NT scrutiny committee members call for shake-up after recommendations rejected

Non-government members of the Northern Territory's Legislative Scrutiny Committee are demanding a shake-up of the body, citing concerns over its effectiveness and government influence. The committee, responsible for scrutinizing proposed laws, is currently reviewing a contentious bill to alter NT child protection legislation.

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The expectation that [the public is] going to have time [within seven days] to actually understand what's in that bill and meaningfully engage with it and make recommendations to improve it, that's what the point of that whole process is, it's just not possible.

Independent member Justine Davis and Labor Deputy Leader Dheran Young argue that the committee's seven-day deadlines for public submissions on bills are insufficient for meaningful engagement. They also claim the government frequently disregards the committee's recommendations, even when its own government members on the committee have supported them. This is particularly concerning given the NT has only one parliamentary chamber, making the scrutiny committee's role vital.

The current government, the Country Liberal Party (CLP), holds a majority on the committee, with its backbench representatives occupying the chair and deputy chair positions. Davis highlighted a recent instance where the government rejected all 11 recommendations made by the committee to improve a bill on racing and wagering, despite government members having been part of formulating those recommendations. This rejection, she stated, makes the committee's work nearly impossible and undermines the public's ability to contribute to lawmaking.

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This is work that many people have done, both within the committee and within the community, to try and make sure that what we are doing here is making the best law we can, but none of the recommendations have been taken on board by government.

The committee's effectiveness is further questioned by the short submission periods for complex legislation. Davis cited a 120-page bill that required public input within seven days, a timeframe she deems unrealistic for the public to fully understand and provide feedback on. The committee's role is crucial for ensuring robust legislation in the territory, and its current operational challenges are prompting calls for significant reform.

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It's curious because there are three government members on that committee, so they have been part of making those recommendations.