While those elevated to chair parliamentary committees may get less attention than ministers or opposition frontbenchers, they wield a lot of influence.
While the MPs elevated to the top of Queensland parliamentary committees may get less attention than ministers or opposition frontbenchers, on paper they perform a key role.To reflect this, a committee chair role comes with a $64,364 boost to an MP’s $183,985 base salary – equal to that of shadow cabinet. Other committee members get an extra $25,000 a year.
Outside a minority government, where the parliament would nominate the chair, the practice is also for the government’s Leader of the House to do so – usually from the governing party. This is key because the chair, in the event of a split decision by the committee on a matter, can use a casting vote to break the deadlock.While three committees are more administrative or specialised – including the only one not chaired by a government MP, but with a majority of government members – most are not.
These portfolio committees are sent newly introduced bills into which they hold inquiries over weeks or months, featuring public submissions and hearings, before reporting back to parliament. Often, as seen last week, the recommendations within these can be as simple as calling for the bill to be passed into law by a parliament in which the chair’s party almost always has the numbers.This week’s three-day parliamentary sitting will be the last for 2024. MPs won’t return to their green leather seats until February 18.for those whose home is not driving distance from George Street. In its place is a new sitting-week schedule which kicks knock-off back to 9.
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