Integrity and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2022

As Minister for Education and Industrial Relations, moved that the bills be read a second time. Defended both bills as implementing Bridgman and Coaldrake review recommendations, modernising public sector employment laws and strengthening integrity frameworks.

“The bill will further the government's commitment to being fair, responsive, inclusive and a leader in public administration.”— 2022-11-29View Hansard

Leader of the Opposition criticised the bills as inadequate, arguing they fail to fully implement Coaldrake recommendations. Supported some reforms but argued the government has not changed its culture of entrenched fear in the Public Service. Announced LNP would not vote against the bills but called for a royal commission into government integrity.

“The LNP will not be voting against this bill, but this is not a vote of confidence in the way that this government treats public servants.”— 2022-11-29View Hansard

As committee chair, defended the bills and criticised the LNP for sacking 14,000 public servants when in government. Argued the Public Service should reflect Queensland's diversity and that the LNP should apologise for false claims about the Integrity Commissioner's office.

“The CCC's adverse finding against this misinformation hangs over the head of the member for Maroochydore.”— 2022-11-29View Hansard

Criticised the government for not implementing all Coaldrake recommendations and for bullying the former integrity commissioner. Announced an LNP amendment regarding Auditor-General fees. Argued the government has failed to show integrity leadership.

“When I hear the Palaszczuk Labor government say they value integrity I am reminded of Ralph Waldo Emerson, who said, 'The louder he talked of his honour, the faster we counted our spoons.'”— 2022-11-29View Hansard

As committee member, supported both bills. Defended public servants from LNP criticism and argued the reforms improve independence of integrity bodies and create a more inclusive public sector. Noted the bill's equity and diversity provisions while acknowledging LGBTIQ+ community concerns.

“I will not sit here and listen to those opposite pretend to be the protectors and saviours of the Public Service because we know and, more importantly, the public servants out there know, that they cannot be trusted.”— 2022-11-29View Hansard

As deputy committee chair, criticised the bills as merely tinkering around the edges of the Coaldrake report. Concerned about Treasurer's continued influence over Auditor-General fees through parliamentary committee. Argued for genuine independent Public Service advice.

“Basically it is a media 'tart-up' to try to show that they are doing something about these sorts of issues.”— 2022-11-29View Hansard

As former public servant and committee member, strongly supported the bills. Shared personal story of public servants sacked by the Newman government. Praised the reforms for providing employment security and promoting equity and diversity.

“Public sector workers deserve to be secure in the knowledge that the Palaszczuk government is driving forward reform and incrementally enhancing the effectiveness of the Public Service without taking the hammer-blow approach of those opposite.”— 2022-11-29View Hansard

Focused on the Integrity Bill, criticising the government for not fully implementing Coaldrake recommendations. Concerned about Treasurer's continued influence over Audit Office fees. Listed multiple government integrity failures.

“This legislation is intended to make it look like it is acting on an integrity crisis that has gripped this government. It is a half-hearted effort.”— 2022-11-29View Hansard

Attorney-General defended the bills as part of the government's integrity reform agenda. Announced amendments to address ECQ and QHRC independence concerns. Noted the bills implement Coaldrake recommendations.

“The two bills before the House today are a further reminder of this government's commitment to reform and delivering the strongest possible integrity framework for this state.”— 2022-11-29View Hansard

Criticised the government for being dragged kicking and screaming to act on integrity. Argued the legislative reform is welcome but too little too late. Expressed concern that cultural integrity issues remain unaddressed.

“While the LNP will not be opposing these bills, it is too little too late.”— 2022-11-29View Hansard

Praised the integrity reforms and criticised the LNP's record on integrity. Defended public servants and emphasised the government's commitment to implementing all Coaldrake recommendations.

“The Queensland Labor Party has a proven track record of delivering services and programs for all Queenslanders, especially those who experience times of vulnerability in our community.”— 2022-11-29View Hansard

Criticised the government's culture of fear and control in the Public Service. Argued the bills implement only some Coaldrake recommendations and called for a royal commission into integrity issues. Concerned about Auditor-General independence.

“Coaldrake describes an atmosphere of fear—fear of unwanted career impacts and the loss of employment status for unwelcome advice.”— 2022-11-29View Hansard

Supported the bills and attacked the LNP's 'laptop conspiracy' claims, quoting the CCC report that found no evidence of improper conduct. Defended the government's integrity reforms.

“The CCC found that the circumstances in which the laptops were retrieved were entirely ordinary and the descriptions of 'raid' and 'seizure' did not reflect the reality of what occurred.”— 2022-11-29View Hansard

Criticised the government for taking 3.5 years to deliver Bridgman review stage 2 and for not fully implementing Coaldrake recommendations. Supported LNP amendment on Auditor-General fees. Listed multiple integrity failures in the education portfolio.

“Just as with the Public Sector Bill, again Labor has failed to fully implement genuine and meaningful reform.”— 2022-11-29View Hansard

Minister for Employment supported both bills, praising public servants and the government's commitment to fair, inclusive employment. Attacked the LNP's integrity record including donation laws, gag orders and treatment of integrity officers.

“What is the opposite of integrity? Does anyone know what the opposite of integrity is? It must be LNP.”— 2022-11-29View Hansard

As former public servant and minister, criticised the government for creating a culture of fear in the Public Service. Argued the bills only partially implement Bridgman and Coaldrake recommendations. Called for genuine leadership to restore public servant confidence.

“Those opposite have spent eight years creating a culture set by the tone at the top that has created fear and mistrust within the Public Service.”— 2022-11-29View Hansard

Supported both bills, praising public servants and criticising the LNP for sacking 14,000 workers. Defended the integrity reforms and attacked the LNP's 'fake laptop scandal' claims.

“The LNP's so-called integrity inferno turned out to be more of an integrity no-go, with the Crime and Corruption Commission finding that, without any doubt, there was no raid and no laptop seized.”— 2022-11-29View Hansard

Greens member supported some reforms but criticised the bills for not going far enough on lobbying regulation. Argued the cognate debate limits scrutiny. Called for broader lobbying definitions, bans on cash-for-access meetings and longer cooling-off periods for ministers becoming lobbyists.

“An integrity bill that was concerned with anything other than dampening the critiques of this government would do so much more than this bill proposes.”— 2022-11-29View Hansard

Supported both bills as delivering transparency and accountability. Criticised the LNP's laptop conspiracy claims and defended the integrity reforms as strengthening independence of key integrity bodies.

“I am proud to be part of a government that always acts in the interests of Queenslanders and puts their needs first, that is committed to transparency and accountability.”— 2022-11-29View Hansard

Greens member supported the bills but moved amendments to strengthen job security provisions for casual and temporary workers and to include LGBTIQ+ as a diversity target group. Criticised the government for not adequately addressing casualisation of teachers and nurses.

“Right now thousands of teachers and healthcare workers do not even know where or if they will have a job after Christmas. The Labor government is stringing along workers in schools and hospitals with casual work and temporary contracts.”— 2022-11-29View Hansard

Supported the Public Sector Bill reforms based on the Bridgman review. Criticised the Newman government for sacking 14,000 public servants and praised the government's commitment to employment security.

“Public sector workers deserve to feel safe and secure in their jobs. They deserve to have peace of mind.”— 2022-11-29View Hansard

Criticised the government for not fully implementing Coaldrake recommendations on Auditor-General fees. Raised concerns about lobbying regulation and transparency. Listed multiple integrity failings including the Linc Energy cover-up and Wellcamp costs.

“Openness, transparency and integrity are attributes that this Palaszczuk government simply does not understand.”— 2022-11-29View Hansard

Supported both bills. Shared personal experience of being sacked as a public servant under the Newman government. Praised the employment security provisions and diversity and inclusion measures in the Public Sector Bill.

“I was formally advised that my role had been cut and I was being dismissed. What I was also advised privately by senior public servants was that I was on a specific list of public servants who were targeted for dismissal for their known political affiliations.”— 2022-11-29View Hansard

Criticised the cognate debate as avoiding scrutiny. Argued the government has not implemented Bridgman or Coaldrake recommendations in full. Raised concerns about RTI delays and interference, citing a 19-month wait for health-related documents.

“This Labor state government closed the book on integrity a long time ago, so much so that it has not implemented in full the recommendations made by the Bridgman or the Coaldrake reviews.”— 2022-11-29View Hansard