Parliament of Queensland

This article is about the entire legislative structure of Queensland. For its sole chamber of legislation, see Legislative Assembly of Queensland.

Parliament of Queensland
58th Parliament
Logo
Type
Type
HousesLegislative Assembly
SovereignKing (represented by the governor of Queensland)
History
Founded22 May 1860 (22 May 1860)
Leadership
Charles III
since 8 September 2022
Jeannette Young
since 1 November 2021
Pat Weir, Liberal National
since 26 November 2024
David Crisafulli, Liberal National
since 28 October 2024
Steven Miles, Labor
since 28 October 2024
Structure
Seats93
Current Structure of the Legislative Assembly
Political groups
Government (52)
  •   Liberal National (52)

Opposition (35)

Crossbench (5)

Elections
Full preferential voting
Last election
26 October 2024
Next election
October 2028
Meeting place
Parliament House,
Brisbane, Queensland,
Australia
Website
parliament.qld.gov.au
Constitution
Constitution of Queensland

The Parliament of Queensland is the unicameral legislative body of the Australian state of Queensland. As provided under the Constitution of Queensland, the Parliament consists of the King, represented by the Governor of Queensland, and the Legislative Assembly. It has been the only unicameral state legislature in the country since the upper chamber, the Legislative Council, was abolished in 1922. The Legislative Assembly sits in Parliament House in the state capital, Brisbane.

The Queensland Parliament retains plenary legislative power over Queensland, however Commonwealth laws apply to the extent of any inconsistency. Some laws from the colonial era passed by the New South Wales parliament and the Imperial Parliament also remain in force.[1]

Following the outcome of the 2015 election, four additional seats were added to the Legislative Assembly (to a total of 93), the voting system changed from optional preferential voting to full-preferential voting, and unfixed three-year terms were replaced with fixed four-year terms.[2]

History

The Parliament was founded 22 May 1860, less than a year after the Colony of Queensland was created in June 1859.[3] It was convened at military and convict barracks converted for the purpose located on Queen Street, Brisbane.[4] Immigration was an important issue for the early Parliament. Population growth was encouraged with new settlers enticed by land ownership.[5]

In 1915, Queensland became the first state to make voting compulsory at state elections.[6]

Since 1 April 2003, live audio broadcasts have streamed through the internet from the Parliament while it is in session.[7] In June 2007, the Parliament started broadcasting video of parliamentary proceedings. Nine in-house television cameras are used to record sessions.[8]

The first female Speaker, Fiona Simpson was elected on 15 May 2012.[9]

Membership

Main article: Members of the Queensland Legislative Assembly

The Assembly has 93 members of Parliament (MPs). These are intended to represent approximately the same population in each electorate. Voting is by the full preferential voting system, with elections held every four years.

In April 2016, legislation was passed to increase the number of seats in the parliament by four to a total of 93. An amendment was also passed to abolish optional preferential voting. A referendum held the previous month was passed, supporting a bill to establish fixed four-year terms.

Royal assent

Bar chart showing the number of acts of the Parliament of Queensland by year (1989-2024)

The role of the monarch in Parliament is to give royal assent to legislation. This function is in practice exercised by the governor of Queensland, who conventionally will never refuse assent to a bill that has passed the Legislative Assembly. The party or coalition with the most seats in the house is invited by the governor to form a government.

The leader of that party subsequently becomes the premier of Queensland, leading a Cabinet of ministers. In the Liberal National Party, the premier selects members of their party to act as ministers. In the Labor Party, the ministers are elected by party room ballot, with the leader then assigning ministerial portfolios to each one.

Operations

Once all winning candidates have been declared, the governor of Queensland proclaims a date for the start of the new Parliament.[10] It is the role of the Clerk of the Parliament to call members to attendance.

According to the Constitution of Queensland, members of Parliament must swear an oath or affirmation to the King as well as an oath of office before signing a Roll of Members.[10][11] This oath or affirmation must be made to the governor or someone authorised by him or her—typically the clerk of the Parliament.

Queensland's ceremonial mace, 1979

Sworn-in representatives are required to elect a Speaker to preside over the House's business.[10] Before this occurs, the longest serving member who is not a minister presides over the procedings.[12] Once elected the Speaker is dragged to the chair and presented to the Governor at Government House.[10] The symbol of the authority of the Parliament and its Speaker is the ceremonial mace. The sergeant-at-arms carries the mace into the chamber of parliament when the speaker enters at the start of each sitting day and removes it again when the speaker leaves at the end of the sitting day. During the sitting day, the mace rests on two raised brackets on the centre table with the head of the mace lying pointed towards the government's side. The current mace was designed and made in 1978 and is sterling silver with gold plating and is encrusted with 32 Queensland gemstones.[13] Despite being the symbol of Parliament, it is engraved with the words "Government of Queensland".

The ceremonial opening of the new Parliament is marked by a speech by the governor. Traditionally the speech is written by the new government and it may outline current activities, budget details, statistics and proposed lists of legislation which are intended to be introduced.[10]

The Speaker's Chair in the Legislative Assembly

A day in Parliament usually begins with housekeeping matters, including prayers, notifications and the tabling of any documents.[10] An opportunity is then given to Ministers to make statements. During a period of no more than an hour, known as question time, any member may pose a question to a Minister.

Regional sittings

Starting in 2002, the Queensland Parliament has held regional sittings of parliament across the state.[14] Originally being held every three years, the occurrence has become more sporadic. The most recent was in 2023 in Cairns, the first regional sitting since the COVID-19 pandemic.

No. Location Dates Venue Region
1 Townsville 3–5 September 2002 Townsville Entertainment and Convention Centre North Queensland
2 Rockhampton 4–6 October 2005 Pilbeam Theatre Central Queensland
3 Cairns 28–30 October 2008 Cairns Convention Centre Far North Queensland
4 Mackay 24–26 May 2011 Mackay Entertainment and Convention Centre Mackay, Isaac and Whitsunday
5 Townsville 3–5 September 2019 Townsville Entertainment and Convention Centre North Queensland
6 Cairns 9–11 May 2023 Cairns Convention Centre Far North Queensland

Distribution of seats

See also: 2024 Queensland state election and Members of the Queensland Legislative Assembly, 2024–2028

As of 13 September 2024, the composition of Parliament is:

Party Seats
Current Assembly (total 93 seats)
Liberal National 52
 
Labor 36
 
Katter's Australian 3
 
Greens 1
 
Independent 1
 
  • 47 votes as a majority are required to pass legislation.

Longest-serving members

Members of the Queensland Legislative Assembly (directly-elected) who served over 30 years.

Name Photo Party Chamber Start of tenure End of tenure Period of service
James Larcombe   Labor Legislative Assembly 27 April 1912 11 May 1929 41 years, 1 day
11 June 1932 19 May 1956
Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen   Country Legislative Assembly 3 May 1947 1 December 1987 40 years, 212 days
Thomas Foley   Labor Legislative Assembly 20 December 1919 28 May 1960 40 years, 160 days
Harry Walker   Country Legislative Assembly 18 May 1907 3 May 1947 39 years, 350 days
William Groom   Protectionist Legislative Assembly 11 August 1862 4 June 1901 38 years, 297 days
Sir Frank Nicklin   Country Legislative Assembly 11 June 1932 13 February 1968 35 years, 247 days
Alf Muller   Country Legislative Assembly 11 May 1935 17 May 1969 34 years, 6 days
George Barber   Labor Legislative Assembly 6 July 1901 10 May 1935 33 years, 308 days
Tom Aikens   North Qld Labor Legislative Assembly 15 April 1944 12 November 1977 33 years, 211 days
Johnno Mann   Labor Legislative Assembly 4 April 1936 17 May 1969 33 years, 43 days
Andrew Petrie   Ministerialist Legislative Assembly 29 April 1893 8 May 1926 33 years, 9 days
Fiona Simpson   LNP Legislative Assembly 19 September 1992 present 32 years, 332 days
Jack Duggan   Labor Legislative Assembly 14 December 1935 3 August 1957 32 years, 227 days
31 May 1958 17 May 1969
Sir William Knox   Liberal Legislative Assembly 3 August 1957 2 December 1989 32 years, 121 days
Thomas Dunstan n/a   Labor Legislative Assembly 22 May 1915 11 May 1929 31 years, 301 days
11 May 1935 7 March 1953
Ted Walsh   Labor Legislative Assembly 11 May 1935 3 May 1947 31 years, 18 days
29 April 1950 17 May 1969
Frank Cooper   Labor Legislative Assembly 22 May 1915 12 March 1946 30 years, 294 days


Members of the nominated Queensland Legislative Council who served over 30 years.

Name Photo Party Chamber Start of tenure End of tenure Period of service
James Cowlishaw   Independent Legislative Council 18 April 1878 23 March 1922 43 years, 339 days
Frederick Hart   Independent Legislative Council 11 July 1872 15 July 1915 43 years, 4 days
James Lalor   Independent Legislative Assembly 5 December 1878 12 May 1888 42 years, 156 days
Legislative Council 23 August 1888 11 August 1921
John Heussler   Independent Legislative Council 26 September 1866 8 October 1870 40 years, 338 days
13 December 1870 26 October 1907
Andrew Thynne   Independent Legislative Council 26 January 1882 23 March 1922 40 years, 56 days
William Taylor   Independent Legislative Council 17 April 1886 23 March 1922 35 years, 340 days
Frederick Brentnall   Independent Legislative Council 17 April 1886 23 March 1922 35 years, 340 days
John McDougall   Independent Legislative Council 1 May 1860 13 September 1895 35 years, 135 days
Dr Charles Marks   Independent Legislative Council 28 November 1888 6 January 1892 33 years, 57 days
11 March 1892 23 March 1922
Peter MacPherson   Independent Legislative Council 1 July 1881 12 September 1913 32 years, 73 days

See also

References

  1. ^ "The power of the Parliament of Queensland". Legislation Handbook. Department of the Premier and Cabinet. 23 April 2012. Archived from the original on 18 February 2013. Retrieved 5 January 2013.
  2. ^ Green, Antony (21 April 2016). "Electoral Law Ructions in the Queensland Parliament". Archived from the original on 8 December 2016. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  3. ^ "Almost 150 years strong" (lift out section). The Courier-Mail. 28 August 2007. pp. 40 to 41.
  4. ^ "About Us". Queensland Parliament. Archived from the original on 28 April 2013. Retrieved 3 January 2013.
  5. ^ "Creation of a state". Government of Queensland. 30 July 2012. Archived from the original on 18 November 2012. Retrieved 3 January 2013.
  6. ^ Tony Moore (3 January 2013). "Compulsory confusion at the ballot box". Brisbane Times. Fairfax Media. Archived from the original on 5 January 2013. Retrieved 3 January 2013.
  7. ^ "Qld parliament goes live on the internet". The Sydney Morning Herald. 1 April 2003. Archived from the original on 28 February 2005. Retrieved 3 January 2013.
  8. ^ "Parliament accused of censorship over camera ban". Brisbane Times. Fairfax Media. 30 May 2008. Archived from the original on 11 March 2016. Retrieved 3 January 2013.
  9. ^ Daniel Hurst (15 May 2012). "Simpson elected state's first female Speaker as Parliament resumes". Brisbane Times. Fairfax MEdia. Archived from the original on 19 February 2024. Retrieved 5 January 2013.
  10. ^ a b c d e f Wanna, John; Tracey Arklay (2010). The Ayes Have It: The History of the Queensland Parliament 1957–1989 (PDF). ANU E Press. pp. 12–15. ISBN 978-1921666315. Archived (PDF) from the original on 21 January 2022. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
  11. ^ Constitution of Queensland 2001 (Qld) s 22
  12. ^ "Opening of Parliament" (PDF). Queensland Parliament. October 2024. p. 3. Retrieved 16 December 2024. The Clerk calls upon the longest continuously serving member who is not a minister, to take the chair as the presiding member.
  13. ^ "Information on Parliament". Queensland Parliament. Archived from the original on 13 March 2023. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
  14. ^ "Regional Sittings". parliament.qld.gov.au. Parliament of Queensland. Archived from the original on 17 May 2023. Retrieved 17 May 2023.

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