Dr Christian Rowan MP, the State Member for Moggill, agrees that better government services, business confidence and job creation are all significant advantages in having fixed, four-year terms of government.
Dr Rowan advised that today, Shadow Attorney-General Ian Walker introduced a Bill to provide for fixed terms for the Legislative Assembly so that Queenslanders are served with a more accountable Parliament.
While the Palaszczuk Labor Government was conducting yet another review into the matter, the LNP had done the work and the laws were ready to go, Dr Rowan said.
“Given the finely balanced nature of Queensland’s current hung Parliament and the seemingly bipartisan support for the proposal there’s no better time to take action,” he said.
“We want to provide Queenslanders with the business confidence, better government and economic certainty they deserve.”
Dr Rowan said the LNP had been consulting with Queenslanders about this important issue and discussions had commenced with academic and legal bodies, such as the Queensland Law Society, Bar Association of Queensland and district law associations.
“Our proposal ensures that Queenslanders will have a direct say in how their governments are elected and the manner in which elections are called,” he said.
Dr Rowan said in February 2015 the LNP announced that it would conduct a referendum on fixed four-year parliamentary terms if elected into office.
“Currently, the Premier of Queensland can call a general election at his or her whim, subject to the agreement of the Governor,” he said.
“This obviously gives the government of the day the political advantage of being able to do so at a time which is in their political interest. This can often undermine both business confidence and public confidence in the government.
“The issue of representative democracy and confidence in the government are fundamentally important issues for Queenslanders.
“That’s why the LNP is demonstrating leadership by introducing this important Bill and we call on the Labor Government to put politics aside and support it.”
