The premier of Queensland is the head of government in the Australian state of Queensland.

Premier of Queensland
since 28 October 2024
Department of the Premier and Cabinet
Style
StatusHead of government
Member of
Reports to
Seat1 William Street, Brisbane
AppointerGovernor of Queensland
by convention, based on appointee's ability to command confidence in the Legislative Assembly
Term lengthAt the governor's pleasure
contingent on the premier's ability to command confidence in the house of Parliament
Formation10 December 1859
First holderRobert Herbert
DeputyDeputy Premier of Queensland
Salary$469,367 (as of 1 September 2021)[1][a]
Websitewww.thepremier.qld.gov.au

By convention the premier is the leader of the party with a parliamentary majority in the Legislative Assembly of Queensland. The premier is appointed by the governor of Queensland.

The incumbent premier of Queensland is David Crisafulli of the Liberal National Party.[2]

Constitutional role

Under section 43 of the Constitution of Queensland the premier and other members of Cabinet are appointed by the governor. They are collectively responsible to Parliament in accordance with responsible government. The text of the Constitution assigns to the premier certain powers, such as the power to assign roles (s 25) to assistant ministers (formerly known as parliamentary secretaries), and to appoint ministers as acting ministers (s 45) for a period of 14 days.

In practice, under the conventions of the Westminster System followed in Queensland, the premier's power is derived from two sources: command of a majority in the Legislative Assembly, and the premier's role as chair of Cabinet, determining the appointment and roles of ministers. Although ministerial appointments are the prerogative of the governor of Queensland, in normal circumstances the governor will make these appointments on the advice of the premier.

Immediately following an election for the Legislative Assembly, the governor will call on the leader of the party which commands a majority in the Legislative Assembly to become premier and ask them to commission a government. A re-elected government will be resworn, with adjustments to the ministry as determined by the premier.[3]

Prior to the existence of political parties within the Leglislative Assembly, to become premier, that member had to be able to command the support of a majority of the individual members of the assembly; this group of members were known informally as Ministerialists, while those who did not support the member who became premier were known informally as Oppositionists (or the Opposition).

Premier's office

The premier has an office in the Executive Annexe of Parliament House, Brisbane, which is normally used while Parliament is sitting. At other times the premier's ministerial office is in 1 William Street, which is across the road from the Executive Annexe.

List of premiers of Queensland

Before the 1890s, there was no developed party system in Queensland. Political affiliation labels before that time indicate a general tendency only. Before the end of the first decade of the twentieth century, political parties were more akin to parliamentary factions, and were fluid, informal and disorganised by modern standards.

No. Portrait Name Election Term of office Political party Constituency
Took office Left office Term in office
1   Robert Herbert 1860
1863
10 December 1859 1 February 1866 6 years, 53 days Squatter Conservative Leichhardt
2   Arthur Macalister 1 February 1866 20 July 1866 169 days Independent Town of Ipswich
(1)   Robert Herbert 20 July 1866 7 August 1866 18 days Squatter Conservative West Moreton
(2)   Arthur Macalister 7 August 1866 15 August 1867 1 year, 8 days Independent Town of Ipswich
3   Robert Mackenzie 1867 15 August 1867 25 November 1868 1 year, 102 days Squatter Conservative Burnett
4   Charles Lilley 1868 25 November 1868 2 May 1870 1 year, 158 days Independent Hamlet of Fortitude Valley
5   Arthur Hunter Palmer 1870
1871
3 May 1870 7 January 1874 3 years, 249 days Squatter Conservative Port Curtis
(2)   Arthur Macalister, CMG 1873 8 January 1874 5 June 1876 2 years, 149 days Independent Ipswich
6   George Thorn 5 June 1876 8 March 1877 276 days Independent Ipswich
7   John Douglas, CMG 8 March 1877 21 January 1879 1 year, 227 days Independent Maryborough
8   Sir Thomas McIlwraith, KCMG 1878 21 January 1879 13 November 1883 4 years, 296 days Conservative Mulgrave
9   Sir Samuel Griffith, KCMG, QC 1883 13 November 1883 13 June 1888 4 years, 213 days Liberal North Brisbane
(8)   Sir Thomas McIlwraith, KCMG 13 June 1888 30 November 1888 170 days Conservative Brisbane North
10   Boyd Dunlop Morehead 1888 30 November 1888 12 August 1890 1 year, 255 days Conservative Balonne
(9)   Sir Samuel Griffith, KCMG, QC 12 August 1890 27 March 1893 2 years, 227 days Liberal North Brisbane
(8)   Sir Thomas McIlwraith, KCMG 1893 27 March 1893 27 October 1893 214 days Conservative Brisbane North
11   Sir Hugh Nelson, KCMG 1896 27 October 1893 13 April 1898 4 years, 168 days Ministerial Murilla
12   Thomas Joseph Byrnes 13 April 1898 1 October 1898 171 days Ministerial Warwick
13   James Dickson 1899 1 October 1898 1 December 1899 1 year, 61 days Ministerial Bulimba
14   Anderson Dawson 1 December 1899 7 December 1899 6 days Labour Charters Towers
15   Robert Philp 1902 7 December 1899 17 September 1903 3 years, 284 days Ministerial Townsville
16   Arthur Morgan 1904 17 September 1903 19 January 1906 2 years, 124 days Liberal Warwick
17   William Kidston 1907 19 January 1906 19 November 1907 1 year, 304 days Labor Rockhampton
(17) Kidstonite
(15)   Robert Philp 19 November 1907 18 February 1908 91 days Conservative Townsville
(17)   William Kidston 1908
1909
18 February 1908 7 February 1911 2 years, 354 days Kidston; Liberal Rockhampton
18   Digby Denham 1912 7 February 1911 1 June 1915 4 years, 114 days Liberal Oxley
19   T. J. Ryan, KC 1915
1918
1 June 1915 22 October 1919 4 years, 143 days Labor Barcoo
20   Ted Theodore 1920
1923
22 October 1919 26 February 1925 5 years, 127 days Labor Chillagoe
21   William Gillies 26 February 1925 22 October 1925 238 days Labor Eacham
22   William McCormack 1926 22 October 1925 21 May 1929 3 years, 211 days Labor Cairns
23   Arthur Edward Moore 1929 21 May 1929 17 June 1932 3 years, 27 days CPNP Aubigny
24   William Forgan Smith 1932
1935
1938
1941
17 June 1932 16 September 1942 10 years, 91 days Labor Mackay
25   Frank Arthur Cooper 1944 16 September 1942 7 March 1946 3 years, 172 days Labor Bremer
26   Ned Hanlon 1947
1950
7 March 1946 17 January 1952 5 years, 316 days Labor Ithaca
27   Vince Gair 1953
1956
17 January 1952 12 August 1957 5 years, 207 days Labor South Brisbane
(27) Queensland Labor
28   Frank Nicklin, MM 1957
1960
1963
1966
12 August 1957 17 January 1968 10 years, 158 days Country Landsborough
29   Jack Pizzey 17 January 1968 1 August 1968 197 days Country Isis
30   Gordon Chalk 1 August 1968 8 August 1968 7 days Liberal Lockyer
31   Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen, KCMG
(knighted in 1984)
1969
1972
1974
1977
1980
1983
1986
8 August 1968 1 December 1987 19 years, 115 days Country/National Barambah
32   Mike Ahern 1 December 1987 25 September 1989 1 year, 298 days National Landsborough
33   Russell Cooper 25 September 1989 7 December 1989 73 days National Roma
34   Wayne Goss 1989
1992
1995
7 December 1989 19 February 1996 6 years, 74 days Labor Logan
35   Rob Borbidge 19 February 1996 20 June 1998 2 years, 121 days National Surfers Paradise
36   Peter Beattie 1998
2001
2004
2006
20 June 1998 13 September 2007 9 years, 85 days Labor Brisbane Central
37   Anna Bligh 2009 13 September 2007 26 March 2012 4 years, 195 days Labor South Brisbane
38   Campbell Newman 2012 26 March 2012 14 February 2015 2 years, 325 days Liberal National Ashgrove
39   Annastacia Palaszczuk 2015
2017
2020
14 February 2015 15 December 2023 8 years, 304 days Labor Inala
40   Steven Miles 15 December 2023 28 October 2024 318 days Labor Murrumba
41   David Crisafulli 2024 28 October 2024 Incumbent 58 days Liberal National Broadwater

Graphical timeline

David CrisafulliSteven Miles (politician)Annastacia PalaszczukCampbell NewmanAnna BlighPeter BeattieRob BorbidgeWayne GossRussell CooperMichael Ahern (Australian politician)Joh Bjelke-PetersenGordon ChalkJack PizzeyFrancis NicklinVince GairNed Hanlon (politician)Frank CooperWilliam Forgan SmithArthur Edward MooreWilliam McCormackWilliam Gillies (Australian politician)Ted TheodoreT. J. RyanDigby DenhamWilliam KidstonArthur Morgan (Queensland politician)Robert PhilpAnderson DawsonJames DicksonThomas Joseph ByrnesHugh NelsonBoyd MoreheadSamuel GriffithThomas McIlwraithJohn Douglas (Queensland politician)George ThornArthur Hunter PalmerCharles LilleyRobert Mackenzie (Queensland politician)Arthur MacalisterRobert HerbertWorld War IIWorld War I

See also

References

Notes

  1. ^ Commonly, the premier is usually the leader of their respective party. However, the salary of such position is not included. Thus, if one were to hold both positions simultaneously (Premier, Leader of Party), the total annual salary would be: AU$469,367. This also does not factor in other positions that can be held simultaneously to one or both of those: Ministerial positions, Member/Chair of Committee.

Citations

  1. ^ "Legislative Assembly of Queensland – Members' Remuneration Handbook" (PDF). documents.parliament.qld.gov.au. Office of the Clerk of Parliament. 15 September 2021. Archived (PDF) from the original on 30 September 2021.
  2. ^ "The Governor and Professor Nimmo received the call of Premier-elect Mr David Crisafulli MP". X. Governor of Queensland. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
  3. ^ "The Premier of Queensland" (PDF). Queensland Parliament. July 2015. Archived (PDF) from the original on 17 July 2022. Retrieved 17 July 2022.