Senate inquiry into Queensland government deserves to be treated seriously The Senate Inquiry into Certain Aspects of Queensland Government Administration Related to Commonwealth Government Affairs deserves to be taken seriously. It has an important role to play in shining a light on the dealings of the Newman government, providing a mechanism for transparency and accountability otherwise absent from the state of Queensland. Reporting of the conduct of the inquiry, at least within Queensland, has reflected the derision and outrage voiced by LNP figures at both the state and federal levels. Such a reaction avoids analysis of the very real and important deficits of transparency and accountability the Senate inquiry is seeking to address. The inquiry is targeted at investigating: the disposition of moneys flowing from the Commonwealth toward Queensland in the days after the Newman government came to power, the propriety of the Commonwealth's devolving powers to issue environmental approvals to the Queensland government, the separation of powers and judicial independence in Queensland, and the extent to which Queensland government policies and practices are consistent with international human rights obligations. These are all areas ripe for investigation after more than two and a half years of LNP government in Queensland. The terms of reference raise, among other things, issues of possible misappropriation of Commonwealth funds, originating from the taxpayer, by the Newman government. The focus of the inquiry appears to be whether those funds were applied to party political purposes here in Queensland. Events which have transpired in Queensland since March 2012, when the LNP took power, have demonstrated the weaknesses inherent in a unicameral Parliament. The parliamentary committee system, introduced to rectify some of the legislative excesses seen under the Joh Bjelke-Petersen regime, has been subverted, stacked with government members and seen people sacked when their investigations strayed too close to inconvenient truths. Added to the constitutional inadequacies, the Newman government has ridden roughshod over long-standing principles which have traditionally restrained executive action. Confidential discussions about judicial appointments have been broadcast by the Attorney-General, Jarrod Bleijie, for political advantage. The LNP has also moved with vigour to roll back and weaken integrity mechanisms introduced in the wake of the Fitzgerald Inquiry. Most significant of these steps has been pulling the teeth of the anti-corruption watchdog, the Crime and Corruption Commission, installing a compromised and controversial Acting Chair, Dr Ken Levy, on rolling re-appointments for more than 18 months. It is particularly important for the inquiry to shine a light on the prospect of the Queensland government being released from federal restraints on approval of development on environmental grounds, and the adequacy of Commonwealth oversight of coal-seam gas projects. These are appropriate areas for inquiry by a body truly independent of the Newman government. A disturbingly close relationship between the Newman government and mining and development interests has emerged since March 2012. There is a strong track record of mining interests making significant political donations to the LNP and apparently being rewarded with favourable legislation. A veil has been drawn over political donations in Queensland since the LNP passed retrograde legislation to increase the caps on reportable donations from $1000 to $12,400, obscuring the identity of those miners and developers whose money might buy influence in the state. In recent times, legislation was rushed through the Parliament under cover of darkness to remove, effectively, the public's right to object to huge mining developments. A government willing to provide favourable outcomes to miners who have made political donations should not be released from what checks and balances exist to protect the unique environment in Queensland. If media in Queensland continue to report the Inquiry solely in terms of being a "circus" or a "farce," then matters of great importance to ordinary, everyday Queenslanders will be ignored. This is an important opportunity for their often heart-breaking stories to be told. Alex McKean is a barrister at law at Sunshine Coast Barristers Chambers