Cross-Border Commissioner Act 2024

This Act may be cited as the Cross-Border Commissioner Act 2024.

The main object of this Act is to establish the office of cross-border commissioner to—

enhance stakeholder engagement and facilitate collaboration between the State and relevant jurisdictions in areas of mutual interest relating to cross-border communities; and

facilitate the identification, and advocate for the resolution, of issues related to residing in cross-border communities that impede regional economic development, community resilience and service delivery.

In this Act—

border jurisdiction means—

New South Wales; or

Northern Territory; or

South Australia.

commissioner means the cross-border commissioner appointed under part 2.

cross-border community means a community in a local government area that is adjacent to the border between the State and a border jurisdiction.

relevant jurisdiction means—

the Commonwealth; or

a border jurisdiction.

There is to be a cross-border commissioner.

The main functions of the commissioner are—

to facilitate the operation of cross-border agreements; and

to build effective relationships with—

stakeholders in cross-border communities; and

stakeholders whose activities affect cross-border communities; and

to enhance stakeholder engagement and facilitate collaboration between the State and a relevant jurisdiction to advocate for—

the resolution of issues affecting cross-border communities; and

improved access to services for cross-border communities; and

to provide advice to stakeholders in cross-border communities on government policies and programs relevant to cross-border communities; and

to provide advice to the government on issues affecting cross-border communities; and

to perform any other function given to the commissioner under this or another Act.

The commissioner has power to do anything necessary or convenient to be done for the performance of the commissioner’s functions.

In this section—

cross-border agreement means an agreement between the State and a border jurisdiction in relation to collaboration on matters affecting—

cross-border communities; and

communities in the border jurisdiction that are adjacent to the border between the State and the border jurisdiction.

To remove any doubt, it is declared that the commissioner is not a statutory body for the Financial Accountability Act 2009 or the Statutory Bodies Financial Arrangements Act 1982.

The commissioner may perform the commissioner’s functions inside and outside Queensland.

The commissioner may delegate a power of the commissioner under this Act or another Act to a public service officer who is appropriately qualified to exercise the power delegated.

The commissioner is appointed by the Governor in Council on the recommendation of the Minister.

The Minister may recommend a person only if the person is appropriately qualified to perform the functions of the commissioner.

The commissioner holds office for the term, of not more than 3 years, stated in the commissioner’s instrument of appointment.

A person may be re-appointed as commissioner only once for a further term of not more than 3 years.

The commissioner is to be paid the remuneration and allowances decided by the Governor in Council.

A person holds office as the commissioner on the conditions decided by the Governor in Council.

The commissioner is appointed under this Act and not the Public Sector Act 2022.

This section applies if a person who is a public service officer is appointed as commissioner.

The person keeps all rights accrued or accruing to the person as a public service officer as if service as the commissioner were a continuation of service as a public service officer.

At the end of the person’s term of office or resignation as commissioner, the person’s service as the commissioner is taken to be service of a like nature in the public service for deciding the person’s rights as a public service officer.