Mirani MP, Stephen Andrew, introduces new bill to boost Transparency
Stephen Andrew, MP for Mirani tabled a new Bill in Parliament this week, aimed at providing more transparency on the increasing use of Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) to deliver the state’s public infrastructure and services.
Mr Andrew said his Public-Private Partnership (Transparency and Accountability) Bill 2024 will ensure government agencies adopt a fully transparent process in its commercial dealings with the private sector.
“Right now, Queensland has no specific legislative framework for regulating the government’s PPP arrangements” he said.
“This bill will therefore fill a critical gap in the state’s legislature”.
Mr Andrew delivered his Introductory Speech to the Bill on Wednesday, in which he referred to the Auditor General’s Major Projects Report for 2023. The report included a comparison of Queensland’s current disclosure guidelines for PPPs, with that of NSW and Victoria.
According to the report’s findings, Queensland’s PPP arrangements are significantly less transparent, than the other two states.
Crucial details that don’t have to be disclosed in Queensland, include details of a PPP’s project advisors, risk allocations, contract termination rights; contract variation procedures, Value for Money analysis, service payments and contributions made by either party.
With the unprecedented number of capital projects in the pipeline over the next few decades, Mr Andrew said the bill will establish a framework for enhanced transparency and accountability around Public-Private Partnerships in Queensland.
“Currently, the public is being left in the dark when it comes to the long-term costs and contractual arrangements that will bind the state and its citizens for decades to come” the Mirani MP said.
“We need to stop the drain on our public finances and the best way to do this is to legislate for ‘full disclosure’ on how our money is being spent”.
“There should be no secrets when it comes to how the state’s assets and services are being delivered, by whom, and at what cost” he added.
The Bill has been sent for consideration by Parliament’s Housing, Big Build and Manufacturing Committee.
