2.3 Categories of Government Boards

Many different names are given to Government Boards including board, commission, authority, trust, tribunal, committee and council.

Queensland Government Boards can be divided into six broad categories: trading, governing, policy/review/specialist, regulatory/registration/appeal, trustees and advisory/consultative.

It should be noted that some Government Boards perform functions across more than one of the listed categories. For example, the Electoral Commission of Queensland reviews the number of electoral districts in Queensland in addition to performing advisory and specialist research functions. The following classifications are based on the primary function of these Boards. Additional information should be obtained from the enabling legislation for each particular Board.

Trading

Boards of public trading enterprises engaged in commercial activities

e.g. Port Authorities, Queensland Abattoir Corporation, and Queensland Rail. In some cases these trading enterprises may be Government Owne Corporations. GOCs are dealt with in Section 11 of this guide.

Governing

Boards of Statutory Authorities which govern the operation of an agency

eg. Universities, Legal Aid Board and Legal Aid Queensland, Queensland Art Gallery Board of Trustees and Queensland Theatre Company.

Policy/Review/Specialist

State level committees with a policy or coordination role

eg. Local Government Grants Commission, Queensland Recreation Areas Management Board and the Queensland School Curriculum Council (P-10).

Boards and committees with a review role

e.g. Accreditation Council, Patient Review Tribunal, and Health Rights Commission.

Expert committees with a specialist, scientific or research role

e.g. Radiation Safety Council of Queensland and the Electrical Approval and Energy Labelling Advisory Committee.

Regulatory/Registration/Appeal

Boards with a regulatory or registration role

e.g. Dental Board of Queensland, Board of Teacher Registration and Queensland Gaming Commission.

Boards and tribunals with a quasi-judicial, complaints or appeals role

e.g. Anti-Discrimination Commission and Tribunal, Land Tribunal, Solicitors' Board and Retail Shop Leases Tribunal.

Trustees

Boards which manage public trusts

eg. Anzac Day Trust, Major Sports Facilities Authority and Boards of Trustees of Grammar Schools.

Advisory/Consultative

Boards and committees with an advisory or consultative role

eg. Brisbane Forest Park Advisory Planning Board, National Trust of Queensland, Queensland Heritage Council and the Rural Fire Council.

The primary role of trading and governing Boards is to guide and direct the organisation. They set performance goals; ensure corporate compliance and management accountability; endorse strategic plans and approve operating budgets. They ensure that the organisation has the resources necessary to achieve goals, monitor progress and report outcomes.

Regulatory, registration and appeal Boards determine standards, monitor and regulate practice, grant licences, investigate complaints, review decisions and make judgements.

Coordination committees facilitate policies, plans or projects within and across portfolios.

Advisory committees advise and make recommendations to Ministers and agencies on policies, plans and practices or issues referred to the committee for comment.

Some roles are common to most Government Boards, namely to:

• be strategic - adopt a long term perspective, anticipate and respond to changes in the external environment, and integrate various corporate functions;
• be client focused - be aware of community and Government opinion and needs; balance the demands of different stakeholders;
• ensure the highest standards of financial accountability and ethical behaviour; and
• maintain effective planning, information and control systems to monitor progress.

Last reviewed: 17 July, 2009

Last updated: 22 July, 2009

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