Member for Traeger and KAP State Leader Robbie Katter has welcomed the appointment of Cairns-based former treasurer Curtis Pitt as the speaker for the new parliament.
“It’s good to have a North Queensland MP in the Speaker’s chair,” Mr Katter said.
It’s good to have a North Queensland MP in the Speaker’s chair
- Robbie Katter
“It’s an important role and I’m sure Curtis will give the crossbenchers from the North a fair go,” Robbie said.
Labor claimed victory on 48 seats of the 93-seat parliament however Mr Katter said neither major party got a majority of the 30 seats outside the south east.
“It’s vitally important that the Premier, and every Member of Parliament, recognise neither major party won a majority in regional Queensland,’’ he said. “This shows that people are feeling let down by the major parties.’’
The KAP will take three MPs to George St with Shane Knuth and Nick Dametto also elected and Mr Katter said they would their increased numbers to ensure North Queensland wasn’t overlooked.
“We’re happy to work with either side of politics and we’ll do everything in our power to get more infrastructure and better policy outcomes for our region,’’ he said.
With Mr Pitt moved to speaker, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said she would lead a four-member economic team of senior Ministers to drive job growth across Queensland.
The Premier will add Trade to her own responsibilities and she will chair the Cabinet Budget Review Committee, with senior Ministers to hold key economic roles.
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Deputy Premier Jackie Trad will be appointed Treasurer and Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships
Cameron Dick will be appointed Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning and Minister for Manufacturing, with responsibility for Economic Development Queensland and Queensland Reconstruction Authority.
Kate Jones will be appointed Minister for Innovation, Minister for Tourism Industry Development and Minister for the Commonwealth Games.