which the chair’s party almost always has the numbers.
While Premier David Crisafulli promised reform of the budget estimates process committees also oversee, and hinted at broader reform of the committee system, he is yet to detail either.
So, as the new LNP-led parliament ramps up for its second post-election sitting, who are the men (and they are all men) handed this responsibility and the paycheck that comes with it?
Heads up
- This week’s three-day parliamentary sitting will be the last for 2024. MPs won’t return to their green leather seats until February 18.
Catch up
- As promised pre-election: gone are the previous, more daylight-leaning parliamentary hours, which the regional-leaning LNP argued weren’t “family friendly” for those whose home is not driving distance from George Street. In its place is a new sitting-week schedule which kicks knock-off back to 9.30pm, splits the past hour-long lunch break into two 30-minute breaks for lunch and dinner, and shifts committee meetings from Monday to Wednesday, when parliament proper won’t start until 2pm.