Queensland Plan Act 2014

An Act to provide for the development and implementation of the Queensland Plan and related purposes

1Short title

This Act may be cited as the Queensland Plan Act 2014.

2Act binds all persons

This Act binds all persons, including the State.

3Main purposes of Act

The main purposes of this Act are to—

(a)provide for the development and ratification of a plan, known as the Queensland Plan, that—

(i)establishes a long-term vision for the future growth and prosperity of Queensland; and

(ii)reflects the aspirations of the community, business and industry for the future of Queensland; and

(b)provide for the implementation of the Queensland Plan, including by—

(i)requiring that the Queensland Plan be considered in preparing a community objectives statement; and

(ii)aligning local government planning to the strategic direction of the Queensland Plan; and

(iii)encouraging the community, business and industry to implement the Queensland Plan; and

(c)establish the ambassadors council to advocate for the implementation of the Queensland Plan by the community, business and industry.

s 3 amd 2016 No. 64 s 39

4Definitions

The dictionary in schedule 2 defines particular words used in this Act.

5Premier to facilitate development of plan

(1)The Premier must facilitate the development of a plan to provide a long-term vision for key areas affecting the future growth and prosperity of Queensland.

(2)The key areas under the plan may include, for example, the following—

•education

•community

•regions

•economy

•health and wellbeing

•environment

•people

•infrastructure

•governance.

(3)The plan must—

(a)be developed having regard to the principles stated in schedule 1; and

(b)outline the strategic direction for the key areas under the plan; and

(c)set targets, and include measures, for the key areas.

6Ratification of plan by Legislative Assembly

(1)The Premier must table a plan developed under section 5 in the Legislative Assembly for ratification.

(2)On being ratified by the Legislative Assembly, the plan has effect as the Queensland Plan.

7Chief executive to publish the Queensland Plan

The chief executive must—

(a)publish the Queensland Plan on a government website; and

(b)make the Queensland Plan available for inspection, free of charge, during business hours at the department’s head office.

8Preparation of community objectives statement

The Premier must consider the Queensland Plan in preparing a community objectives statement.

s 8 sub 2016 No. 64 s 40

9Promotion of the Queensland Plan

(1)A Minister whose principal ministerial responsibilities include a key area under the Queensland Plan must—

(a)promote awareness of the key area within the community, business and industry; and

(b)encourage the community, business and industry, in carrying out their activities, to have regard to—

(i)the key area; and

(ii)the targets established by the Queensland Plan for the key area.

(2)In this section—

principal ministerial responsibility, for a Minister, means the public business of the State for which the Minister is given responsibility under administrative arrangements made under the Constitution of Queensland 2001, section 44.

pt 3 div 2 hdg prev div 2 hdg om 2016 No. 64 s 41

pres div 2 hdg (prev div 3 hdg) renum 2016 No. 64 s 42

11Preparation of corporate plans

(1)This section applies to a local government preparing a corporate plan.

(2)The local government must have regard to the Queensland Plan in deciding the following matters for the corporate plan—

(a)the strategic direction of the local government;

(b)the performance indicators for measuring the local government’s progress in achieving its vision for the future of the local government area.

(3)In this section—

corporate plan, for a local government, means a corporate plan that, under the Local Government Act 2009, section 104(5)(a) or the City of Brisbane Act 2010, section 103(1)(b), forms part of the local government’s system of financial management.

s 11 amd 2016 No. 64 s 43

12Annual progress report—Premier

(1)The Premier must prepare a report for each financial year on the progress made, during the financial year, to implement the Queensland Plan.

(2)In preparing the report, the Premier must consult with the ambassadors council.

(3)The Premier must table a copy of the report for a financial year in the Legislative Assembly by 30 November in the following financial year.

pt 5 hdg amd 2016 No. 64 s 45

15Periodic review of the Queensland Plan

(1)The Premier must review the Queensland Plan—

(a)within 5 years after the Queensland Plan takes effect under section 6; and

(b)at further intervals of not more than 5 years.

(2)The objects of the review include deciding whether—

(a)the long-term vision established by the Queensland Plan for the future of Queensland still reflects the aspirations of the community, business and industry; and

(b)the ways of implementing the long-term vision, as stated in the Queensland Plan, can be improved; and

(c)having regard to the matters mentioned in paragraphs (a) and (b), the Queensland Plan should be revised.

(3)In reviewing the Queensland Plan, the Premier must—

(a)consult with the ambassadors council about the matters mentioned in subsection (2); and

(b)consider any issues raised by the council; and

(c)engage with the community, business and industry in accordance with the principles stated in schedule 1.

16Revising the Queensland Plan

(1)If the Premier decides the Queensland Plan should be revised, the Premier must develop a revised plan.

(2)Section 5 applies to the development of a revised plan under this section.

(3)In developing the revised plan, the Premier must—

(a)consult with the ambassadors council; and

(b)consider any issues raised by the council.

17Ratification of revised plan by Legislative Assembly

(1)The Premier must table a revised plan developed under section 16 in the Legislative Assembly for ratification.

(2)On being ratified by the Legislative Assembly, the revised plan has effect as the Queensland Plan.

19Establishment

The Queensland Plan Ambassadors Council is established.

20Functions

The ambassadors council has the following functions—

(a)to promote awareness, and advocate for the implementation, of the Queensland Plan within the community, business and industry;

(b)to advise the Premier on matters relating to the implementation of the Queensland Plan.

21Premier may give directions

(1)The Premier may give the ambassadors council directions in relation to the performance of its functions.

(2)The ambassadors council must perform its functions subject to—

(a)the general direction and control of the Premier; and

(b)any specific written directions given to it by the Premier.

(3)Without limiting subsection (2)(b), a direction may require the ambassadors council to give the Premier, or provide the Premier with access to, information in its possession about a matter stated in the direction.

22Appointment of members

(1)The ambassadors council is to consist of not more than 15 members appointed by the Premier.

(2)In making an appointment, the Premier must have regard to the desirability of the members collectively representing the following—

(a)the community;

(b)business or industry;

(c)regional Queensland.

23Eligibility for appointment

(1)A person is eligible for appointment as a member of the ambassadors council only if the Premier is satisfied—

(a)the person represents 1 or more of the following—

(i)the community;

(ii)business or industry;

(iii)regional Queensland; and

(b)the person has the ability to promote the vision established by the Queensland Plan for the future of Queensland.

(2)However, a person is not eligible for appointment as a member of the ambassadors council if the person—

(a)is an insolvent under administration under the Corporations Act, section 9; or

(b)is disqualified from managing corporations under the Corporations Act, part 2D.6; or

(c)has been convicted of an indictable offence.

24Term of office

Subject to this division, a member holds office for the term of no longer than 5 years stated in the member’s instrument of appointment.

25Conditions of appointment

(1)A member is to be paid the remuneration and allowances decided by the Premier.

(2)A member holds office on the terms and conditions, not provided for by this Act, decided by the Premier.

26Chairperson and deputy chairperson

(1)The Premier may appoint—

(a)a member of the ambassadors council to be the chairperson of the council; and

(b)another member of the ambassadors council to be the deputy chairperson of the council.

(2)A member may be appointed as the chairperson or deputy chairperson at the same time as the person is appointed as a member.

(3)The chairperson or deputy chairperson holds office for the term, ending not later than his or her term of appointment as a member, stated in his or her appointment as chairperson or deputy chairperson.

(4)The deputy chairperson is to act as chairperson—

(a)during a vacancy in the office of chairperson; and

(b)during all periods when the chairperson is absent from duty or for another reason can not perform the duties of the office.

27Vacancy in office

A member’s office becomes vacant if—

(a)the member resigns office by signed notice given to the Premier; or

(b)the member becomes a person who is an insolvent under administration under the Corporations Act, section 9; or

(c)the member is disqualified from managing corporations under the Corporations Act, part 2D.6; or

(d)the member is convicted of an indictable offence; or

(e)the member’s appointment is terminated by the Premier under subdivision 2.

28Grounds for termination of appointment

The Premier may terminate the appointment of a member only if the Premier is satisfied the member—

(a)has been guilty of misconduct; or

(b)is incapable of performing the member’s duties; or

(c)has neglected the member’s duties or has performed them incompetently.

29Show cause notice

(1)This section applies if the Premier believes a ground exists to terminate the appointment of a member under section 28.

(2)The Premier must first give the member a notice (a show cause notice) stating the following—

(a)that the Premier proposes to terminate the member’s appointment;

(b)the grounds for the proposed termination;

(c)an outline of the facts and circumstances forming the basis for the grounds;

(d)that the member may, within a stated period (the show cause period), make written representations to the Premier to show why the member’s appointment should not be terminated.

(3)The show cause period must end at least 28 days after the member is given the show cause notice.

30Representations about show cause notice

(1)The member may, within the show cause period, make written representations to the Premier about why the member’s appointment should not be terminated.

(2)The Premier must consider all representations (the accepted representations) made under subsection (1).

31Ending show cause process without further action

If, after considering the accepted representations for the show cause notice, the Premier no longer believes a ground exists to terminate the member’s appointment, the Premier—

(a)must not take any further action about the show cause notice; and

(b)must give the member a notice that no further action is to be taken about the show cause notice.

32Termination of appointment

(1)This section applies if—

(a)there are no accepted representations for the show cause notice; or

(b)after considering the accepted representations for the show cause notice, the Premier—

(i)still believes a ground exists to terminate the member’s appointment; and

(ii)believes the termination of the appointment is warranted.

(2)The Premier may terminate the member’s appointment.

(3)If the Premier decides to take action under subsection (2), the Premier must as soon as practicable give the member written notice of the decision.

(4)The decision takes effect on the day the notice is given to the member.

33Conduct of business

Subject to this division, the ambassadors council may conduct its business, including its meetings, in the way it considers appropriate.

34Minimum requirement for meetings

The ambassadors council must meet at least twice a year.

35Presiding at meetings

(1)The chairperson is to preside at all meetings of the ambassadors council at which the chairperson is present.

(2)If the chairperson is not present at a meeting, the deputy chairperson is to preside.

(3)If neither the chairperson nor the deputy chairperson is present at a meeting, a member chosen by the members present is to preside.

36Quorum

The quorum at a meeting of the ambassadors council is a majority of its members for the time being.

37Conduct of meetings

(1)A question at a meeting of the ambassadors council is decided by a majority of the votes of the members present.

(2)Each member present at a meeting has a vote on each question to be decided and, if the votes are equal, the member presiding also has a casting vote.

(3)A member who is present at a meeting and abstains from voting is taken to have voted for the negative.

(4)A meeting may be held using any technology allowing reasonably contemporaneous and continuous communication between members.

Example of use of technology—

teleconferencing

(5)A member who takes part in a meeting under subsection (4) is taken to be present at the meeting.

38Minutes

The ambassadors council must keep minutes of its meetings.

39Delegation by Premier

(1)The Premier may delegate any of the Premier’s functions under this Act to another Minister.

(2)In this section—

functions includes powers.

42Regulation-making power

The Governor in Council may make regulations under this Act.

43Plan developed or tabled before commencement

(1)If the Premier develops a plan (the original plan) for the purpose, and in the way, mentioned in section 5 before the commencement of section 5, the original plan is taken to have been developed under that section.

(2)If the Premier tables the original plan in the Legislative Assembly for ratification before the commencement of section 6(1), the Premier is taken to have complied with that section in relation to the original plan.

section 5(3)

1Long-term vision

The Queensland Plan is to establish a long-term vision for the future of Queensland for implementation by all levels of government and by the community, business and industry.

2Visionary response

The Queensland Plan is to position the State to respond effectively and strategically to existing and future economic, social, environmental and other issues.

3Strategic focus

The Queensland Plan is to provide a strategic approach to planning for the future of Queensland that—

(a)is coordinated, proactive and long-term; and

(b)establishes a clear direction for implementation.

4Community and other involvement

The vision established by the Queensland Plan is to be developed through—

(a)community consultation activities held throughout Queensland; and

(b)consultation with the following—

(i)the community, business and industry;

(ii)entities representing the interests of the community, business or industry;

(iii)local governments;

(iv)any other entity the Premier considers appropriate.

5Bipartisan participation

The process for developing the Queensland Plan is to include bipartisan participation.

6Measurable outcomes

The targets and measures included in the Queensland Plan for the key areas under the plan must enable the following matters to be monitored and reported on—

(a)progress in relation to the targets for the key areas;

(b)whether the targets for the key areas are achievable.

7Joint responsibility

Implementation of the Queensland Plan, including the achievement of targets established by the plan for the key areas under the plan, is the joint responsibility of—

(a)the State; and

(b)local governments; and

(c)the community, business and industry.

section 4

accepted representations see section 30(2).

ambassadors council means the Queensland Plan Ambassadors Council established under section 19.

annual report ...

sch 2 def annual report om 2016 No. 64 s 48(1)

community objectives statement means a statement of the State government’s broad objectives for the community under the Financial Accountability Act 2009, section 10.

sch 2 def community objectives statement ins 2016 No. 64 s 48(2)

corporate plan ...

sch 2 def corporate plan om 2016 No. 64 s 48(1)

government response ...

sch 2 def government response om 2016 No. 64 s 48(1)

key area, under the Queensland Plan, means a key area for the future of Queensland stated in the plan.

public authority ...

sch 2 def public authority om 2016 No. 64 s 48(1)

Queensland Plan means—

(a)a plan that has effect as the Queensland Plan under section 6(2); or

(b)if a revised plan has taken effect as the Queensland Plan under section 17(2)—the revised plan.

show cause notice see section 29(2).

show cause period see section 29(2)(d).

statutory body ...

sch 2 def statutory body om 2016 No. 64 s 48(1)

strategic direction ...

sch 2 def strategic direction om 2016 No. 64 s 48(1)