Public Safety Business Agency and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2016
Plain English Summary
Overview
This bill reshapes the Public Safety Business Agency, which provides shared back-office services to Queensland's police and fire agencies. It sets up a new Board of Management led by the Police and Fire Commissioners, hands some operational functions back to the Queensland Police Service and Queensland Fire and Emergency Services, moves Blue Card Services to the Department of Justice and Attorney-General, and absorbs the State Government Protective Security Service into the police service.
Who it affects
Mostly staff and managers within the PSBA, Queensland Police Service and Queensland Fire and Emergency Services, plus protective security officers working in state buildings. For ordinary Queenslanders the main practical change is that Blue Card Services shifts to the justice department.
Key changes
- A new PSBA Board of Management is created, chaired in turn by the Police and Fire Commissioners, with one external member appointed by the Governor in Council for up to three years
- The PSBA CEO is renamed the Chief Operating Officer and reports to the new board, and can be removed with one month's notice
- The PSBA's role is narrowed to ICT, finance, procurement, asset management and some HR and advisory services, with recruitment, training, legal services, ethical standards and media returning to QPS and QFES
- Blue Card Services is moved from the PSBA to the Department of Justice and Attorney-General, with existing applications and notices carrying over
- The State Government Protective Security Service is abolished as a separate entity; responsibility for securing state buildings passes to the Queensland Police Service and security officers become QPS staff members
Bill Story
The journey of this bill through Parliament, including debate and recorded votes.
▸Committee24 May 2016View Hansard
Referred to Legal Affairs and Community Safety Committee
The Legal Affairs and Community Safety Committee examined the Public Safety Business Agency and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2016, which implemented the Public Service Commission's 2015 review of the PSBA. The committee received submissions from the Queensland Police Commissioned Officers' Union, the United Firefighters' Union, and the PSBA itself, and held a public briefing. The committee unanimously recommended the bill be passed.
Key findings (4)
- The bill restructured the PSBA by establishing a Board of Management with a rotating chair between the QPS Commissioner, QFES Commissioner, and an external member, and replaced the CEO role with a Chief Operating Officer
- The Queensland Police Commissioned Officers' Union and the United Firefighters' Union both supported the proposed reforms
- The bill transferred Blue Card Services from the PSBA to the Department of Justice and Attorney-General, and integrated State Government Security into the Queensland Police Service
- The committee found the bill had sufficient regard to fundamental legislative principles, including appropriate safeguards for the transition of State Government Security officers
Recommendations (1)
- The committee recommends the Public Safety Business Agency and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2016 be passed.
Committee report tabled
▸Second Reading30 Aug 2016View Hansard
▸13 members spoke8 support5 mixed
As the minister introducing the bill, argued it restores public safety support services by returning functions to the Queensland Police Service and Queensland Fire and Emergency Services, reforming the PSBA which was established in haste by the previous LNP government.
“This bill is about revitalising and restoring public safety support services and, importantly, returning those services to their rightful place with the Queensland Police Service and the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services.”— 2016-08-30View Hansard
Committee chair supported the bill, saying it reverses problems created by the previous LNP government and returns firefighters and police to front-line services.
“This bill unshackles those firefighters and police officers—those good men and women—and returns them to front-line services where Queenslanders need them the most.”— 2016-08-30View Hansard
Supported the bill, including the transfer of blue card services to the Department of Justice and Attorney-General and the integration of the State Government Protective Security Service into the QPS.
“All of these advantages are significant and deserving of my support. I commend the bill to the House.”— 2016-08-30View Hansard
As a committee member noted the committee recommended passage but queried the timing of the review and opposed recommendation No. 8 transferring blue card services, citing the Carmody report.
“As has been indicated by the shadow minister, the LNP do not agree with recommendation No. 8, which would see the transfer of blue card services to the Department of Justice and Attorney-General as they undo a recommendation of the Queensland Child Protection Commission of Inquiry 2013.”— 2016-08-30View Hansard
Supported the bill, arguing the PSBA was established in haste by the Newman LNP government as a vehicle for outsourcing and privatisation and that this bill leads to a more efficient public safety portfolio.
“This bill makes sense. It will lead to a better, more efficient public safety portfolio.”— 2016-08-30View Hansard
Supported the bill as fixing a mess left by the LNP government, noting the Palaszczuk government had met its 2015 election commitment to review the PSBA after proper consultation.
“I commend the bill to the House and I encourage all members to support it.”— 2016-08-30View Hansard
As a committee member noted the committee agreed to recommend passage based on evidence presented, but criticised the government for reviewing the PSBA only months after its establishment without giving it time to work.
“There was no consideration given to giving it some time to see how it would work. There were 87 recommendations, for goodness sake, in relation to these two organisations.”— 2016-08-30View Hansard
Supported the bill on the basis that the PSBA model established under the Newman government took emergency services personnel away from jobs they were trained to do, and the reforms have been positively received.
“If passing this bill helps to lighten their load a little—helps them to do the job they are so proud to do—then that is enough for me. I commend this bill to the House.”— 2016-08-30View Hansard
Spoke specifically on blue card service transfer, urging the Attorney-General to properly resource blue card processing to avoid delays affecting rural and remote Queenslanders who rely on tutors and child carers.
“I respectfully urge the Attorney-General to take these issues on board as the legislation places the responsibility for its success back into her portfolio.”— 2016-08-30View Hansard
Supported the bill as a reform that was conceived on the front line for the benefit of the front line and a benefit to the people of Queensland.
“I support any initiative that supports our hardworking police, fire and emergency services and therefore support the bill.”— 2016-08-30View Hansard
Took a wait-and-see position, noting the committee recommended passage and endorsing the aims of efficient emergency services while saying the LNP would continue to monitor the effectiveness of the structural changes.
“We have arrived at a wait-and-see and watch position—to continue to monitor the effectiveness of any structural changes and ensure that the PSBA has the best model and leadership to protect property, rescue Queenslanders from harm and manage weather events and other emergencies.”— 2016-08-30View Hansard
As shadow minister for child safety, said the opposition would not oppose the bill in its entirety but opposed the transfer of blue card services to the Department of Justice and Attorney-General as contrary to the Carmody inquiry recommendations.
“Although the opposition will not oppose this legislation in its entirety, it will oppose changes that refer the blue card services to the Department of Justice and Attorney-General from the Queensland Police Service as that would undo a recommendation of the Carmody inquiry.”— 2016-08-30View Hansard
Former emergency services worker supported the bill, saying the PSBA was a basket case and the bill will ensure the PSBA operates with a more clearly defined role and those seconded can return to operational agencies.
“I have no hesitation in commending this bill to the House.”— 2016-08-30View Hansard
▸In Detail30 Aug 2016View Hansard
▸1 clause vote (all passed)
Vote on a clause
Vote on whether to retain clause 56, which removes references to the PSBA from the Working with Children (Risk Management and Screening) Act to allow blue card services to transfer to the Department of Justice and Attorney-General; the LNP opposed the clause, arguing blue card services should instead go to the Queensland Police Service as recommended by the Carmody inquiry.
The clause was kept in the bill.
A vote on whether a specific clause should remain in the bill as written.
▸Show individual votesHide individual votes
Ayes (46)
Noes (42)
During consideration in detail, argued against clause 56 which transferred blue card services to the Department of Justice and Attorney-General, stating the Carmody inquiry recommended transfer to Queensland Police Service to streamline processing.
“It needs to go to the Police Service, as Commissioner Carmody says. That is why we will oppose the clause.”— 2016-08-30View Hansard
Referenced Entities
Legislation
Organisations
Programs & Schemes
Sectors Affected
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