Queensland Government

File:Queensland Government Logo.svg

Queensland Government Logo

The Government of Queensland is commonly known as the "Queensland Government". The form of the Government of Queensland is prescribed in its Constitution, which dates from 1859, although it has been amended many times since then. Since 1901 Queensland has been a state of the Commonwealth of Australia, and the Australian Constitution regulates its relationship with the Commonwealth.

Queensland is governed according to the principles of the Westminster system, a form of parliamentary government based on the model of the United Kingdom. Executive power is exercised by the Premier of Queensland and the Cabinet, who are appointed by the Governor, but who hold office by virtue of their ability to command the support of a majority of members of the Legislative Assembly. The Queensland Legislative Council was the upper house of the Queensland Parliament until its abolition in 1922. Consequently, the Queensland Legislative Assembly is the only unicameral state parliament in Australia.

Legislative power rests with the Parliament of Queensland, which consists of the Crown, represented by the Governor of Queensland, and the Queensland Legislative Assembly. (Since 1922 Queensland has been the only Australian state which does not have a two-house, or bicameral, legislature). The Legislative Assembly generally sits at Parliament House, Brisbane.

Judicial power is exercised by the Supreme Court of Queensland and a system of subordinate courts, but the High Court of Australia is the final arbitrator of most legal questions, other federal courts have jurisdiction on matters which fall under the ambit of the Federal Government as defined by the Australian Constitution.

Emergency services are provided by the Queensland Government Department of Emergency Services, which sponsors among other agencies the Queensland Fire and Rescue Service, the Queensland Police Service, Biosecurity Queensland (within the Department of Primary Industries and Fishereis), and Queensland Health, especially through an extensive network of public hospitals.

Government Ministerial Portfolios

• Premier: Anna Bligh
• Deputy Premier, Minister Health: Paul Lucas
• Treasurer and Minister for Employment and Economic Development: Andrew Fraser
• Minister for Public Works and Information and Communication Technology: Robert Schwarten
• Minister for Natural Resources, Mines and Energy and Minister for Trade: Stephen Robertson
• Minister for Education and Training: Geoff Wilson
• Minister for Police, Corrective Services and Emergency Services: Neil Roberts
• Minister for Main Roads: Craig Wallace
• Minister for Primary Industries, Fisheries and Rural and Regional Queensland: Tim Mulherin
• Minister for Local Government and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships: Desley Boyle
• Minister for Infrastructure and Planning: Stirling Hinchliffe
• Minister for Transport: Rachel Nolan
• Minister for Tourism and Fair Trading: Peter Lawlor
• Minister for Child Safety and Minister for Sport: Phil Reeves
• Minister for Community Services and Housing and Minister for Women: Karen Struthers
• Minister for Disability Services and Multicultural Affairs: Annastacia Palaszczuk
• Minister for Climate Change and Sustainability: Kate Jones
• Attorney-General and Minister for Industrial Relations: Cameron Dick

Courts and Tribunals

• Children's Court of Queensland
• Coroners Court of Queensland
• District Court of Queensland
• Supreme Court of Queensland
• Magistrates' Court of Queensland

See also

• Crime and Misconduct Commission
• Department of Main Roads
• Department of Natural Resources and Water
• Department of State Development and Trade
• Queensland Health
• Queensland Police
• QR Limited
• Department of Premier and Cabinet
• Government of Western Australia

External links

• Queensland Government web site
• List of Queensland Government departments
• List of Queensland Government non-departmental bodies
• The Constitution of Queensland
• Get involved — Queensland Government community engagement website.
• Queensland Parliament
• The Premier of Queensland