Electoral and Administrative Review Commission

The Electoral and Administrative Review Commission (1989—1993) was an agency of the Government of Queensland, Australia to investigate the electoral system and public administration of the state and local government authorities of Queensland.

History

On 3 July 1989, the Commission of Inquiry into Possible Illegal Activities and Associated Police Misconduct (better known as the Fitzgerald Report) recommended the establishment of an Electoral and Administrative Review Commission. The Queensland Government acted on the recommendation by passing the Electoral and Administrative Review Act 1989 to establish the commission, whose purpose was to investigate and report on:[1]

  • the Legislative Assembly electoral system
  • the operation of the Parliament
  • the public administration of the state
  • the local authority electoral system
  • local authority administration

and to monitor the implementations of any reforms arising.

The Commission was fully constituted on 21 March 1990 under the chairman, Tom Sherman. Tom Sherman resigned on 25 February 1992 and Prof Colin Hughes acted in the role of chairman, until David Solomon was formally appointed to the role on 15 June 1992. Having completed its role outlined in the Fitzgerald Report, the commission was wound up on 30 September 1993.[1]

The Fitzgerald Royal Commission is regarded as one of the most successful in Australian history in part because of the work of EARC and the other Commission that helped to implement its recommendations, the Criminal Justice Commission (CJC).[2] "It was the EARC process which took Queensland out of the era..in which politics and public administration were largely unaccountable".[3]

Methods

EARC reviews began with the release of Issues papers to promote debate. These were widely circulated, including to public libraries across the state. This was followed by a period during which the public could make submissions. Public hearings were held. All submissions were published. EARC Reports were considered and reported on by a parliamentary committee (PEARC).[3]

Reports

Reports produced by the commission include:[4]

  • Guidelines for the Declaration of Registrable Interests of Elected Representatives of the Parliament of Queensland (August 1990) 90/R1
  • The Local Authority Electoral System of Queensland (September 1990) 90/R2
  • Queensland Joint Electoral Roll Review (October 1990) 90/R3
  • Queensland Legislative Assembly Electoral System (November 1990) 90/R4
  • Judicial Review of Administrative Decision and Actions (December 1990) 90/R5
  • Freedom of Information (December 2 1990) 90/R6
  • Public Assembly Law (February 1991) 91/R1
  • The Office of Parliamentary Counsel (May 1991) 91/R2
  • Public Sector Auditing in Queensland (September 1991) 91/R3
  • Protection of Whistleblowers (October 1991) 91/R4
  • Local Authority External Boundaries (November 1991) 91/R5
  • Determination of Legislative Assembly Electoral Districts (November 1991) (not part of numbered series of EARC Reports)
  • Review of Information and Resources Needs of Non-Government Members of the Queensland Legislative Assembly (December 1991) 91/R6
  • Review of Elections Act 1983-1991 and Related Matters (December 1991) 91/R7
  • Review of Codes of Conduct for Public Officials (May 1992) 92/R1
  • Investigation of Public Registration of Political donations, Public funding of Election Campaigns and Related Issues (June 1992) 92/R2
  • Review of Archives Legislation (June 1992) 92/R3
  • Review of Independence of the Attorney-General (1993).

Local Government boundaries

The commission's report External Boundaries of Local Authorities tabled on 19 March 1992 made a series of recommendations to adjust the boundaries between various local government authorities, but, more significantly and more controversially, to amalgamate a number of local government authorities. This work was not included in the Fitzgerald Report or the EARC enabling legislation but was added later. Not all of the EARC recommendations were acted upon by the Queensland Government and others were implemented differently. The local authorities recommended for amalgamation and the outcomes of the recommendations where:[5]

Although some of the recommendations were not implemented, many were implemented in subsequent reforms of local government boundaries.

References
  1. "Agency ID 2223, Electoral And Administrative Review Commission". Queensland State Archives. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
  2. Catherine Hanrahan "What does it take to make a royal commission successful?" 19 Oct 2016 abc.net.au. Retrieved 18 March 2017
  3. Noel Pearson, Charles JG Sampford, Carmel Connors, Encouraging Ethics and Challenging Corruption p.127
  4. parliament.qld.gov.au/documents/tableoffice/tabledpapers/1992/47921367.pdf
  5. "External Boundaries of Local Authorities" (PDF). Electoral and Administrative Review Commission. 19 March 1992. Archived (PDF) from the original on 20 February 2014. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
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