IN this column on June 2, I expressed my frustration with this unsatisfactory official two-month election period.
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But any possibility it made me (more) cynical about the state of Australian politics was removed by two events I attended on Tuesday and Wednesday.
On Tuesday I interviewed Neil Laurie, who is the clerk of the Queensland parliament.
Don’t let the old-fashioned sound of the title “clerk” deceive you.
Mr Laurie is no Dickensian scribbler batting away requests in the Circumlocution Office (he leaves that to the pollies).
No, he runs our state parliament with the same powers and privileges as directors-general run their departments.
Like other public servants Mr Laurie is nonpartisan but doesn’t serve the government of the day – he serves the Speaker, advising on parliamentary issues and procedures.
If that all sounds a bit dry, Mr Laurie and his team were in town this week to dispel the notion they live in ivory towers.
The parliamentary committees procedure takes the work of parliaments on the road and Mr Laurie was keen to promote the work of these committees – especially as it is often the only way for people in regional and remote areas to get involved in the day-to-day running of our state.
He encouraging people to make submissions on current committees such as vegetation management, which is a hot-button issue across the state.
Mr Laurie was instructive, enthusiastic and open – not qualities you normally associate with public servants and anything anyone does to make parliament less stuffy is to be applauded.
More applause was necessary on Wednesday when I went to the Civic Centre in Mount Isa which was transformed into a mini parliament house for the day.
Mr Laurie was there as was his boss, Speaker Peter Wellington, who was moderating a youth parliament where 70 students from across the north-west divided themselves into government and shadow ministers and debated such topics as whether sugary foods should be taxed.
It was wonderful to see how engaged the children were to the obvious delight of many proud parents and teachers present. DB.