False

Achievement of Policy Objectives

The Bill enables Parliament to authorise that the relevant matters prescribed in Clauses 4 and 5 of the Bill of allegations of possible unresolved impropriety against judicial officers and others, shall be properly and thoroughly scrutinised by an independent Parliamentary Tribunal in an open and transparent manner presided over by three retired interstate judges.

Lapse of Bill

Objective and Reasons for the Bill

The purpose of this Bill is to:

• create a Commission of Inquiry to examine allegations of possible judicial misbehaviour relating to the handling of the alleged wrongdoing associated with the ‘Heiner Affair’;
• ensure Parliament complies with its constitutional obligation to act and resolve the allegations of potential impropriety in the matter pursuant to Parliament’s obligation under section 61 of the Constitution of Queensland 2001.

Other Information

The Parliamentary (Heiner Affair and Related Matters) Commission of Inquiry Bill 2014 and Explanatory Notes are available from the Office of the Queensland Parliamentary Counsel at www.legislation.qld.gov.au

The Hansard transcript of the explanatory speech can be accessed here.

Referral

On 27 November 2014 the Member for Gladstone, Mrs Liz Cunningham MP introduced the Parliamentary (Heiner Affair and Related Matters) Commission of Inquiry Bill 2014 into the Queensland Parliament.

In accordance with Standing Order 131 of the Standing Rules and Orders of the Legislative Assembly, the Bill was referred to the Legal Affairs and Community Safety Committee (the Committee) for detailed consideration.  Under Standing Order 136(1), the Committee must report to the Parliament on or before 27 May 2015.