government accountability

Question 1

how is the government held accountable?

Answer 1

• parliamentary committees
• estimate hearings
• royal commissions and commissions of inquiry
• anti-corruption bodies
• legal protection for whistle blowers
• free press

Question 2

what is the purpose of a parliamentary committee?

Answer 2

• allows senators and MPs more time to closely examine bills and policies
• informs the parliament on a range of views from the community
• keeps a check on government activities

Question 3

what are estimate committees?

Answer 3

check how government plans to collect and spend money (the budget) - open to the public

Question 4

what is the purpose of estimate committees?

Answer 4

• allows MPs and senators in parliamentory committees to scrutinise how the government is spending taxpayer’s money
• helps maintain confidence of the parliament

Question 5

what is a royal commission?

Answer 5

a formal public inquiry into an issue of great importance - issued by governor-general and led by a commissioner who has special powers to collect evidence

Question 6

when was queensland’s anti-corruption laws established?

Answer 6

following the fitzgerald inquiry, queensland established the crime and corruption commission (ccc) under the crime and corruption act 2001 (qld)

Question 7

what does the crime and corruption commission do?

Answer 7

• has wide powers to investigate corruption
• witnesses have no right to silence, they are compelled to give evidence

Question 8

what is a whistleblower?

Answer 8

a person who discloses information about a suspected wrongdoing or corruption