Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says the government is taking steps to release cabinet papers after 30 days instead of 30 years as she tries to downplay integrity concerns in the wake of the Coaldrake report into accountability in the public sector.
Professor Peter Coaldrake released his final report titled Let The Sunshine In on Tuesday, which made 14 recommendations designed to strengthen accountability and integrity mechanisms in the Queensland government.
Ms Palaszczuk said the landmark report on accountability in the public service was "groundbreaking and revolutionary" and will make Queensland a leader in integrity.
The recommendations included proactive release of cabinet documents, enhancement of integrity bodies, protection for whistleblowers, and strengthening of lobbying regulation.
Ms Palaszczuk said she will accept all the findings and labelled the release of cabinet documents as the most fundamental recommendation.
"That is incredibly brave thinking, and for a government to embrace, it is revolutionary.
"My director-general has been in contact with New Zealand. We're looking at the way in which they released their cabinet papers because Peter Coaldrake drew extensively in relation to the procedures that are adopted in New Zealand.
"We have already identified the public servant that will lead the implementation, which is David Mackie, he is the head of the Attorney-General's department."
Today is the first time the Premier has addressed the findings of the report after she had a two-hour dental surgery yesterday which she said meant she was unable to front the media.
'You don't need a lobbyist'
Ms Palaszczuk defended the role of lobbyists and their relationship with the government.
"I'm making it very clear to the entire business community across Queensland," she said.
"We go out and about, we do our community cabinets, all my ministers have been out this week across regional Queensland. I myself have visited two hospitals, people come up and talk to me all the time."
She said the timeline on when the recommendations would be implemented would be defined by parliament's schedule.
"Some of these recommendations need legislative change, so hopefully we can get something into the parliament in August or go through the normal parliamentary processes," she said.
"I expect this to be up and running by the end of the year or at the start of next year at the very latest."
Ms Palaszczuk said she recognised there needed to be an improvement in the culture of the government.
"Can I say I treat people with respect, and I expect everybody else to follow my lead," she said.
"What I can see is that this is a health check on government and what I'm saying is, I have read it, and I'm implementing it and I'm taking personal responsibility for ensuring that the recommendations are implemented.
"I think it's a good thing for this government."
Crisafulli renews call for royal commission
Opposition Leader David Crisafulli said Ms Palaszczuk's comments showed a lack of responsibility.
"I have looked at the report, and it has highlighted some incredible failures of governance," Mr Crisafulli said.
"What it doesn't do is hold a single person accountable. What it doesn't do is give a little bit of protection for whistleblowers to come forward and name names.
"What it doesn't do is give the resources to drive the cultural change that is needed.
Mr Crisafulli said if Ms Palaszcuk was the leader she claims, she would have ruled out dealing with lobbyists.
"The question was, should those lobbyists continue to have the keys to the palace?" he said.
"And a leader would have said no, but unfortunately, when you owe so much, when you are owned, lock, stock and barrel, sometimes the political games will continue rather than the reform and the transparency that is needed."
