Queensland Parliament sits from March 24

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says Queensland’s 55^th Parliament will begin its sittings on Tuesday 24 March.

Ms Palaszczuk also said the Independent Member for Nicklin, Peter Wellington, had accepted her offer to be nominated for election as the new Speaker.

“I believe Peter Wellington is an ideal nominee because of his independence and integrity, his commitment to our parliamentary processes, and his well-known belief in the rights of MPs to have their say on issues of concern to them and the people they represent,” she said.

“I believe my nomination of Peter Wellington for the very important position of Speaker of the Legislative Assembly deserves widespread support.”

Ms Palaszczuk said Parliament would sit for a total of 12 weeks this year, with the State Budget being handed down by Treasurer Curtis Pitt on Tuesday 14 July.

She said Budget Estimates Hearings would be held from August 18-21 and 25-27, reversing the former government’s use of simultaneous committee hearings and the  contraction of hearing dates.

2015 Queensland Parliamentary sittings:

• March 24-26
• May 5-7 and 19-21
• June 2-4
• July 14 — State Budget
• July 14-17 — Budget Week Sitting
• August 18-21 and 25-27 — Budget Estimates Hearings
• September 15-17
• October 13-15 and 27-29
• November 10-12
• December 1-3

“I look forward to the new Parliament and the opportunity to begin the legislative agenda to implement the commitments I made to Queenslanders in the election campaign,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

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