A new Advisory and Monitoring Board is to be established to support the operations of the Public Trustee and ensure the vulnerable people of Queensland enjoy better and more transparent services.
Announcing the move, Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Shannon Fentiman said the community would have greater confidence in the Public Trustee’s office when the Board is operating.
“The new Public Trustee Advisory and Monitoring Board will enhance transparency and public accountability of the services provided by the Public Trustee,” Ms Fentiman said.
She said the Board would monitor the performance of the Public Trustee’s functions and provide advice where required as well as recommend legislative changes or improvements.
“This will ensure that strong protections stay in place for clients,” the Attorney-General said.
She said the new legislation was proposed following the review of the Public Trustee by the Public Advocate last year.
“The review acknowledged that much positive change had already occurred at the Public Trustee,” Ms Fentiman said.
“The formation of a monitoring board is a key recommendation in ensuring the progress is maintained and improved further.”
She said the new Board will be expected to act independently in the public interest and will not be subject to anyone on how it performs its functions to anyone, including the Minister,
Ms Fentiman said the Board will consist of a combination of community members with relevant fiscal, seniors and disability and legal knowledge, qualifications and skills and lived experience of impaired-capacity, either for themselves or others.
“It will also contain senior Public Service officers and at least one Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person,” she said.
