Cost of Living and Economics Committee
Portfolio CommitteeBills Reviewed (5)
Cost of Living and Economics Committee: Report No. 9, 57th Parliament-Progressive Coal Royalties Protection (Keep Them in the Bank) Bill 20242024-08-02
Committee findings
The Cost of Living and Economics Committee examined the bill over several months, receiving 8 submissions and holding a public hearing with stakeholders including the Queensland Resources Council, Queensland Conservation Council, and the Australian Institute for Progress. Stakeholder feedback was mixed: unions and conservation groups supported the bill as a way to protect Queenslanders' share of mining profits, while mining industry groups argued the royalty rates were uncompetitive and risked deterring investment. The committee found no issues with human rights compatibility or fundamental legislative principles, and recommended the bill be passed.
- Stakeholder views were divided, with unions and environmental groups supporting the bill and mining industry representatives opposing it.
- The Queensland Resources Council and Bowen Coking Coal argued the current royalty rates are uncompetitive and risk deterring investment in Queensland's mining sector.
- Queensland Treasury advised that the bill does not change coal royalty rates but relates only to the legislative process for amending them, and that no industry consultation was needed because the amendments are machinery in nature.
- The committee found the bill compatible with human rights under the Human Rights Act 2019 and consistent with fundamental legislative principles under the Legislative Standards Act 1992.
- Several submitters proposed additional measures beyond the bill's scope, including directing royalties to coal-producing communities and expanding the regime to cover gas royalties.
- The committee recommends the Progressive Coal Royalties Protection (Keep Them in the Bank) Bill 2024 be passed.
Cost of Living and Economics Committee: Report No. 7, 57th Parliament-State Financial Institutions and Metway Merger Amendment Bill 20242024-05-31
Committee findings
The Cost of Living and Economics Committee examined the bill over approximately six weeks, receiving three submissions and holding a public briefing and a public hearing. The committee unanimously recommended the bill be passed, finding broad stakeholder support for the legislation. The committee noted the bill ensures Suncorp's operational headquarters remains in Queensland following the sale of Suncorp Bank to ANZ, and that both ANZ and Suncorp have made legally binding commitments to support employment and economic activity in Queensland.
- All three submitters (ANZ, Suncorp, and Townsville Enterprise) supported the bill's passage
- The bill modernises and updates the head office requirements to ensure Suncorp's insurance business remains headquartered in Queensland after the sale of its banking arm to ANZ
- The committee identified a potential limitation on the right to freedom of movement but found it reasonable and justified in the circumstances
- ANZ and Suncorp made significant legally binding commitments separate to the bill, including a Brisbane tech hub with 700 roles, $35 billion in Queensland lending, and 120 new regional jobs in Townsville
- The committee found the bill consistent with fundamental legislative principles and compatible with human rights
- The committee recommends the State Financial Institutions and Metway Merger Amendment Bill 2024 be passed.
Cost of Living and Economics Committee: Report No. 5, 57th Parliament-Cheaper Power (Supplementary Appropriation) Bill 20242024-05-17
Committee findings
The Cost of Living and Economics Committee examined the bill over two weeks, receiving four submissions and holding a public departmental briefing with Queensland Treasury. The committee recommended the bill be passed. Stakeholders raised concerns that the $1,000-per-household rebate was not sufficiently targeted to those most in need, but the committee accepted Treasury's position that electricity bill rebates are the most efficient delivery mechanism and that the government lacks the income data required for means testing.
- All four submitters raised concerns that the rebate was not sufficiently targeted to vulnerable households and people on low incomes.
- Queensland Treasury advised that the government does not hold individual income data and cannot feasibly means-test the rebate.
- Vulnerable households (pensioners, seniors, concession card holders) receive an additional $372.20 rebate on top of the $1,000, for a total of $1,372.20.
- Treasury estimated the $1,000 rebate could reduce measured annual inflation in Brisbane by around one percentage point in 2024-25.
- The committee found the bill compatible with human rights and consistent with fundamental legislative principles.
- The committee recommends the Cheaper Power (Supplementary Appropriation) Bill 2024 be passed.
Cost of Living and Economics Committee: Report No. 4, 57th Parliament-Economic Development and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 20242024-05-10
Committee findings
The Cost of Living and Economics Committee examined the Economic Development and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2024 and recommended it be passed. The committee received 34 submissions and held public hearings, with stakeholders raising concerns about the breadth of compulsory land acquisition powers, the need for greater local government consultation, and the adequacy of social and affordable housing provisions. While the committee identified potential limitations on human rights including property rights and privacy, it was satisfied these were reasonable and proportionate in the circumstances.
- Stakeholders broadly supported the bill's aim to expand Economic Development Queensland's role in delivering diverse housing, but some argued social and affordable housing should be the primary focus rather than merely an example of diverse housing.
- Local governments and water utilities raised significant concerns about EDQ's new direction powers, particularly the potential financial impacts of being directed to accept land transfers or provide infrastructure without adequate consultation.
- The Property Council and other stakeholders argued the compulsory land acquisition powers were too broad and called for clearer safeguards, publicly available guidelines, and limits on acquiring council-owned land without agreement.
- Environmental groups including the Queensland Conservation Council argued the bill's ecological sustainability provisions were inadequate and called for stronger requirements around climate resilience, carbon emissions reduction, and nature-positive outcomes.
- Concerns were raised about infrastructure charges being transferred from local governments to EDQ, with councils warning this could leave them unable to fund critical infrastructure already committed or expended.
- The committee recommends the Economic Development and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2024 be passed.
Cost of Living and Economics Committee: Report No. 1, 57th Parliament-Pharmacy Business Ownership Bill 20232024-03-08
Committee findings
The Cost of Living and Economics Committee (which took carriage from the former Economics and Governance Committee) examined the Pharmacy Business Ownership Bill 2023 over several months, receiving submissions from pharmacy owners, industry bodies, medical organisations, and consumer groups. The committee recommended the bill be passed, finding that while its ownership restrictions and new regulatory framework raised fundamental legislative principle and human rights considerations, these were reasonable and proportionate. Stakeholder views were divided, with pharmacy owners broadly supportive but medical bodies and the Productivity Commission questioning the evidence base for ownership restrictions as potentially anticompetitive.
- Pharmacy business owners and industry groups broadly supported the bill, but the Australian Medical Association Queensland, RACGP, Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council, and Productivity Commission questioned the evidence base for ownership restrictions, arguing they are anticompetitive and may not improve accessibility or affordability of pharmacy services.
- The committee found that the bill's restrictions on human rights — including rights to property, privacy, equality, and fair hearing — were reasonable and proportionate, given the aim of ensuring independently owned pharmacies continue to serve their communities.
- Stakeholders raised significant concerns about the definition of 'material interest', arguing it was insufficiently broad to prevent corporate entities from circumventing ownership requirements through complex legal and financial arrangements.
- The new prohibition on pharmacies being located in or directly accessible from supermarkets brings Queensland into line with most other Australian jurisdictions, though some stakeholders including the Health Ombudsman questioned whether this restriction serves consumer interests.
- A subset of pharmacy owners opposed the bill entirely, arguing it imposes undue compliance burdens and that the existing 2001 Act should have been amended rather than repealed and replaced.
- The committee recommends the Pharmacy Business Ownership Bill 2023 be passed.
Other Reports (12)
Cost of Living and Economics Committee: Report No. 15, 57th Parliament-Inquiry into the Report on the 2023 Strategic Review of the Queensland Audit Office
Cost of Living and Economics Committee: Report No. 14, 57th Parliament-Subordinate legislation tabled between 12 June 2024 and 20 August 2024
Cost of Living and Economics Committee: Report No. 13, 57th Parliament-Annual Report 2023-24
Cost of Living and Economics Committee: Report No. 12, 57th Parliament-Subordinate legislation tabled between 17 April 2024 and 11 June 2024
Cost of Living and Economics Committee: Report No. 11, 57th Parliament-2024-25 Budget Estimates-Volume of Additional Information
Cost of Living and Economics Committee: Report No. 11, 57th Parliament-2024-25 Budget Estimates
Cost of Living and Economics Committee: Report No. 10, 57th Parliament-2024-25 Budget Estimates-Volume of Additional Information
Cost of Living and Economics Committee: Report No. 10, 57th Parliament-2024-25 Budget Estimates
Cost of Living and Economics Committee: Report No. 8, 57th Parliament-Oversight of the Auditor-General: Basic rates of audit fees
Cost of Living and Economics Committee: Report No. 6, 57th Parliament-Subordinate legislation tabled between 14 February and 16 April 2024
Cost of Living and Economics Committee: Report No. 3, 57th Parliament-Subordinate legislation tabled between 29 November 2023 and 13 February 2024
Cost of Living and Economics Committee: Report No. 2, 57th Parliament-Subordinate legislation tabled between 15 November 2023 and 28 November 2023