Governance, Energy and Finance Committee
Portfolio CommitteeMembers (6)
Bills Reviewed (5)
Governance, Energy and Finance Committee: Report No. 17, 58th Parliament—Appropriation (Parliament) (Supplementary 2024-2025) Bill 2025 and Appropriation (Supplementary 2024-2025) Bill 20252025-12-19
Committee findings
The Governance, Energy and Finance Committee examined both the Appropriation (Parliament) (Supplementary 2024-2025) Bill 2025 and the Appropriation (Supplementary 2024-2025) Bill 2025 jointly. The committee recommended that both bills be passed. It noted that while the $5.75 billion in unforeseen expenditure for 2024-25 represented a reasonable portion of the original $90.57 billion appropriation, it was a considerable decrease from the previous financial year's level of over $9 billion.
- Unforeseen expenditure of $5.75 billion represented 6.34 per cent of the original appropriation for 2024-25
- The level of unforeseen expenditure was a considerable decrease from the 2023-24 financial year, which exceeded 11.5 per cent of original appropriation
- After accounting for lapses, the net impact was $4.76 billion more than originally approved
- Unlike previous years, the unforeseen expenditure was contained in a single set of supplementary appropriation bills rather than multiple sets
- The committee recommends that the Bills be passed.
Governance, Energy and Finance Committee: Report No. 16, 58th Parliament—Energy Roadmap Amendment Bill 20252025-12-05
Committee findings
The Governance, Energy and Finance Committee examined the Energy Roadmap Amendment Bill 2025 and recommended it be passed. The bill proposes the removal of Queensland's renewable energy targets (50% by 2030, 70% by 2032, 80% by 2035) along with associated review and reporting requirements, in favour of a more flexible, market-driven approach. The government noted that emission reduction targets remain enshrined in the Clean Economy Jobs Act 2024, including a target of net zero emissions by 2050.
- The bill removes Queensland's legislated renewable energy targets of 50% by 2030, 70% by 2032, and 80% by 2035
- The government's rationale is to enable a more flexible, market-driven approach to energy planning rather than targets narrowly focused on renewable energy production
- Emission reduction targets remain in place under the Clean Economy Jobs Act 2024, including 30% reduction by 2030, 75% by 2035, and net zero by 2050
- The bill also removes associated review and reporting requirements for the renewable energy targets
- The committee recommends that the Bill be passed.
Governance, Energy and Finance Committee: Report No. 8, 58th Parliament—Corrective Services (Parole Board) Amendment Bill 20252025-05-23
Committee findings
The Governance, Energy and Finance Committee examined the bill, receiving 3 submissions and holding a public hearing. The committee recommended the bill be passed. The bill empowers Parole Board Queensland to review all decisions by prescribed board members on requests for immediate suspension of parole, including decisions not to suspend. It also retrospectively validates such decisions made since July 2017. The Justice Reform Initiative and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Service raised concerns about increased parole suspensions and the retrospective provisions. Labor members filed a statement of reservation.
- The bill addresses a gap where the Corrective Services Act was silent on allowing the full Parole Board to review a prescribed board member's decision not to suspend parole
- Since 2022, the Board had already been reviewing such decisions; of 61 cases where a single member decided not to suspend, the Board confirmed 39 and subsequently suspended parole in 22 cases
- The ATSILS and Justice Reform Initiative raised concerns that unnecessary parole suspensions work counter to rehabilitation goals and disproportionately affect First Nations peoples
- The retrospective validation provision extinguishes the right of 22 affected individuals to sue for false imprisonment based on the Board lacking authority to make those decisions
- Queensland Corrective Services stressed that suspension requests are not made for trivial matters and involve detailed risk assessment reports
- The committee recommends that the Bill be passed.
Governance, Energy and Finance Committee: Report No. 2, 58th Parliament—Appropriation (Parliament) (Supplementary 2023-2024) Bill 2024 and Appropriation (Supplementary 2023-2024) Bill 20242025-02-07
Committee findings
The Governance, Energy and Finance Committee examined the supplementary appropriation bill, which sought approval for $1.133 billion in unforeseen expenditure incurred by 13 government departments and the Legislative Assembly during 2023-24. The committee received a written briefing from Queensland Treasury but no public submissions. It found the bill consistent with fundamental legislative principles and compatible with human rights, and recommended the bill be passed.
- Total unforeseen expenditure for 2023-24 was $9.078 billion (11.56% of the original appropriation), significantly higher than any previous year in the past decade
- The largest supplementary payments under this bill were for Queensland Health ($217.5 million), the Department of Families, Seniors, Disability Services and Child Safety ($212.8 million), and the Department of Transport and Main Roads ($212 million)
- No submissions were received from stakeholders, and the committee did not hold a public briefing or hearing
- The committee found the bill was consistent with fundamental legislative principles and compatible with human rights
- The committee noted that while the level of unforeseen expenditure was unusually high, supplementary funding is a necessary part of the appropriations process
- The committee recommends that the Bills be passed.
Governance, Energy and Finance Committee: Report No. 1, 58th Parliament—Queensland Productivity Commission Bill 20242025-01-31
Committee findings
The Governance, Energy and Finance Committee examined the Queensland Productivity Commission Bill 2024 over two months, receiving 21 submissions and holding a public briefing and a public hearing. The committee recommended the bill be passed, finding it gave sufficient regard to the rights and liberties of individuals and was compatible with the Human Rights Act 2019. However, the three Labor members filed a Statement of Reservation raising significant concerns about the Commission's independence from the Treasurer, lack of parliamentary accountability, and the Treasurer's power to control research and publications.
- The majority of submitters supported the establishment of an independent productivity commission, citing the need for independent research, evidence-based regulatory review and public consultation on productivity issues.
- Stakeholders raised concerns that the Commission's functions were too broadly defined, with the Queensland Council of Unions recommending amendments to refocus the Commission specifically on productivity, economic growth and living standards.
- Several submitters, including Business Chamber Queensland and the Queensland Renewable Energy Council, emphasised the need for the Commission to have genuine operational independence and transparency, noting these words were largely absent from the bill.
- The committee found that limitations on human rights, including criminal history checks for commissioners and the power to require information, were reasonable and justifiable under the Human Rights Act 2019.
- Labor committee members raised concerns that the Treasurer retains extensive powers to direct, approve or refuse the Commission's self-initiated research and control publication of findings, undermining the Commission's stated independence.
- The committee recommends that the Bill be passed.
Inquiries (1)
Other Reports (14)
Governance, Energy and Finance Committee: Report No. 15, 58th Parliament—Subordinate legislation tabled between 16 September 2025 and 14 October 2025
Governance, Energy and Finance Committee: Report No. 13, 58th Parliament—Annual Report 2024-25
Governance, Energy and Finance Committee: Report No. 14, 58th Parliament—Subordinate legislation tabled on 26 August 2025
Governance, Energy and Finance Committee: Report No. 12, 58th Parliament—2025-26 Budget Estimates—Volume of Additional Information
Governance, Energy and Finance Committee: Report No. 12, 58th Parliament—2025-26 Budget Estimates
Governance, Energy and Finance Committee: Report No. 11, 58th Parliament—2025-26 Budget Estimates—Volume of Additional Information
Governance, Energy and Finance Committee: Report No. 11, 58th Parliament—2025-26 Budget Estimates
Governance, Energy and Finance Committee: Report No. 10, 58th Parliament—Subordinate legislation tabled between 2 April 2025 and 24 June 2025
Governance, Energy and Finance Committee: Report No. 9, 58th Parliament—Consideration of Auditor-General Reports to Parliament
Governance, Energy and Finance Committee: Report No. 7, 58th Parliament—Subordinate legislation tabled between 29 November 2024 and 1 April 2025
Governance, Energy and Finance Committee: Report No. 6, 58th Parliament—Consideration of Auditor-General Reports to Parliament
Governance, Energy and Finance Committee: Report No. 5, 58th Parliament—Queensland Audit Office Annual Report 2023-24
Governance, Energy and Finance Committee: Report No. 4, 58th Parliament—Subordinate legislation tabled on 28 November 2024
Governance, Energy and Finance Committee: Report No. 3, 58th Parliament—Subordinate legislation tabled on 10 September 2024