Parliamentary History

2023: Queensland Parliament met in Cairns from 9 to 11 May for the sixth regional sitting of the Queensland Parliament, marking the second time the regional parliament has convened in Cairns.

2022: Queensland Parliament commemorated the centenary of the abolition of the Legislative Council on 19 March, holding an historical seminar in conjunction with the Royal Historical Society of Queensland.

2022: The Junior Indigenous Youth Parliament (JIYP) was delivered for the first time in the Torres Strait in July, marking the first time JIYP was delivered in a First Nations community.

2022: A major project to repair the exterior of the Parliamentary Annexe and refurbish Members' offices and bedrooms in the Annexe commenced and is due for completion in February 2024.

2021: The 10-year anniversary of the Queensland Parliament portfolio committee system was commemorated on 15 October with a panel event comprising current and former members.

2021: The Queensland Parliament held its first ‘livestreamed’ public event via the Queensland Parliament’s Facebook page as part of the Parliament’s portfolio committee 10-year anniversary event in October.

2020: On 16 March, Queensland was the first Australian state to declare a public health emergency in response to the global outbreak of coronavirus.

2020: The Legislative Assembly sittings were suspended from 19 March to late May as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

2020: Changes to the Queensland Parliament were initiated as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, including remote working, reduced public access to the parliamentary precinct and suspension of tours and events from 23 March.

2020: Procedural changes to the Queensland Parliament were implemented as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, including that no more than 20 members could sit in the Chamber at one time.

2020: Estimates hearings held in August 2021 were conducted with some members and witnesses participating via videoconference, the first time estimates hearings were held using videoconferencing technology in Queensland.

2019: The Queensland Parliament conducted its fifth regional sitting at the Townsville Entertainment Centre from 3 to 5 September.

2019: The 30th anniversary of the tabling of the Fitzgerald Report was acknowledged on 18 September, with a display and event attended by Tony Fitzgerald QC and former Premier Mike Ahern AO.

2019: New Parliamentary Partnership Agreements (also known as ‘Twinning Partnerships’) were signed with Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu parliaments during a Trade Mission from 24 June to 26 June.

2018: The Queensland Parliament commemorated the centenary of the signing of the Armistice, the historic agreement that led to the end of the First World War, with the Parliament Remembers events held in late October and early November.

2018: Queensland Parliament commissioned the War Service Honour Board as part of the Armistice Day Centenary, honouring the 54 former Queensland Parliament members who actively served in military campaigns prior to 1899, the Boer War and the First World War.

2018: Queensland Parliament marked the 150th anniversary of the first sitting in the Parliament House (PH150) with events including an Open House on 11 August.

2017: Ms Cynthia Lui was elected as the member for Cook on 25 November, becoming the first Torres Strait Islander woman to be elected to Queensland Parliament.

2017: Stephen Andrew was elected as the member for Mirani on 25 November, becoming the first person of South Sea Islander descent to be elected to Queensland Parliament.

2017: The Redistribution of Electoral Districts in Queensland occurred in May, increasing the number of electorates and members from 89 to 93.

2016: A referendum conducted on 19 March passed to approve a Bill to provide for fixed four-year terms for the Queensland Legislative Assembly.

2015: Hon Leeanne Enoch was elected as the member for Algester on 31 January, becoming the first Aboriginal woman elected to Queensland Parliament and the first Aboriginal Minister.

2015: Peter Wellington, the member for Nicklin was elected on 24 March as the first Speaker of the Queensland Parliament to hold the position as an Independent member.

2014: The 150th anniversary of the formal establishment of the Queensland Parliament's Hansard service was celebrated on 25 August.

2014: The G20 Leader’s Retreat function was held at Parliament House as a prelude to the G20 Leader’s Summit held in Brisbane on 15 and 16 November.

2013: The Speakers of the Queensland Parliament and the Parliament of Papua New Guinea entered into a Parliamentary Partnership Agreement (also known as a ‘Twinning Partnership’) on 25 September.

2012: The member for Maroochydore, Fiona Simpson, became Queensland Parliament's first female Speaker on 15 May.

2011: Queensland Parliament introduced the portfolio-based committee system in May. This system provides for committee examination of Bills before the House and subordinate legislation in each of the portfolio areas as well as undertake the Estimates process for Appropriation Bills.

2011: The Queensland Parliament's fourth regional sitting was held in Mackay from 24-26 May at the Mackay Entertainment and Convention Centre.

2010: The Queensland Parliament celebrated its 150th anniversary (P150), with an Open House on 22 May and other events occurring during the May parliamentary sitting week.

2009: Hon Ann Bligh became the first female elected state premier in Australia at the March Queensland General Election.

2008: The Far North Queensland sitting of Parliament was held in Cairns from 28 to 30 October at the Cairns Convention Centre.

2008: Following the 2008 Queensland Redistribution Commission Review, Queensland's state electoral boundaries were redistributed and became effective on 10th September. The number of electorates remained unchanged at 89.

2007: The second regional sitting of Parliament was held in Central Queensland at the Pilbeam Theatre in Rockhampton from 4 to 6 October.

2007: Hon Anna Bligh became the first female Premier of Queensland, following the retirement of Premier Peter Beattie.

2005: The Centenary of Queensland women obtaining the right to vote in Queensland elections was acknowledged in the Queensland Parliament on 24 February.

2002: Queensland Parliament permitted petitions to be lodged electronically (known as ‘e-petitions’).

2002: The Queensland Parliament conducted its first regional sitting of parliament from 3 to 5 September, sitting at the Townsville Entertainment and Convention Centre.

1999: The 1999 electoral redistribution was the first to be conducted by the Queensland Redistribution Commission, however the number of electorates and members remained unchanged at 89.

1991: The first electoral redistribution by the Electoral and Administrative Review Commission was completed, however the number of electorates and members remained unchanged at 89.

1981-82: Renovations of Parliament House were undertaken, including construction of the porte cochere.

1979: The Parliamentary Annexe was completed and opened by the Duke of Gloucester on 12 March.

1974: Eric Deeral, a respected Gamay Elder of the Guugu Yimithirr nation, was the first Indigenous person to be elected to an Australian state parliament, representing the electorate of Cook.

1940: The Australian War Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Robert Menzies, met in the Legislative Council Chamber.

1929: Irene Longman, member for Bulimba, was the first woman elected to the Queensland Parliament.

1922: The Legislative Council was abolished on 23 March, the date that the Constitution Amendment Act 1922 (Qld) was proclaimed. As a result, Queensland became the only unicameral State Parliament in Australia, and one of the few in the Commonwealth.

1907: Queensland women were able to vote in elections for the first time in the 1907 Queensland state election.

1878: Queensland Parliament was the first in the world to have a daily official report of the debates (Hansard) without any form of Government censorship.

1868: The first sitting in the new Parliament House was conducted on 4 August.

1865: The Foundation stone of Parliament House was laid by the Governor of Queensland Sir George Bowen on 14 July.

1864: The Queensland Parliament Record of Proceedings (Hansard) was established.

1860: The first elections were held across Queensland’s 16 electorates from 27 April to 11 May, with 26 members elected to the Legislative Assembly and 11 nominated to the Legislative Council for a period of five years.

1860: The first meeting of Queensland Parliament was held in the old Convict Barracks in Queen Street on 22 May.

1859: Order-in-Council on 6 June provided for separation of Queensland from New South Wales.