Condamine MP Pat Weir has been appointed by new Premier David Crisafulli as the Speaker in the 58th Parliament of Queensland.

Mr Weir will replace outgoing speaker Curtis Pitt, the Member for Mulgrave, who has retired from politics.

Mr Weir will be the first Speaker from a rural Darling Downs electorate since Sir Alan Fletcher (MP for Cunningham, which included Cambooya) 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 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’.”

Mr Weir said he had been keeping quiet about the his conversations with the Premier for several months, until the official statement 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’.”

Mr Weir said he was a bit taken-aback, but was happy to accept the role.

He was reticent to speak about his aims for the role 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.

“But I will focus on transparency, openness and real consultation with the public on legislation.”

Premier David Crisafulli said with a decade of experience in the Parliament, Pat Weir has the respect of both sides of the House and will bring a fair and measured approach to the role of Speaker.

“Having previously served as Temporary Speaker, Pat’s knowledge of Parliamentary standing orders will ensure stability and fairness in the 58th Parliament,” the Premier said.

Mr Weir said he wanted it put on the record that he would continue to lobby for his community 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.

Mr Weir said he would continue to speak up about the issues he had raised on the campaign, particularly around police staffing, road infrastructure and landowners rights.  

This article appeared in  On Our Selection News, 14 November 2024.