Queensland Government Explained

Border:state
Government Name:Queensland Government
Leader Title:Premier (Steven Miles)
Appointed:Governor (Jeannette Young)
Ministries:22 government departments[1]
Budget: $87.6 billion (202324)[2]
Address:1 William Street, Brisbane
Background Color:
  1. 73182C

The Queensland Government is the state government of Queensland, Australia, a parliamentary constitutional monarchy. Government is formed by the party or coalition that has gained a majority in the state Legislative Assembly, with the governor officially appointmenting office-holders.[3] The first government of Queensland was formed in 1859 when Queensland separated from New South Wales under the state constitution. Since federation in 1901, Queensland has been a state of Australia, with the Constitution of Australia regulating its relationship with the federal government.

Queensland's system of government is influenced by the Westminster system and Australia's federal system of government. Executive acts are given legal force through the actions of the governor of Queensland (the representative of the monarch, Charles III), although the governor in practice performs only ceremonial duties, with de facto executive power lying with the Cabinet. The Cabinet is the government's chief policy-making organ which consists of the premier and all ministers. Each minister is responsible for exercising policy and legislation through the respective state government department.

The headquarters for each government department are located in the capital city of Brisbane, with most government departments based at 1 William Street, a purpose-built skyscraper in Brisbane CBD.

Executive and judicial powers

Queensland is governed according to the principles of the Westminster system, a form of parliamentary government based on the model of the United Kingdom. Legislative power rests with the Parliament of Queensland, which consists of the King, represented by the Governor of Queensland, and the one house, the Legislative Assembly of Queensland. De jure executive power rests formally with the Executive Council, which consists of the Governor and senior minister, but is exercised de facto by the state cabinet.

The Governor, as representative of the Crown, is the formal repository of power, which is exercised by him or her on the advice of the Premier of Queensland and the Cabinet. The Premier and Ministers are appointed by the Governor, and hold office by virtue of their ability to command the support of a majority of members of the Legislative Assembly. Judicial power is exercised by the Supreme Court of Queensland and a system of subordinate courts, but the High Court of Australia and other federal courts have overriding jurisdiction on matters which fall under the ambit of the Australian Constitution.

Current Ministry

See main article: Miles ministry and Opposition (Queensland).

PortraitMinisterPortfolioTook officeLeft officeDuration of tenurePartyElectorate
Cabinet Ministers
Steven Miles15 December 2023IncumbentLaborMurrumba
Cameron Dick15 December 2023IncumbentLaborWoodridge
Grace Grace
  • Minister for State Development and Infrastructure
  • Minister for Industrial Relations
  • Minister for Racing
18 December 2023IncumbentLaborMcConnel
Shannon Fentiman18 December 2023IncumbentLaborWaterford
Yvette D'Ath18 December 2023IncumbentLaborRedcliffe
Mick de Brenni
  • Minister for Energy and Clean Economy Jobs
18 December 2023IncumbentLaborSpringwood
Meaghan Scanlon
  • Minister for Housing, Local Government and Planning
  • Minister for Public Works
18 December 2023IncumbentLaborGaven
Mark Ryan
  • Minister for Police and Community Safety
18 December 2023IncumbentLaborMorayfield
Leeanne Enoch
  • Minister for Treaty
  • Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships
  • Minister for Communities
  • Minister for the Arts
18 December 2023IncumbentLaborAlgester
Di Farmer
  • Minister for Education
  • Minister for Youth Justice
18 December 2023IncumbentLaborBulimba
Mark Furner
  • Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries
  • Minister for Rural Communities
18 December 2023IncumbentLaborFerny Grove
Glenn Butcher
  • Minister for Regional Development and Manufacturing
  • Minister for Water
18 December 2023IncumbentLaborGladstone
Scott Stewart
  • Minister for Resources and Critical Minerals
18 December 2023IncumbentLaborTownsville
Leanne Linard
  • Minister for the Environment and the Great Barrier Reef
  • Minister for Science and Innovation
18 December 2023IncumbentLaborNudgee
Nikki Boyd
  • Minister for Fire and Disaster Recovery
  • Minister for Corrective Services
18 December 2023IncumbentLaborPine Rivers
Bart Mellish
  • Minister for Transport and Main Roads
  • Minister for Digital Services
18 December 2023IncumbentLaborAspley
Lance McCallum
  • Minister for Employment and Small Business
  • Minister for Training and Skills Development
18 December 2023IncumbentLaborBundamba
Charis Mullen
  • Minister for Child Safety
  • Minister for Seniors and Disability Services
  • Minister for Multicultural Affairs
18 December 2023IncumbentLaborJordan
Michael Healy
  • Minister for Tourism and Sport
21 December 2023IncumbentLaborCairns
Assistant Ministers[4] [5]
Bruce Saunders
  • Assistant Minister for Train Manufacturing, Regional Development and Jobs
18 December 2023IncumbentLaborMaryborough
Julieanne Gilbert
  • Assistant Minister for State Development, Infrastructure, Industrial Relations and Racing
18 December 2023IncumbentLaborMackay
Brittany Lauga
  • Assistant Minister for Health and Regional Health Infrastructure
18 December 2023IncumbentLaborKeppel
Ali King
  • Assistant Minister for Housing, Local Government, Planning and Public Works
18 December 2023IncumbentLaborPumicestone
Jennifer Howard
  • Assistant Minister for Treasury, Trade and Investment
18 December 2023IncumbentLaborIpswich
Shane King
  • Assistant Minister for Clean Economy Jobs
18 December 2023IncumbentLaborKurwongbah
Corrine McMillan
  • Assistant Minister for Education and Youth Justice
18 December 2023IncumbentLaborMansfield
Jimmy Sullivan
  • Assistant Minister for Justice and Veterans' Affairs
18 December 2023IncumbentLaborStafford
PortfolioShadow MinisterState ElectorateYear ElectedYears in ParliamentImage
Leader of the Opposition
Shadow Minister for Tourism
Shadow Minister for Olympics and ParalympicsState Member for Broadwater (2017–)
David Crisafulli MPBroadwater20175
Deputy Leader of the Opposition
Shadow Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning
Shadow Minister for Olympic and Paralympic Infrastructure and Jobs
Shadow Minister for Industrial RelationsState Member for Kawana (2009–)
Jarrod Bleijie MPKawana200913
Shadow Minister for Finance and Better Regulation
Shadow Minister for Integrity in GovernmentState Member for Maroochydore (1992–)
Fiona Simpson MPMaroochydore199230
Shadow Treasurer
Shadow Minister for Investment and TradeState Member for Toowoomba South (2016–)
David Janetzki MPToowoomba South20166
Shadow Minister for Health and Ambulance Services
Shadow Minister for Medical Research
Shadow Minister for WomenState Member for Mudgeeraba (2009–)
Ros Bates MPMudgeeraba200913
Shadow Minister for Police and Corrective Services
Shadow Minister for Fire and Emergency Services
Shadow Minister for Rural and Regional AffairsState Member for Burdekin (2015–)
Dale Last MPBurdekin20157
Shadow Minister for Customer Service
Shadow Minister for Transport and Main RoadsState Member for Chatsworth (2012–)
Steve Minnikin MPChatsworth201210
Shadow Attorney-General
Shadow Minister for Justice
Shadow Minister for CBD ActivationState Member for Clayfield (2006–)
Tim Nicholls MPClayfield200616
Shadow Minister for Education
Shadow Minister for the ArtsState Member for Moggill (2015–)
Christian Rowan MPMoggill20157
Shadow Minister for Water and the Construction of Dams
Shadow Minister for Regional Development and ManufacturingState Member for Nanango (2009–)
Deb Frecklington MPNanango200913
Shadow Minister for Natural Resources, Mines and EnergyState Member for Condamine (2015–)Pat Weir MPCondamine20157
Shadow Minister for Housing and Public Works
Shadow Minister for Sport and Racing
Shadow Minister for Olympic and Paralympic Sport and Regional EngagementState Member for Everton (2009–)
Tim Mander MPEverton200913
Shadow Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and ForestryState Member for Gympie (2015–)Tony Perrett MPGympie20157
Shadow Minister for Local Government
Shadow Minister for Disaster Recovery
Shadow Minister for VolunteersState Member for Warrego (2015–)
Ann Leahy MPWarrego20157
Shadow Minister for Seniors, Communities and Disability Services
Shadow Minister for Multiculturalism and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander PartnershipsState Member for Surfers Paradise (2004–)
John-Paul Langbroek MPSurfers Paradise200418
Shadow Minister for Environment and the Great Barrier Reef
Shadow Minister for Science and Innovation
Shadow Minister for YouthState Member for Bonney (2017–)
Sam O'Connor MPBonney20175
Shadow Minister for Employment and Training
Shadow Minister for Small and Family Business
Shadow Minister for Open DataState Member for Buderim (2017–)
Brent Mickelberg MPBuderim20175
Shadow Minister for Child Protection
Shadow Minister for the Prevention of Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence
Shadow Minister for Women's Economic SecurityState Member for Whitsunday (2020–)
Amanda Camm MPWhitsunday20202
Shadow Assistant Ministers
Assistant to the Leader of the Opposition
Shadow Assistant Minister for Western Queensland
Shadow Assistant Minister for TradeState Member for Gregory (2015–)
Lachlan Millar MPGregory20157
Shadow Assistant Minister for COVID Economic RecoveryState Member for Ninderry (2017–)Dan Purdie MPNinderry20175
Shadow Assistant Minister for Justice
Shadow Assistant Minister for Youth
Shadow Assistant Minister for the Night-time Economy
Shadow Assistant Minister for Cultural DevelopmentState Member for Currumbin (2020–)
Laura Gerber MPCurrumbin20202
Shadow Assistant Minister for Higher Education
Shadow Assistant Minister for Research
Shadow Assistant Minister for Defence Industry
Shadow Assistant Minister for VeteransState Member for Southern Downs (2017–)
James Lister MPSouthern Downs20175
Shadow Assistant Minister for State Development
Shadow Assistant Minister for Natural Resources and MinesState Member for Lockyer (2017–)
Jim McDonald MPLockyer20175
Shadow Assistant Minister for Mental Health
Shadow Assistant Minister for Drug and Alcohol Treatment
Shadow Assistant Minister for Families
Shadow Assistant Minister for SeniorsState Member for Southport (2012–)
Rob Molhoek MPSouthport201210
Shadow Assistant Minister for Tourism Industry DevelopmentState Member for Burnett (2012–)Stephen Bennett MPBurnett201210
Shadow Assistant Minister for FinanceState Member for Theodore (2012–)Michael Crandon MPTheodore201210
Shadow Assistant Minister for Multicultural Communities and International Student AttractionState Member for Oodgeroo (2009–)Mark Robinson MPOodgeroo200913
Shadow Parliamentary Roles
Manager of Opposition BusinessState Member for Glass House (2009–)Andrew Powell MPGlass House200913
Shadow Cabinet SecretaryState Member for Toowoomba North (2012–)Trevor Watts MPToowoomba North201210
WhipState Member for Coomera (2009–)Mark Boothman MPCoomera200913
Deputy WhipLaura Gerber MP

Queensland Government departments

See main article: List of Queensland Government departments.

The Queensland Government delivers services, determines policy and regulations, including legal interpretation, by a number of agencies grouped under areas of portfolio responsibility. Each portfolio is led by a government minister who is a member of the Parliament. there were 23 lead agencies, called government departments, that consist of:[6]

A range of other agencies support the functions of these departments.

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 22 December 2023 . Our structure . Queensland Government . en-AU.
  2. Web site: 19 December 2023 . Budget Overview - Queensland Budget Update . 10 March 2024 . Queensland Government Budget.
  3. Web site: November 2022 . The Premier of Queensland . Everyone's Parliament . Queensland Parliament.
  4. News: McCormack . Madura . 19 May 2023 . Revealed: Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk's other quiet reshuffle . The Courier-Mail . 21 May 2023 .
  5. News: Messenger . Andrew . 2023-12-15 . Steven Miles unveils five new cabinet ministers as he's sworn in as Queensland premier . en-GB . The Guardian . 2023-12-17 . 0261-3077.
  6. Web site: Queensland Government Administrative Arrangements Order (No. 2) 2019 - Made by the Governor in Council on 12 December 2019. The State of Queensland. 30 December 2019.