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 in 15 June 1992. Having completed its role outlined in the Fitzgerald Report, the commission was wound up on 30 September 1993.^[1]

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. Not all of the 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:^[2]

• City of Warwick, Shire of Glengallan, Shire of Rosenthal and Shire of Allora^[2]:69 (not implemented as recommended, but all four were amalgamated into the new Shire of Warwick)
• Shire of Clifton and Shire of Cambooya^[2]:81 (not implemented)
• City of Gympie and Shire of Widgee^[2]:87 (amalgamated into the new Shire of Cooloola)
• City of Maryborough and Shire of Woocoo^[2]:93 (not implemented)
• City of Bundaberg and Shire of Woongarra^[2]:100 (not implemented, but instead Woongarra and Shire of Gooburrum were amalgamated into the new Shire of Burnett)
• City of Townsville and City of Thuringowa^[2]:109(not implemented)
• City of Gladstone and Shire of Calliope^[2]:123 (not implemented)
• City of Mackay and Shire of Pioneer^[2]:129 (amalgamated into an enlarged City of Mackay)

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

References