Qld: Opposition ups ante on four-year terms

00-00-0000
Qld: Opposition ups ante on four-year terms

By Paul Osborne

BRISBANE, Feb 17 AAP - The Queensland Opposition today pledged to back four-year termsin exchange for new accountability measures.

Premier Peter Beattie yesterday wrote to new Opposition leader Lawrence Springborgseeking his support for a referendum on fixed four-year terms.

Mr Springborg told reporters today he had replied to Mr Beattie, seeking a packageof measures to make the government more open.

"If he can address, to our standard, the issues that I have put to him regarding theseven points and we are comfortable with that then I would be happy to talk to my organisationabout support for four year terms," Mr Springborg said.

"But we've also got to understand that Queensland doesn't have the check and balancethat other states enjoy - that's an Upper House."

The list of demands included a winding back of Freedom of Information fees, placementof most government documents on the internet and an end to cabinet being used unnecessarilyto hide information.

Stricter guidelines for answering parliamentary questions, changes to rules governingOpposition motions and a boost in staff and resources were also sought.

Mr Springborg said he also wanted the electoral system reviewed to ensure the numberof seats won more closely reflected the number of votes secured.

"Such a review should ascertain why one political party can hold 75 per cent of theseats with less than 50 per cent of the vote and make independent recommendations on howthis can be avoided in the future," Mr Springborg said.

Meanwhile, Mr Springborg today promised to hold a royal commission into fuel pricesif elected to office.

The commission would be part of a strategy for the first 100 days in government, he said.

AAP pjo/sc/gjr/ts

KEYWORD: TERMS