The Queensland Legislative Assembly will meet in Cairns for the sixth regional sitting of the Queensland Parliament from Tuesday 9 to Thursday 11 May 2023.
Attending Regional Parliament is free and everyone is welcome.
As we get closer to the event, we will be sharing more about what’s on and how you can get involved. Follow Queensland Parliament on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to stay up-to-date.
WHAT’S ON
From Monday 8 May to Friday 12 May, there’ll be plenty of events, including:
- Parliamentary Sitting Week;
- Youth Parliaments;
- school excursions to the Parliament; and
- cultural and community events.
At the Regional Sitting visitors will have the opportunity to view first-hand the Regional Parliament and experience democracy in action.
People of all ages can learn about our democratic process, see how Parliament operates, and interact with their local members.
PARLIAMENTARY SITTING WEEK
The House will assemble each day in the Cairns Convention Centre for a full parliamentary sitting week from 9-11 May 2023.
You can read about a day in the life of Queensland Parliament to see what’s involved in a typical sitting day.
A day in the life of the Queensland Parliament
VISITING THE REGIONAL SITTING OF PARLIAMENT
During the sitting week you can view your parliament at work from the Legislative Assembly Chamber public gallery.
Sessional Orders - download the hours of sitting and the Order of Business.
Please note that on entry to the Regional Sitting of Parliament, visitors will need to show Photo identification (such as a Driver Licence) and pass through a brief security screening, similar to an airport.
YOUTH PARLIAMENTS
The Youth Parliament program will include a Youth Parliament and a dedicated Junior Indigenous Youth Parliament in the week of our Regional Sitting.
Youth Parliaments are an exciting opportunity for years 5 and 6 students to gain hands-on understanding of Queensland’s parliamentary processes by participating in a mock parliamentary sitting in the same chamber as the real Parliament.
The Hon Curtis Pitt MP, Speaker of the Queensland Parliament, will preside over both events and will be joined by other Members of Parliament who will act as temporary chairs. Participation in each program is free, but spaces are limited and registrations are essential.
CAIRNS REGIONAL YOUTH PARLIAMENT - FULLY BOOKED OUT
Monday 8 May 2023
The Cairns Regional Youth Parliament is designed from years 5 and 6 students.
Participating Youth MPs will introduce and then debate a mock Bill or motion on a youth issue, followed by an Adjournment Debate which allows students the opportunity to discuss issues of interest to them falling within the jurisdiction of the Queensland Parliament.
Nominations for the Cairns Regional Youth Parliament closed on Friday 3 March 2023.
Click here to find out more about the Cairns Regional Youth Parliament
JUNIOR INDIGENOUS YOUTH PARLIAMENT - FULLY BOOKED OUT
Friday 12 May 2023
The Junior Indigenous Youth Parliament is designed for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students in years 5 and 6.
Participating Youth MPs will introduce and then debate a mock Bill or motion on a youth issue, speak about an inspirational Indigenous person and speak in an Adjournment Debate which allows students the opportunity to discuss issues of interest to them falling within the jurisdiction of the Queensland Parliament.
Nominations for the Junior Indigenous Youth Parliament closed on Friday 3 March 2023.
Click here to find out more about the Junior Indigenous Youth Parliament
SCHOOL EXCURSIONS TO THE PARLIAMENT
Teachers are invited to book an excursion for their primary and secondary class groups.
Excursions will be provided by the Parliamentary Education Team on Tuesday 9, Wednesday 10 and Thursday 11 May 2023. The excursion program will include viewing Parliament from the gallery, a teacher directed tour of educational displays and a ‘classroom’ session.
SUBSIDIES FOR TRAVEL
A subsidy scheme has been established to enable students to visit and experience the Regional Sitting. Subsidies will be open to state schools and non-state schools in Far North Queensland and will be subject to their distance from the event.
For eligibility and more information, visit the Queensland Government website.
BOOK YOUR EXCURSION
Bookings for the school excursion program are open now:
Click here to book a school excursion for your class
Click here to access our Risk Assessment Planning Document
Click here to access our Curriculum Links and Support Materials Guide
Booking details have also been shared with schools directly.
School Session times are based on previous Regional Sitting Sessional Orders. Sessional Orders for the 2023 Regional Sitting will be published at the discretion of the House and may result in changes to the schedule.
CLASSROOM VISITS
17 – 21 April 2023
For secondary schools attending the regional sitting, we are offering a limited program of school visits. The sessions will provide students with prior understanding about our representative democracy before their excursion to the Parliament.
The Speaker of the Parliament and local Members of Parliament may also attend the classroom visits.
All of the necessary materials to a classroom session will be provided. Activities may include role plays of the legislative process.
Sessions are free and run for 60 minutes.
REGISTER YOUR INTEREST IN A CLASSROOM VISIT
You can register your interest in a school visit when booking an excursion. Bookings for school excursion program are open now:
Book a school excursion for your class
Booking details have also been shared with schools directly.
School Session times are based on previous Regional Sitting Sessional Orders. Sessional Orders for the 2023 Regional Sitting will be published at the discretion of the House and may result in changes to the schedule.
WHERE TO FIND US
- Cairns Convention Centre, Sheridan St & Wharf St, Cairns City, QLD
- Monday 8 May - Friday 12 May 2023