Emblems of Queensland and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2023
Plain English Summary
Overview
This bill officially makes the Muttaburrasaurus langdoni Queensland's State fossil emblem and fixes several technical issues with parliamentary procedures, including validating remote committee participation back to 1998, protecting MP privacy during proxy votes, and clarifying the Speaker's authority over the parliamentary precinct on sitting days.
Who it affects
Most changes affect MPs and parliamentary processes. The general public gains an official State fossil emblem celebrating a dinosaur discovered near Muttaburra in central western Queensland.
State fossil emblem
Queensland officially adopts the Muttaburrasaurus langdoni as its State fossil emblem. The dinosaur was discovered near Muttaburra and was selected after a statewide public nomination process from 12 shortlisted candidates.
- Muttaburrasaurus langdoni prescribed as Queensland's official State fossil emblem
- Common name 'The Muttaburra dinosaur' officially recognised in legislation
Parliamentary committee procedures
The bill retrospectively validates that parliamentary committee members have been able to participate by phone, video or other electronic means since 1998. This ensures decisions made at those meetings are legally sound, closing a gap between Standing Orders and legislation.
- Remote participation in committee meetings validated back to 23 April 1998
- Applies to the Parliamentary Crime and Corruption Committee, its predecessor, and all other parliamentary committees
- Past committee decisions confirmed as valid even where members were not physically present
Other parliamentary reforms
Several technical fixes address the definition of the parliamentary precinct, MP privacy when requesting proxy votes, the Speaker's responsibility for subordinate legislation documentation, and evidence rules for precinct offences.
- Medical certificates no longer read aloud when MPs request proxy votes due to illness
- Parliamentary precinct definition corrected to include the chamber and galleries on sitting days, fixing a 1995 oversight
- Evidence of Speaker's directions can now be used in court for behaviour offences on the precinct
- Speaker, not a Minister, must prepare human rights certificates and explanatory notes for parliamentary by-laws and rules
Bill Story
The journey of this bill through Parliament, including debate and recorded votes.
▸Committee14 Sept 2023View Hansard
Referred to Economics and Governance Committee
The Economics and Governance Committee examined the Emblems of Queensland and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2023, which primarily sought to officially recognise the Muttaburrasaurus langdoni dinosaur as Queensland's State fossil emblem. The committee recommended the bill be passed, noting its provisions were compatible with human rights. An erratum was later tabled to correct a misattribution of the proxy voting amendments to the Parliamentary Service Act, when they in fact amended the Parliament of Queensland Act 2001.
Key findings (5)
- The bill amends the Emblems of Queensland Act 2005 to officially recognise the Muttaburrasaurus langdoni as Queensland's State fossil emblem.
- Queensland would join the ACT, New South Wales, Western Australia and South Australia in having official fossil emblems, but would be the only jurisdiction with a dinosaur as its emblem.
- The fossil emblem was recognised as important for regional tourism and local economies.
- The bill also amended the Parliament of Queensland Act 2001 to update the process for notifying a member's request to vote by proxy.
- The committee found the bill compatible with human rights under the Human Rights Act 2019.
Recommendations (1)
- The committee recommends the Emblems of Queensland and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2023 be passed.
Committee report tabled
▸Second Reading15 Nov 2023View Hansard
▸23 members spoke23 support
Supported the bill's recognition of the Muttaburrasaurus langdoni as state fossil emblem while raising concerns about the Lake Eyre Basin regulatory impact statement potentially hindering palaeo tourism in the outback.
“I look forward to the Economics and Governance Committee visiting the Eromanga Natural History Museum, which houses Cooper, Australia's largest dinosaur.”— 2023-11-28View Hansard
Spoke enthusiastically about the committee's trip to North-West Queensland and the impact of Pearl Langdon's testimony at Muttaburra, which changed his preference from the Kronosaurus to the muttaburrasaurus. Emphasised the importance of palaeo tourism for regional Queensland.
“She insisted that when the emblem finally gets designed ... it must be a proper dinosaur emblem and not some caricature from Barney Rubble days or something like that.”— 2023-11-16View Hansard
As the responsible minister, spoke in support of officially recognising the Muttaburrasaurus langdoni as Queensland's state fossil emblem, highlighting its tourism potential for Outback Queensland and the technical parliamentary amendments included in the bill.
“The introduction of a fossil emblem for Queensland will help bring together our rich palaeo story across these experiences and further capitalise on the demand for unique tourism experiences in the future.”— 2023-11-15View Hansard
Supported the bill as shadow science minister, noting the muttaburrasaurus is a gateway to science fascination and will boost palaeo tourism in outback Queensland.
“These prehistoric creatures are a gateway to a fascination with science for so many young people and we need to be doing all we can to encourage even more young Queenslanders to study science and to pursue a career in STEM.”— 2023-11-28View Hansard
Supported the bill, noting the muttaburrasaurus received the most public votes and was the 'people's dinosaur'. Also addressed the technical amendments to the Crime and Corruption Act and Parliament of Queensland Act regarding committee participation by electronic means.
“Mutt is the people's dinosaur.”— 2023-11-16View Hansard
As Leader of the Opposition, confirmed the LNP supports the bill, emphasising the importance of palaeo tourism and a 20-year tourism vision tied to the 2032 Olympic Games to benefit all of Queensland including outback communities.
“The opposition supports this bill.”— 2023-11-15View Hansard
Supported the bill, highlighting the committee's regional engagement in Winton and Muttaburra, the tourism benefits of the fossil emblem, and the parliamentary procedure amendments including proxy voting updates.
“I am pleased to see that the Economics and Governance Committee ensured that Queenslanders had the ability to input into the consideration of this bill.”— 2023-11-28View Hansard
Supported the bill and read Pearl Langdon's account of her husband Doug's discovery of the muttaburrasaurus fossil into the Hansard record. Praised the committee's trip to Muttaburra and the value of the emblem to Outback Queensland.
“Doug put his hand in the air, 'Muttaburra, you're on the map!'”— 2023-11-16View Hansard
Spoke passionately about the discovery of the muttaburrasaurus by Doug Langdon in 1962, recounting Pearl Langdon's testimony to the committee, and endorsed the fossil emblem as a symbol of Queensland's ancient history and outback communities.
“Doug and Pearl, you are great Queenslanders and we are honoured by your gift to us. It is right and proper that we have these animals and these bones as our fossil emblem.”— 2023-11-15View Hansard
Supported the bill, sharing personal experiences of visiting dinosaur tourism sites and urging the government to maintain good roads for tourist access to Western Queensland.
“I support the amendments to the Parliamentary Service Act. It is important that there are measures to prosecute misconduct in the gallery.”— 2023-11-28View Hansard
Supported the bill as a committee member, providing detailed analysis of the dinosaur tourism economy worth $105 million and projected to reach $235 million by 2036. Also addressed the minor parliamentary procedure amendments.
“The sector has grown from nothing to 10 tourism sites in just 12 years and now accounts for 11 per cent of all Queensland Outback visitors in the state.”— 2023-11-16View Hansard
Shared a personal connection to palaeo history through his family property in Richmond where the Kronosaurus queenslandicus was found, and supported the fossil emblem as a boost for outback tourism.
“When the Premier advised that we were going to make an emblem for Queensland, I knew the great advantage that would have for our Outback towns.”— 2023-11-15View Hansard
Supported the bill declaring the muttaburrasaurus as the state fossil emblem and highlighted the importance of grey nomad tourism and supporting outback township workforces.
“I wish the muttaburrasaurus a long and prosperous reign as the fossil emblem of this state.”— 2023-11-28View Hansard
Supported the bill, emphasising the importance of getting the emblem design right. Shared personal experiences visiting fossil tourism sites across Outback Queensland and praised the people of the west for their hospitality.
“We will have one shot at the design of this emblem, and the importance of getting that right cannot be understated.”— 2023-11-16View Hansard
Supported the bill, noting the muttaburrasaurus won a public vote with 27.55 per cent and that palaeo tourism accounts for an estimated 11 per cent of all outback Queensland tourism.
“Our new fossil emblem will be a unique representation that will help to showcase Queensland's rich palaeontological discoveries and history.”— 2023-11-28View Hansard
Delivered a poem about the muttaburrasaurus and spoke passionately about his personal connection to the dinosaur from childhood visits to the Queensland Museum. Argued the muttaburrasaurus best represents the spirit of Queensland.
“This is how important this all is to Queensland. On the front cover is a depiction of the stampede. That is how important and significant these fossils and emblems are to Queensland.”— 2023-11-16View Hansard
As the responsible minister, replied to the debate thanking all members for their support, clarifying that no particular image would be prescribed for the fossil emblem, and noting the tourism and science education benefits.
“We are not prescribing a representation of the Muttaburrasaurus langdoni; we are allowing science to further develop and be responsive to that in terms of how it is depicted going forward.”— 2023-11-28View Hansard
Reflected on being one of only three members present from the 51st Parliament when the Barrier Reef anemone fish was added as an emblem in 2005. Confirmed the LNP would not oppose the bill.
“The LNP will not oppose the bill. Amendments in this bill represent a commitment to clarity, efficiency and the continuous improvement of our parliamentary processes.”— 2023-11-16View Hansard
Supported the bill, sharing personal memories of visiting the Queensland Museum with his son and seeing the muttaburrasaurus skeleton. Also addressed the importance of the technical changes to committee participation by electronic means.
“While I would not have thought of it at the time, what a privilege to come the full circle and play a small part in having the privilege of representing my community in making the Muttaburrasaurus langdoni our state dinosaur emblem.”— 2023-11-16View Hansard
As the local member whose electorate includes Muttaburra, enthusiastically supported the emblem. Emphasised tourism as the third commodity after cattle and sheep for Western Queensland and the emblem's role in attracting visitors.
“We are going to go through droughts and we are going to go through low commodity prices, but one thing that puts cash into Western Queensland is the tourism industry.”— 2023-11-16View Hansard
Supported the bill and highlighted the Capricorn Caves in her electorate as Queensland's oldest tourist attraction, connecting fossil tourism to broader palaeo tourism opportunities across the state.
“Queensland really is the fossil capital of Australia.”— 2023-11-16View Hansard
Confirmed the opposition supported the bill. Addressed the importance of the Crime and Corruption Act amendments validating electronic participation in PCCC meetings and the Parliamentary Service Act changes to clarify the parliamentary precinct.
“We welcome this bill. We are supporting it. The muttaburrasaurus will become an official emblem of Queensland.”— 2023-11-16View Hansard
Supported the emblem while noting that her electorate's Eromanga Natural History Museum had campaigned for Cooper, Australia's largest dinosaur. Encouraged the committee to visit Eromanga and highlighted the growing palaeo tourism industry.
“I measured up the chamber to see if we could fit Cooper in the chamber, and we cannot. He is actually bigger than the parliamentary chamber.”— 2023-11-16View Hansard
Assent date: 4 December 2023