Public-Private Partnership (Transparency and Accountability) Bill 2024

Overview

This bill would have required the Queensland Government to be more open about Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) used to deliver major infrastructure. It responded to Queensland Audit Office findings that the public has limited visibility into whether these deals represent value for money, and to the Coaldrake review's recommendations about government transparency. The bill lapsed at the end of the 57th Parliament and did not become law.

Who it affects

The bill would have benefited taxpayers by giving them more information about major government contracts worth $10 million or more, while requiring government agencies and their private partners to justify keeping contract details confidential.

Key changes

• Required Value for Money assessments comparing private delivery costs against government doing projects itself, with the methodology and data published online
• Mandated publication of PPP contract details on a government website, with written justification needed for any information kept confidential
• Gave the Auditor-General mandatory power to review PPP arrangements at least every four years and table findings in Parliament
• Required the Treasurer to publish annual statements showing the stream of future PPP payments and their impact on state debt over five years
• Required public consultation before government enters into PPP contracts for major projects