Committee Details

COMMITTEE'S REPORT

The committee tabled Report No. 28, 57th Parliament - Inquiry into the Independent Assessor and councillor conduct complaints system on 14 October 2022. 

View: Report
View: Government Response

ABOUT THE INQUIRY

On 27 October 2021 the committee resolved to conduct an inquiry into the functions of the Independent Assessor and the performance of those functions. 

This followed a request from the Deputy Premier, Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning, and Minister Assisting the Premier with Olympic Infrastructure to conduct a review into the functions of the Independent Assessor, in accordance with the committee’s general oversight responsibilities for the Independent Assessor.

Terms of reference

That the State Development and Regional Industries Committee inquire into and report to the Legislative Assembly on the functions of the Independent Assessor and the performance of those functions, in particular:

• whether the performance by the Independent Assessor of the Independent Assessor’s functions is consistent with the intent of the local government complaints system,
• whether the powers and resources of the Independent Assessor are being applied in accordance with the public interest, and
• any amendments to the Local Government Act 2009 or changes to the functions, structures or procedures of the Independent Assessor that the committee considers desirable for the more effective operation of the Independent Assessor and/or the local government complaints system.

While the origins of the inquiry lay in the functions of the Independent Assessor, it became clear that there was an opportunity to improve the whole councillor conduct complaint system. With over 35 years of local government experience, the  committee embraced the opportunity to identify solutions to ensure that the system was operating as intended.  As such, the committee agreed to amend the name of the inquiry before tabling its report to better reflect these broader considerations.

PUBLIC HEARINGS

The committee conducted public hearings in regional Queensland and Brisbane. 

BRISBANE

6 December 2021 - Broadcast - Transcript

9 February 2022 - Broadcast (Morning) - Broadcast (Afternoon) - Transcript - both sessions

22 March 2022 – Broadcast (Morning) - Broadcast (Afternoon) - Transcript - both sessions

TOWNSVILLE

28 February 2022 – Transcript

CAIRNS

1 March 2022 - Transcript

KARUMBA

2 March 2022 - Transcript

MOUNT ISA

2 March 2022 - Transcript

ROCKHAMPTON 

7 March 2022 – Via video conference - Broadcast - Transcript

BUNDABERG

8 March 2022 - Transcript

TOOWOOMBA

18 March 2022 - Transcript

GOLD COAST

21 March 2022 - Transcript

TIMELINE

Additional Information

More information on the Independent Assessor can be found here. 

videos from the inquiry 

Click here to view committee members discuss inquiry timeline and call for submissions.