57th Parliament of Queensland
| 57th Parliament of Queensland | |||||
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| Overview | |||||
| Legislative body | Queensland Legislature | ||||
| Meeting place | Parliament House, Brisbane | ||||
| Term | 24 November 2020 – | ||||
| Election | 2020 state election | ||||
| Government | Labor | ||||
| Opposition | Liberal National | ||||
| Website | www | ||||
| Legislative Assembly | |||||
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| Members | 93 | ||||
| Speaker |
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| Deputy Speaker |
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| House Leader | Yvette D'Ath | ||||
| Party control | Labor (52) | ||||
| Sessions | |||||
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The 57th Parliament of Queensland is the current meeting of the unicameral chamber of the Queensland Parliament known as the Legislative Assembly. The 2020 state election gave the Labor Party a majority (control) in parliament, winning fifty-two of ninety-three seats (55.91%).[5][6] The First day of the opening of the 57th Parliament of Queensland was 24 November 2020.[7]
Major events and legislation[edit]
2021[edit]
- In May 2021, following a three-year Queensland Law Reform Commission (QLRC) report on the legal framework of assisted suicide, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk's government introduced the Voluntary Assisted Dying Act 2021 (introduced by Minister for Health and Ambulance Services, Yvette D'Ath), which would legalise voluntary assisted dying (VAD).[8] The bill sat in parliamentary committee's for 121 days before being read a third time. The bill was discussed extensively (over three days)[9] and received criticism and reservations from many MPs,[10] including Labor member for Logan, Linus Power.[11] The bill passed 61–30,[12] receiving royal assent on 26 September 2021. Upon the bill's succession through parliament, marches and rallies began, calling for the proposed legislation to be terminated.[13][14] The bill did not come into effect until 1 January 2023.[15][16]
2023[edit]
- On 30 March 2023, a bill, colloquially known as Jack's Law (Police Powers and Responsibilities (Jack's Law) Amendment Bill 2022) after Jack Beasley,[17] whom was stabbed to death in 2019, passed through Parliament.[18] The new legislation gives powers to the Queensland Police Service (QPS) to randomly stop and search people for knives and other weapons on public transport and in Safe Night Precincts across Queensland.[19][20] Using hand-held metal detectors, the legislation allows Queensland Police Service (QPS) to stop and search anyone within the aforementioned areas. The law came into place following a lengthy trial on the Gold Coast.[21] The new legislation was criticised by the Queensland Council for Civil Liberties (QCCL) (44 days after its initial introduction into parliament), whom stated: "This legislation authorizes mass, suspicion less, warrantless magnetometer searches." Adding: "The traditional requirement that before a search can proceed there must be a reasonable suspicion that a crime has been committed or a weapon found is a bulwark protection of our liberty. Such a requirement is essential to being able to prevent arbitrary searches or searches based on bias. The granting of such powers will inevitably result in unwarranted invasions of privacy."[22]
- On 2 December 2022, the Attorney-General and Minister for Women, Shannon Fentiman, introduced the Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Bill 2022 (BDMR Bill),[23] later titled the Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Act 2023 (BDMR Act), into Parliament.[23] The bill, if passed, would give residents of Queensland (cited as trans and gender diverse people) the ability to formally register the change of their sex without the requirement of undergoing sexual reassignment surgery,[23] alongside other reforms.[24][25] The legislation in place at the time of the introduction of the BDMR Bill allowed for the change of sex on birth certificates if a statutory declaration provided from two medical practitioners verified one had undergone "sexual reassignment" surgery.[25] Fentiman told The Courier-Mail that the current laws in place “unnecessarily medicalises the recognition of a person's lived identity.”[25] Following the bills introduction into parliament, it was referred to the "Legal Affairs and Safety Committee" for consideration,[26] and heard from various organisations, including the Queensland Human Rights Commission (QHRC), Queensland Law Society (QLS), Queensland Family and Child Commission, Women's Forum Australia and the Australian Christian Lobby (ACL).[27] The bill passed through the committee process in April (128 days after its introduction).[28] On 14 June 2023 the BDMR Bill passed 50–34,[29] with the approval of both Greens MPs.[30] Following the passing of the bill, New South Wales became the only remaining Australian state or territory that had not implemented any legislative gender self-identification reforms, like the requirement for gender-affirming surgery.[24][25][31]
Leadership[edit]
Speaker[edit]
Legislative Assembly Speaker
Curtis Pitt (Labor)
The incumbent Speaker and member for Mulgrave, Curtis Pitt, was re-elected as Speaker following the opening of Parliament on 24 November 2020. He defeated the Liberal National's candidate Ray Stevens in a two-way contest.[32]
| Candidate | Seat & Region | Votes | % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Curtis Pitt | Mulgrave | Far North Queensland | 59 | 63.44 | |
| Ray Stevens | Mermaid Beach | South East Queensland | 34 | 36.56 | |
| Total | 93 | 100 | |||
Deputy Speaker[edit]
The member for Greenslopes, Joe Kelly, was appointed as Deputy Speaker on the third "House Sitting Date" following the opening of the new session of Parliament.[33] From 16 May to 12 September 2023 Speaker Curtis Pitt took paid leave. Joe Kelly, then-Deputy Speaker, took on the speakership position during that period[1][2] with Labor MP for Cook Cynthia Lui becoming acting Deputy Speaker.[3]
Leader of the House[edit]
Member for Redcliffe and Attorney-General Yvette D'Ath assumed the position of Leader of the House in 2017, having maintained the position consistently ever since.
Regional parliament[edit]
Starting in 2002,[34] the Queensland Legislative Assembly has held occasional "regional sittings," also known as "regional parliaments," in regional areas across the state. Between 8–12 May 2023 (sixth regional sitting), the regional parliament was held in the Far North Queensland city of Cairns for the second time, hosted at the Cairns Convention Centre.[35][36] The previous regional sitting of Queensland Parliament was 3–5 September 2019 in the North Queensland city of Townsville.[37]
Party summary[edit]
2 Greens
52 Labor
| Affiliation | Party (shading shows control)
|
Total | Vacant | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| QG | IND | KAP | QLP | LNP | NQF | ON | ||||
| End of previous Parliament[38] | 1 | 1 | 3 | 48 | 38 | 1 | 1 | 93 | 0 | |
| Begin (24 November 2020) | 2 | 1 | 3 | 52 | 34 | — | 1 | 93 | 0 | |
| Latest voting share % | 2.15 | 1.08 | 3.23 | 55.91 | 36.56 | — | 1.08 | |||
Members[edit]
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Notes[edit]
- ^ a b c d Beginning 16 May 2023, Curtis Pitt took leave.[1][2] Deputy Speaker, Joe Kelly, was acting speaker for the duration of Pitt's leave. On 23 May 2023, Acting Speaker Kelly appointed Cynthia Lui (member for Cook) to be his acting deputy throughout his tenure as speaker.[3] Pitt returned as Speaker on 12 September 2023.[4]
References[edit]
- ^ a b "Queensland Speaker of the house Curtis Pitt announces he is taking time off for mental health". ABC News. 13 May 2023. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
- ^ a b Atfield, Cameron (13 May 2023). "Queensland Speaker Curtis Pitt to take leave, citing mental health". Brisbane Times. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
- ^ a b Mr Joe Kelly, Greenslopes, Acting Speaker (23 May 2023). "Abesence Of Speaker" (PDF). Record Of Proceedings. Queensland: Legislative Assembly. p. 1453. ISSN 1322-0330. Archived (PDF) from the original on 10 December 2023. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
- ^ "Queensland Speaker Pitt returns to active duties after mental health break". InQueensland. 1 September 2023.
- ^ "Queensland Election 2020 Results". abc.net.au. ABC News. 2020.
- ^ Madden, Cathy (12 January 2021). "Queensland State Election 2020: a quick guide" (PDF). parlinfo.aph.gov.au. Department of Parliamentary Services (DPS).
- ^ "Opening of the First Session of the 57th Queensland Parliament". govhouse.qld.gov.au. 25 November 2020.
- ^ Zillman, Stephanie; Riga, Rachel (25 May 2021). "Voluntary assisted dying legislation introduced to Queensland Parliament as protesters voice opposition". ABC News.
- ^ Smee, Ben (16 September 2021). "Queensland MPs vote to legalise voluntary assisted dying". Guardian Australia.
- ^ van Vonderen, Jessica (18 September 2021). "Queensland's voluntary assisted dying bill inspires dignified debate". ABC News.
- ^ McKenna, Kate (6 June 2021). "Linus Power becomes first state Labor MP to voice concerns about Queensland's VAD laws". ABC News.
- ^ Dennien, Matt; Caldwell, Felicity (16 September 2021). "How every MP voted on Queensland's voluntary assisted dying bill". Brisbane Times.
- ^ Moore, Tony (11 September 2021). "Hundreds protest euthanasia bill, call for extra $247m for palliative care". Brisbane Times.
- ^ Bowling, Mark (30 August 2021). "Rally against euthanasia before crucial Queensland debate". The Catholic Leader.
- ^ McKenna, Kate (1 January 2023). "Voluntary assisted dying laws come into effect today in Queensland, so how does it work?". ABC News.
- ^ "Voluntary assisted dying is now legal in Queensland. Here's what you need to know". SBS News. 1 January 2023.
- ^ Sheehan, Heidi; Young, Bern (29 March 2023). "Parents of Gold Coast stabbing victim Jack Beasley push to expand police powers". ABC News.
- ^ Riga, Rachel (30 March 2023). "Jack's Law passes Queensland parliament, giving police 'incredibly robust' powers to deter knife crime". ABC News.
- ^ Meacham, Savannah (30 March 2023). "Jack's Law legislated to fight knife crime in Queensland". Nine News.
- ^ Brennan, Aisling (30 March 2023). "Queensland parliament passes Jack's Law in bid to stem knife crime". News.com.au.
- ^ "Queensland police to get expanded powers to randomly scan people for knives". Guardian Australia. 9 November 2022.
- ^ "Police Powers and Responsibilities (Jack's Law) Amendment Bill 2022" (Press release). Queensland Council for Civil Liberties (QCCL). 13 January 2023.
- ^ a b c "New Bill Modernises Birth Certificates". statements.qld.gov.au. Queensland Government. 2 December 2022.
- ^ a b Hinchliffe, Joe (1 December 2022). "Decades-long wait for trans birth certificate reforms nearly over for Queensland's Emily Wells". Guardian Australia. Archived from the original on 5 January 2023.
- ^ a b c d "Big changes proposed for Queensland birth certificates". News.com.au. 30 November 2022. Archived from the original on 29 November 2022.
- ^ "Queensland Government Response To Legal Affairs And Safety Committee Report, No. 41 – Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Bill 2022" (PDF). documents.parliament.qld.gov.au. Queensland Parliament.
- ^ "Inquiry into the Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Bill 2022" (PDF). documents.parliament.qld.gov.au. Queensland Parliamentary Committees. February 2023.
- ^ "Queensland passes law to allow changes to gender identity". Sky News Australia. 9 April 2023.
- ^ "Record Of Proceedings – First Session Of The Fifty-Seventh Parliament – Wednesday, 14 June 2023" (PDF). documents.parliament.qld.gov.au. Queensland Parliament. 14 June 2023.
- ^ "Births, Deaths, Marriages Registration Bill 2022". amymacmahon.com.au. 14 June 2023.
- ^ Gregoire, Paul (23 June 2023). "Once a World Leader in Transgender Law, NSW Now Sadly Lags Behind All Other States". sydneycriminallawyers.com.au.
- ^ a b "Record of Proceedings – First Session of the Fifty-Seventh Parliament – Tuesday, 24 November 2020" (PDF). documents.parliament.qld.gov.au. Parliament of Queensland. 24 November 2020.
- ^ "Record of Proceedings – First Session of the Fifty-Seventh Parliament – Thursday, 26 November 2020" (PDF). documents.parliament.qld.gov.au. Parliament of Queensland. 26 November 2020.
- ^ "Regional Sittings". parliament.qld.gov.au. Parliament of Queensland.
- ^ Charlie McKillop (8 May 2023). Annastacia Palaszczuk brings Queensland parliament to Cairns to 'listen and engage' (Radio Broadcast). Cairns, Queensland, Australia: ABC Far North. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
- ^ "Far North Queensland Regional Sitting 2023". parliament.qld.gov.au. Parliament of Queensland. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
- ^ "Regional Parliament 2019". qld.gov.au. Queensland Government.
- ^ "Queensland Parliamentary Record – The 56th Parliament, 13 February 2018 – 6 October 2020" (PDF). documents.parliament.qld.gov.au. Parliament of Queensland.