Integrity and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2022

Spoke in support of both bills from the government side.

As Minister for Industrial Relations, moved the second reading of both bills, outlining the Public Sector Bill's implementation of the Bridgman review reforms to modernise public sector employment, and the Integrity Bill's implementation of the Coaldrake and Yearbury review recommendations to strengthen accountability.

“These two bills were introduced by the Premier on 14 October this year and represent significant milestones in delivering the Palaszczuk government's commitments.”— 2022-11-29View Hansard

Criticised the government's integrity record and culture extensively, arguing the bills were insufficient to address systemic issues, while not formally opposing the legislation.

“When you talk about culture, integrity, accountability and transparency in Queensland, this Palaszczuk government has none of it. They were dragged, kicking and screaming, to these bills today.”— 2022-11-30View Hansard

As committee chair, spoke in support of both bills and challenged the LNP's criticism, referencing their record of sacking public servants when in government.

“What we have just heard was remarkable.”— 2022-11-29View Hansard

Spoke in support of both bills from the government side.

Described the bills as a 'patchwork quilt' and 'a dog's breakfast', stating the LNP supports some measures but criticised the government's lack of genuine commitment to integrity and accountability.

“We support some measures and think they are moving in the right direction.”— 2022-11-29View Hansard

Spoke with criticisms of the government's integrity record while not formally opposing the bills.

Spoke to the contents of the bills, challenging the opposition's claim to be protectors of public servants given their record of sacking 14,000 public servants.

“Opposition members over there have been lauding public servants and portraying themselves as the protectors and saviours of public servants. Did I miss something?”— 2022-11-29View Hansard

Spoke in support of both bills from the government side.

Criticised the government for not acting on integrity issues until Professor Coaldrake's review exposed bad culture in the public service, while acknowledging the need for the reforms.

“I would like to apologise to the people of Mermaid Beach for the limited time I have to talk to these two very important bills—just five minutes for each bill.”— 2022-11-29View Hansard

Spoke on the bills with criticisms of the government's integrity record.

Contributed to the debate drawing on his experience as a former public servant, supporting both bills.

“I rise to contribute to the Public Sector Bill 2022 and the Integrity and Other Legislation Amendment Bill in this cognate debate.”— 2022-11-29View Hansard

Spoke in support of both bills from the government side.

Focused on the Integrity Bill as the government's response to the Coaldrake and Yearbury reviews, questioning whether the reforms go far enough.

“I rise to make a short contribution in order to give other colleagues an opportunity to speak in this cognate debate. I will focus on the Integrity and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2022.”— 2022-11-29View Hansard

Spoke in support of both bills from the government side.

Noted that the Coaldrake report was a landmark review and that largely uncontroversial provisions are supported by the respective integrity bodies, while questioning the government's genuine commitment to reform.

“On 28 June 2022 Professor Coaldrake delivered the landmark report, Let the sunshine in: review of culture and accountability in the Queensland public sector.”— 2022-11-29View Hansard

Spoke on the bills with criticisms of the government's integrity record.

Spoke on the importance of integrity in the public sector, drawing on the lesson that integrity means doing what is right even when nobody is watching.

“I once asked one of my students the meaning of integrity after he had made an unwise decision. He said, 'Miss, integrity is doing what is right even when nobody is watching.'”— 2022-11-29View Hansard

Spoke in support of both bills from the government side.

Argued the state government is more interested in how things appear than how they actually are, criticising the culture at the behest of the union movement as exposed by the Coaldrake review.

“Culture can be described as how we do things around here. This state government in its third term is more interested in how things appear than how they actually are.”— 2022-11-29View Hansard

Spoke on the bills with criticisms of the government's integrity record.

Spoke in support of the cognate debate, noting the bills are the first tranche of legislation in response to the Coaldrake and Yearbury reviews.

“As we know, this bill is the first tranche of legislation in response to Professor Peter Coaldrake's report titled Let the sunshine in and Kevin Yearbury's 2021 report.”— 2022-11-29View Hansard

Spoke in support of both bills from the government side.

Criticised the government for implementing only one aspect of the Coaldrake review while primarily advancing the Bridgman review from 2019, questioning the pace of reform.

“I understand this is about implementing only one aspect of the Coaldrake review. This is actually about implementing the Bridgman review, which was undertaken back in May 2019.”— 2022-11-29View Hansard

Spoke on the bills with criticisms of the government's integrity record.

Rose in support of both bills in the cognate debate, speaking to the Public Sector Bill reforms.

“I rise to speak in support of both of the bills that are the subject of this cognate debate.”— 2022-11-29View Hansard

Spoke in support of both bills from the government side.

Spoke in support of both bills, describing them as among the most important bills of the term.

“I rise to speak in support of the Integrity and Other Legislation Amendment Bill and the Public Sector Bill. It is certainly one of the most important debates.”— 2022-11-29View Hansard

Spoke on the bills with criticisms of the government's integrity record.

Spoke on both bills, acknowledging the Premier and Minister Grace and the work of the Economics and Governance Committee.

“I rise to speak on the Public Sector Bill 2022 and the Integrity and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2022.”— 2022-11-29View Hansard

Spoke in support of both bills from the government side.

Discussed both bills, noting the Public Sector Bill implements stage 2 public sector reforms while questioning the government's genuine commitment to the Coaldrake recommendations.

“I rise to make my contribution to the cognate debate of the Integrity and Other Legislation Amendment Bill and the Public Sector Bill 2022.”— 2022-11-29View Hansard

Expressed deep scepticism about the bills' effectiveness, arguing the Coaldrake report 'hopelessly misses the mark' and that a culture of fear among public servants prevents genuine accountability.

“When we talk to members of the police about reporting or we ask people at a hospital how their budget is they run for the hills because they are too scared to talk.”— 2022-11-30View Hansard

Supported both bills as the first tranche of legislation responding to the Coaldrake and Yearbury reviews.

“I am pleased to contribute to the cognate debate on the Integrity and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2022 and the Public Sector Bill 2022.”— 2022-11-29View Hansard

Spoke on the bills with criticisms of the government's integrity record.

Criticised the cognate debate structure as designed to avoid proper scrutiny, noted the LNP supported stage 1 reforms but argued much more damage has occurred since, stating the government is not genuinely committed to openness and transparency.

“The LNP supported stage 1 of these reforms, but a lot more damage and destruction and political interference has happened since then.”— 2022-11-29View Hansard

As Minister, delivered the reply to the second reading debate, defending both bills as delivering on Coaldrake report recommendations and the Bridgman review, and rebutting opposition criticisms as lacking credibility given their record in government.

“The Integrity and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2022 is the first tranche of legislative amendments arising from Professor Peter Coaldrake’s report, Let the sunshine in.”— 2022-11-30View Hansard