The President of the Queensland Law Society (QLS), Elizabeth Shearer, has called on the Queensland Government to “reinstate checks and balances” and begin the process of restoring“ Rule of Law” in Queensland. Appearing before the ECG Committee last week, in relation to the further extension of emergency powers in Queensland, Ms Shearer said people’s fundamental human rights, such as “the right to freedom of movement, the right to enjoyment of property and the right to humane treatment in detention” had been “significantly” restricted under the current legislation.
“The usual system of checks and balances have been suspended,” she said. “Effectively, the RULE OF LAW has been suspended, because a range of decisions of Executive Government have been put beyond challenge.”
Ms Shearer called for the creation of a Parliamentary Committee that would have “oversight” powers over all future Covid-19 related legislation and Executive Action in Queensland. This Committee she said, “should be able to inquire into these matters without a specific referral from the government and should be able to receive submissions by the public”. Without the reinstatement of ‘checks and balances’, Ms Shearer said, the extension of the two-year period proposed by the new Bill, would be “inappropriate”.
President Shearer also highlighted another serious human rights issue around lawyers being prevented from visiting their clients in residential aged-care facilities, hospitals or disability accommodation.
Here is a link to an excerpt from Ms Shearer’s testimony.
** Also – Just a reminder to sign and share our Queensland Parliamentary Petition, if you haven’t already done so. Thank you.
Abolition of the Upper House of the Queensland Parliament.
https://constitutionwatch.com.au/abolition-of-the-upper-house-of-the-queensland-parliament/
Ꮤhat’s up, yup this paragraph is genuinely fastidiouѕ and I have learned lot of things frοm it about blogging.
thanks.