Mr SPRINGBORG (Southern Downs—NPA) (Leader of the Opposition) (11.30 am): This morning
we saw an appalling breach of confidentiality in this parliament by the Premier in relation to the four-year
parliamentary term discussions we have been undertaking. Queenslanders should be very disappointed
that we have lost a great opportunity to bring in genuine fixed four-year term reform in this state. Let me
put it on the record very clearly. Representatives from the Queensland coalition went into both of those
meetings and took the Premier at her word. It is very obvious to us that her word is worth absolutely
nothing. We gave a commitment that there would be no discussions by any of us outside of that
process. When I was asked about it by the media, I said, ‘We have had a constructive meeting and we
are making progress.’ That was agreed on.
To date, I and my colleagues have kept those confidences. Who has breached those
confidences? The Premier has. What this shows is that this government has never been serious. The
coalition remains absolutely committed to this process. I can give an absolute commitment today that
within 100 days of the election of any government that I lead we will put a bill through the parliament to
facilitate a referendum on fixed four-year terms. But do members know what they will get? We will also
get a repeal of this government’s lying legislation. There will also be decent freedom of information laws
and decent reform of the standing orders. It is a great pity that today this government has jettisoned an
opportunity for very significant electoral reform in this state because it wants to play politics and wants to
set itself up for an early election. The government knows that it cannot argue for a four-year term and go
to a referendum in November this year and then have an early election in February or March next year.
This is what this is all about. This is about laying the ground rules for an election—standing up and
blaming others.
Time expired.

Queensland Parliament Hansard 30 Apr 2008 Page 1321

#34 , #35 and #36 :

“Bligh offered Springborg the option of fixed four year terms in April this year. He agreed with the proposal for half a day and by next day Springborg had curled up into election mode ‘Small ball ‘ ”

“At one point this year Springborg did support four year fixed terms, ”

“It was the first act of Springborg when he defeated Seeney to call for four year fixed term elections.”

Springborg views seem to reflect my earlier posts claim that Political Leaders in ‘oz’ sensibly support both 4 year terms and that those 4 year terms be also a fixed 4 years It seems th politics , will , grandstanding/opportunism/trade offs that seem to be problam

A pity , its not sort of issue to inspire voters to push for when bread & butter issues naturaly ar there priority

The Constitution Act Amendment Act 1934—
4 Duration of Legislative Assembly not to be extended except in
accordance with this section
(1) The provisions of section two of “The Constitution Act Amendment
Act of 1890” (referred to in the preamble to this Act) shall not be amended
in the direction of extending the period of three years, which, as provided
by the said section two, is the period for which any Legislative Assembly,
now or hereafter summoned and chosen, shall continue from the day
appointed for the return of the writs for choosing the same and no longer
(subject, nevertheless, to be sooner dissolved by the Governor), nor shall
any other Act or law relating to the Constitution be passed extending such
period of three years as aforesaid, except in the manner provided by this
section.

(2) A Bill for any purpose within subsection (1) of this section shall not
be presented to the Governor for the reservation thereof for the
signification of His Majesty’s pleasure, or for the Governor’s Assent, or be
in any other way assented to, until the Bill has been approved by the
electors in accordance with this section.
(3) On a day not sooner than two months after the passage of the Bill
through the Legislative Assembly, the question for the approval or
otherwise of the Bill shall be submitted to the electors qualified to vote for
the election of members of the Legislative Assembly according to the
provisions of “The Elections Acts, 1915 to 1932,” or any Act amending the
same or in substitution therefor.
Such day shall be appointed by the Governor in Council.
(4) When the Bill is submitted to the electors the vote shall be taken in
such manner as the Legislature prescribes.
(5) If a majority of the electors voting approve the Bill, it shall be
presented to the Governor for the reservation thereof for the signification
of His Majesty’s pleasure.
(6) The provisions of this section shall extend to any Bill for the repeal
or amendment of this section.

Less than 24 hours after toppling Jeff Seeney as leader of the Queensland Nationals, Lawrence Springborg has issued his first challenge to the Bligh Labor Government - put an end to election-day guessing games.

The State Opposition Leader today called on Premier Anna Bligh to commit to fixed four-year parliamentary terms to give Queenslanders greater certainty and commitment from their elected representatives.

"People are sick and tired of politicians playing the business of politics, not the business of representation," Mr Springborg said.

"We're seeing too many opportunistic progressions towards early elections in Queensland that suit politicians.

"What I am doing today is inviting Anna Bligh to support a referendum on fixed four-year terms. This is a significant issue because it is about giving back to the people of Queensland the control of their government."

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/news/queensland/springborg-calls-for-fouryear-terms/2008/01/22/1200764235925.html

Mr SPRINGBORG: I am more than happy to come back and debate four-year terms—absolutely.
I am on the public record with regard to that. In actual fact, I take that interjection. Only recently, on 22 January, I challenged the Premier to support a referendum on four-year terms. I support four-year fixed terms. We are on the public record as saying that. We also need a commitment from the government in relation to some form of decent parliamentary reform.

27 Feb 2008 Queensland Parliament Hansard Page 473

Hon. AM BLIGH (South Brisbane—ALP) (Premier) (9.44 am): This afternoon the cross-party working group on a proposed referendum on fixed four-year terms for the Queensland parliament will meet for the second time. The first item on today’s agenda is confirmation of the Liberal and National Party positions on this important issue.
In February this year the parliament voted unanimously to support a referendum on the introduction of fixed four-year terms. This presented us with an extraordinary opportunity to bring greater certainty to the Queensland parliamentary system. However, the opposition leader, as everyone knows, has since tried to move away from this position, jeopardising our chance to make the most significant reform to the parliamentary system in 86 years. I urge the coalition to maintain a bipartisan
approach to this issue.
The introduction of four-year terms will bring Queensland into line with all other states and territories and local government here in Queensland. An agreement to make the term fixed will bring improved certainty and remove any perception of politics in the timing of elections.
A 1991 referenda on four-year parliamentary terms failed after a split between the National and Liberal parties, with the Nationals failing to support the referendum. In 2008, I hope that the National and Liberal parties have a chance to present a united front. I look forward to the meeting this afternoon with a great degree of optimism.

Queensland Parliament Hansard Page 1026 Ministerial Statements 16 Apr 2008

ie 1/ Presently there ar arguments in favour of “Federal” FIXED terms (to remove politcal opportunissm/cynicism etc to ensure accountability of a Govt’s FULL term performance , etc )…but concept is not operationaly (Federaly)

ie 2/ ALSO presently there ar arguments in favour of “Federal” 4 year terms (to allow better Govt long term planning & implementation of reel policys & seeing some reel outcomes to measure vs politicans rhetoric , etc)…but concept is not operationaly
(Federaly)

Th nexus of th 2 currently unoperationaly concepts is as I said with th poor NSW Govt Reason is that in practice States hav moved to accepting 4 year terms (unfixed) for all th favourable reasons listed abov favouring 4 year terms (unfixed) This practical implementation & its reasons is broadly accepted

Those that selectively pick a poor NSW Govt out as a reason against 4 year terms (unfixed) ar flying against th general politcal views of both Partys that 4 years (unfixed) is healthy governement , and occasionaly you’ll get & hav to wear a poor one as now

What those opponents ar arguing for seeing NSW holds HoR majority is a “unrepresentative” ‘Upper house’ (if it exists in a State) always threatening to terminate (early) a poor Govt resulting in more unhealthy govt generaly , th very thing 4 year terms do more provide….OR ar simply arguing to return to 3 year tems …same result … lees long term planning , more unhealthy govt generaly

Crucialy by making that argument , they ALSO kill off any argument to actualy make 4 year terms actualy fixed as well …as there argument would be using NSW that we’re guaranteed having Rees till 2011 irrespective

So an argument using NSW against 4 year terms ALSO becomes an argument against 4 year terms fixed as I suggested And Rees poor Govt makes getting agreement to fixing very difficult and an asset to th NO vote groups

That would leave fixing terms at 3 years ….but as I saidd thats against Politial Partys views that 3 year terms ar satisfactory for healthy Govt (note at all stages I’m suggesting politcal partys views ar objective views on actualy governing , but excluding always dormint politcal opportunism to oppose any Govt Ref proposal)

So we hav 4 possible combinations , 3 or 4 year terms , each either fixed or unfixed….one of which th curent 3 years unfixed would seem th worst of th 4 So I do feel th poor NSW Govt is a terible example to quote against 4 year terms and by extension if fixing of 4 year terms fixed as its not a norm to assess upon And I feel at minimum ‘Federal’ should follow many States into 4 years terms for more healthy Federal Govt governing , and if trade off had to be no fixing then reluctantly I’d wear it