General News
19 November, 2024
Weir to be new Speaker
Member for Condamine Pat Weir is set to become the Speaker of Queensland’s new Parliament following his nomination by Premier David Crisafulli.
Mr Weir is expected to be appointed as Speaker at the next sitting of Parliament on Tuesday 26th November.
He will replace outgoing Speaker Curtis Pitt, the member for Mulgrave, who has retired from politics.
Mr Weir said he was honoured to be asked by new Premier David Crisafulli to fill the role, but was reticent to speak about his ambitions for the position until after being appointed.
“At the moment, Curtis Pitt is still the speaker and I don’t want to call into question the authority of the Speaker,” he said.
“But I will focus on transparency, openness and real consultation with the public on legislation.”
The four-term Condamine MP said he had been keeping quiet about his conversations with the Premier for several months, until the official announcement was made.
“It was offered to me (prior to the election),” he said.
“I was obviously hoping to be a Minister, but (the Premier) came up to me and said, ‘I would like you to be Speaker’.”
Premier Crisafulli issued a public statement lauding his member’s capability for the role.
“With a decade of experience in the Parliament, Pat has the respect of both sides of the House and will bring a fair and measured approach to the role of Speaker,” he said.
“Having previously served as Temporary Speaker, Pat’s knowledge of Parliamentary standing orders will ensure stability and fairness in the 58th Parliament.”
Mr Weir said he would continue to lobby for the Condamine electorate, while being Speaker.
“I’ve had people come up to my office and ask whether I will continue to represent them,” he said.
“I’m not going to be all about the Speakership.”
The soon-to-be-appointed Speaker said he would raise issues from the campaign trail with the new Ministers, particularly local police staffing, road infrastructure and landowners rights.
The Condamine MP will be the first Speaker from an electorate representing Oakey, and the first from a rural Darling Downs electorate since Sir Alan Fletcher MP for Cunningham who served as Speaker from 1957 to 1960.
Mr Weir said he remembered a visit from Sir Alan, then Education Minister, to his school at Cecil Plains as a young child.
“He came in one day and gave us a public holiday!” he said.
“While he was there he said ‘Don’t come to school on Friday - we’ll give you a holiday’.”
The appointment means MPs from the Darling Downs and surrounds will be strongly represented in prominent positions in the new Parliament.
Treasurer David Janetzki, who is originally from Brymaroo, was announced as Minister for Energy & Minister for Home Ownership.
Former Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington who previously represented the entire former Rosalie Shire area in her electorate of Nanango before a 2017 redistribution, was appointed as Attorney-General & Minister for Justice & Minister for Integrity.
Ann Leahy, who represents the electorate of Warrego, has been appointed Minister for Local Government & Water & Minister for Fire, Disaster Recovery & Volunteers.
In new Assistant Ministry appointments, Trevor Watts, Member for Toowoomba North, which takes in Highfields, has been announced as Assistant Minister to the Premier for Cabinet and South-West Queensland.
Further north-west, Bryson Head, Member for Callide which takes in the towns of Bell and Jandowae has been appointed to the position of Assistant Minister for Regional Development, Resources and Critical Minerals.
