Parliament of Queensland

Parliament of Queensland
Parliament of Queensland
57th Parliament
Type
Type	Unicameral
Houses	Legislative Assembly
History
Founded	22 May 1860; 161 years ago
Leadership
Monarch	Elizabeth II ; since 6 February 1952
Governor	Paul de Jersey ; since 29 July 2014
Speaker of the Legislative; Assembly	Curtis Pitt, Labor ; since 13 February 2018
Premier	Annastacia Palaszczuk, Labor ; since 14 February 2015
Leader of the Opposition	David Crisafulli, Liberal National ; since 12 November 2020
Structure
Seats	93
Political groups	Government (52); Labor (52); Opposition (34) Liberal National (34); Crossbench (7) Katter's Australian (3); Greens (2); One Nation (1); Independent (1);
Elections
Voting system	Full preferential voting
Last election	31 October 2020
Next election	26 October 2024
Meeting place
	Parliament House,; Brisbane, Queensland,; Australia
Website
	www.parliament.qld.gov.au
Constitution
	Constitution of Queensland

The Parliament of Queensland is the legislature of Queensland, Australia. As provided under the Constitution of Queensland, the Parliament consists of the Monarch of Australia 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.

All laws applicable in Queensland are authorised by the Parliament of Queensland, with the exception of specific legislation defined in the Constitution of Australia, very limited criminal law applying under the Australia Act 1986 as well as a small volume of remaining historical laws passed by the Parliament of New South Wales and the Imperial Parliament.^[1]

Following the outcome of the 2015 election, successful amendments to the electoral act in early 2016 include: adding an additional four parliamentary seats from 89 to 93, changing from optional preferential voting to full-preferential voting, and moving from unfixed three-year terms to 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[]

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 (FPV), with elections held approximately once every three 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[]

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 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 partyroom 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 Monarch of Australia as well as an oath of office before signing a Roll of Members.^[10] The Clerk of the Parliament has the power to swear in members.

Sworn-in representatives are required to elect a Speaker to preside over the House's business.^[10] Before this occurs the Clerk may select and point to the next member who may speak. Once elected the Speaker is dragged to the chair and presented to the Governor at Government House. 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.

Distribution of seats[]

As of 31 October 2020, the composition of Parliament is:

Party		Seats
Party		Current Assembly (total 93 seats)
	Labor	52	52
	Liberal National	34	34
	Katter's Australian	3	3
	Greens	2	2
	One Nation	1	1
	Independent	1	1

47 votes as a majority are required to pass legislation.

References[]

^ "The power of the Parliament of Queensland". Legislation Handbook. Department of the Premier and Cabinet. 23 April 2012. Retrieved 5 January 2013.
^ Green, Antony (21 April 2016). "Electoral Law Ructions in the Queensland Parliament". Archived from the original on 8 December 2016. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
^ "Almost 150 years strong" (lift out section). The Courier-Mail. 28 August 2007. pp. 40 to 41.
^ "About Us". Queensland Parliament. Retrieved 3 January 2013.
^ "Creation of a state". Government of Queensland. 30 July 2012. Retrieved 3 January 2013.
^ Tony Moore (3 January 2013). "Compulsory confusion at the ballot box". Brisbane Times. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 3 January 2013.
^ "Qld parliament goes live on the internet". The Sydney Morning Herald. 1 April 2003. Retrieved 3 January 2013.
^ "Parliament accused of censorship over camera ban". Brisbane Times. Fairfax Media. 30 May 2008. Retrieved 3 January 2013.
^ Daniel Hurst (15 May 2012). "Simpson elected state's first female Speaker as Parliament resumes". Brisbane Times. Fairfax MEdia. Retrieved 5 January 2013.
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e 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 1921666315.

External links[]

Official website

[ppq-1] "The power of the Parliament of Queensland". Legislation Handbook. Department of the Premier and Cabinet. 23 April 2012. 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.

[about-4] "About Us". Queensland Parliament. Retrieved 3 January 2013.

[coas-5] "Creation of a state". Government of Queensland. 30 July 2012. Retrieved 3 January 2013.

[ccat-6] Tony Moore (3 January 2013). "Compulsory confusion at the ballot box". Brisbane Times. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 3 January 2013.

[qpgl-7] "Qld parliament goes live on the internet". The Sydney Morning Herald. 1 April 2003. Retrieved 3 January 2013.

[paoc-8] "Parliament accused of censorship over camera ban". Brisbane Times. Fairfax Media. 30 May 2008. Retrieved 3 January 2013.

[ses-9] Daniel Hurst (15 May 2012). "Simpson elected state's first female Speaker as Parliament resumes". Brisbane Times. Fairfax MEdia. Retrieved 5 January 2013.

[tahi-10] Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e 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 1921666315.

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show v t Members of the Parliament of Queensland
Legislative Assembly	1860–1863 1863–1867 1867–1868 1868–1870 1870–1871 1871–1873 1873–1878 1878–1883 1883–1888 1888–1893 1893–1896 1896–1899 1899–1902 1902–1904 1904–1907 1907–1908 1908–1909 1909–1912 1912–1915 1915–1918 1918–1920 1920–1923 1923–1926 1926–1929 1929–1932 1932–1935 1935–1938 1938–1941 1941–1944 1944–1947 1947–1950 1950–1953 1953–1956 1956–1957 1957–1960 1960–1963 1963–1966 1966–1969 1969–1972 1972–1974 1974–1977 1977–1980 1980–1983 1983–1986 1986–1989 1989–1992 1992–1995 1995–1998 1998–2001 2001–2004 2004–2006 2006–2009 2009–2012 2012–2015 2015–2017 2017–2020 2020–2024
Legislative Council	1860–1869 1870–1879 1880–1889 1890–1899 1900–1909 1910–1916 1917–1922

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Legislature	Parliament Legislative Assembly Electoral districts Members of Parliament Speaker of the Legislative Assembly Leader of the House Opposition Leader Shadow Cabinet Manager of Opposition Business
Judiciary	Supreme Court Court of Appeal Court of Disputed Returns District Court Children's Court of Queensland Magistrates Court Coroners Court of Queensland Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal Other courts and tribunals

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