Lack of democracy in Queensland Parliament

Eligibility - Queensland residents
Principal Petitioner:
Daniel Boniface
6 Ilinga Place
KALLANGUR QLD 4503
Total Signatures - 940
Sponsoring Member: Mr Steve Andrew MP
Posting Date: 1/12/2020
Closing Date: 3/5/2021
Tabled Date: 11/5/2021
Responded By: Hon Annastacia Palaszczuk MP on 11/6/2021
TO: The Honourable the Speaker and Members of the Legislative Assembly of Queensland

Queensland residents draws to the attention of the House that Queensland consists of 93 electorates with 53 of these being situated between the border, Ipswich and Moreton Bay regions. This bias in the size and spatial arrangements of the electorates creates inequity in the way governments are elected and formed. Your petitioners strongly believe there is a lack of democratic process in the way bills are debated in the parliament to the government being formed mostly of members in city seats. Without a legislative council, Queenslanders in regional electorates do not have representation in the parliament as the bulk of government business is presided over by members whose interests is achieving the outcomes sought by electors residing in Brisbane. Queensland persists as the only Australian state with a unicameral parliament. Due to this factor alone, a majority government formed of members of a party will not be subject to public scrutiny and debate of any bill is stifled.

Your petitioners, therefore, request the House to instigate a referendum on the reinstatement of the Legislative Council in the next term of the Parliament.