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What is Queensland's Constitution? Queensland's Constitution is the fundamental law about how the people of Queensland are governed. Queensland's Constitution:
Queensland's Constitution
was previously spread over a number of Acts, laws and documents including
the Letters Patent of 6 June 1859 which established Queensland as a separate
colony. The principal Queensland Acts which contained matters of State
constitutional significance included the:
Entrenched provisions in the Constitution Act 1867, Constitution Act Amendment Act 1890 and Constitution Act Amendment Act 1934, which require a referendum to consolidate, have remained unchanged in those Acts. All other provisions and Acts have been repealed as a result of the commencement of the Constitution of Queensland 2001 and the Parliament of Queensland Act 2001. The repealed legislation can still be accessed through Legislation online. The Constitution of Queensland 2001 The Queensland Parliament passed Queensland's new Constitution, the Constitution of Queensland 2001, on 27 November 2001.
The Constitution of Queensland 2001 is the first time in Queensland's history that a single Act containing the most comprehensive statement of our constitutional arrangements has been passed by a parliament of Queensland as a State legislature. It was the Queensland colonial legislature that passed the Constitution Act 1867. The Constitution of Queensland 2001 brings together provisions from over 15 pieces of legislation which deal with our constitutional arrangements into one plain English modern Act. In this way, Queensland's Constitution is more accessible to, and more easily read and understood by, all Queenslanders. The Parliament of Queensland Act 2001 was passed as a companion Act to the new Constitution and brings together the existing laws that relate to the operation of Queensland's Legislative Assembly, its members and committees. The passage of these Acts provided an opportunity for Queensland, through its democratically elected representatives, to reaffirm the democratic ideals that underpin our system of government. It also provided us with an important opportunity to make this fundamental law broadly accessible to its citizens. The Constitution of Queensland 2001 and the Parliament of Queensland Act 2001 commenced operation on Queensland Day, 6 June 2002. This symbolic date was chosen to commemorate the establishment of Queensland as a colony in 1859. The Acts were developed in consultation with the community since the consolidation exercise began in 1993. The Acts consolidate over 200 constitutional and parliamentary provisions relating to matters such as the Legislative Assembly and its Committees, the Office of Governor, and the system of local government. Significantly, for the first time, the existence of the judiciary is now recognised in our fundamental law. Additionally, the Constitution recognises the Queensland Cabinet and the use of the terms "Premier" and "Ministers" in a constitutional context. The entrenched provisions, which require a referendum to consolidate, have remained unchanged in their current Acts. The Acts are a culmination of over eight years’ ongoing examination for a consolidated Constitution at independent Commission and Parliamentary Committee level and, most recently, by the Government. You can follow the passage of the Acts through the Parliament and read the parliamentary debate by accessing the Hansard of 9 November 2001 (from page 3715) and 27 November 2001 (from page 3812) through the Parliament of Queensland's Internet site. In addition, access is now available to the Premier's second reading speech. Full
text of Premier's second reading speech Queensland's Constitution Education Resource Kit
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