Premier of Queensland

Premier of Queensland
Coat of Arms of Queensland
Flag of Queensland
Incumbent Annastacia Palaszczuk since 14 February 2015
Department of the Premier and Cabinet
Style	The Honourable (formal) Premier (informal)
Status	Head of Government
Member of	Parliament National Cabinet Cabinet Executive Council
Reports to	Parliament
Seat	1 William Street, Brisbane
Appointer	Governor of Queensland by convention, based on appointee's ability to command confidence in the Legislative Assembly
Term length	At the Governor's pleasure contingent on the premier's ability to command confidence in the house of Parliament
Constituting instrument	None (constitutional convention)
Formation	10 December 1859
First holder	Robert Herbert
Deputy	Deputy Premier of Queensland
Salary	AU$469,367 (as of 1 September 2021) [1] [lower-alpha 1]
Website	www.thepremier.qld.gov.au

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

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

The incumbent premier of Queensland since the 2015 election is Annastacia Palaszczuk of the Labor Party.

Constitutional role

Under section 42 of the Constitution of Queensland the premier and other members of Cabinet are appointed by the Governor and are collectively responsible to Parliament. 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 under the "advice" (in reality, direction) 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. ^[2]

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	South Brisbane
(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	84 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	Incumbent	7 years, 290 days	Labor	Inala

Statistics

The median age of a premier on the first day of their first term is roughly 48 years, and 240 days which falls between Russell Cooper and John Douglas. The youngest person to assume the office was Robert Herbert at 28 years and 181 days. The oldest person to assume office was Frank Cooper at 70 years and 62 days.

The oldest living former premier is Russell Cooper, born 4 February 1941 (age 81 years, 300 days). The youngest living former premier is Campbell Newman, born 12 August 1963, (age 59 years, 111 days). The youngest living premier is the incumbent Annastacia Palaszczuk, born 25 July 1969, (age 53 years, 129 days).

The longest-lived premier was Joh Bjelke-Petersen who died on 23 April 2005 at the age of 94 years and 100 days. Arthur Edward Moore was the second longest-lived premier, aged 86 years and 332 days, 7 years and 232 days short of Bjelke-Petersen. Bjelke-Petersen surpassed Moore's lifespan on 11 December 1997. The oldest living premier, Russell Cooper, will tie Moore if he lives to 2 January 2028, and tie Bjelke-Petersen if he lives to 15 May 2035. The shortest-lived Premier was Thomas Joseph Byrnes who died in office at the age of 37 years and 320 days on 27 September 1898.

The premier with the longest retirement is Robert Herbert. He left office on 7 August 1866, and died 38 years and 272 days later on 6 May 1905. The premier with the shortest retirement is James Dickson, who died on 10 January 1901, 1 year and 40 days after leaving office on 1 December 1899.

#	Premier	Born	Took office	Age	Left office	Age	Died	Length of retirement	Lifespan
1	Robert Herbert	12 June 1831	10 December 1859	28 years, 181 days	7 August 1866	35 years, 56 days	6 May 1905	38 years, 272 days	73 years, 328 days
2	Arthur Macalister	18 January 1818	1 February 1866	48 years, 14 days	5 June 1876	58 years, 139 days	23 March 1883	6 years, 291 days	65 years, 64 days
3	Robert Mackenzie	21 July 1811	15 August 1867	56 years, 25 days	25 November 1868	57 years, 127 days	19 September 1873	4 years, 298 days	62 years, 60 days
4	Charles Lilley	27 August 1827	25 November 1868	41 years, 90 days	2 May 1870	42 years, 248 days	20 August 1897	27 years, 110 days	69 years, 358 days
5	Arthur Hunter Palmer	28 December 1819	3 May 1870	50 years, 126 days	7 January 1874	54 years, 10 days	20 March 1898	24 years, 72 days	78 years, 82 days
6	George Thorn	12 October 1838	5 June 1876	37 years, 237 days	8 March 1877	38 years, 147 days	15 January 1905	27 years, 313 days	66 years, 95 days
7	John Douglas	6 March 1828	8 March 1877	49 years, 2 days	21 January 1879	50 years, 321 days	23 July 1904	25 years, 184 days	76 years, 139 days
8	Thomas McIlwraith	17 May 1835	21 January 1879	43 years, 249 days	20 December 1878	58 years, 163 days	17 July 1900	6 years, 263 days	65 years, 61 days
9	Samuel Griffith	21 June 1845	13 November 1883	38 years, 145 days	6 October 1885	47 years, 279 days	9 August 1920	27 years, 135 days	75 years, 49 days
10	Boyd Dunlop Morehead	24 August 1843	30 November 1888	45 years, 98 days	2 August 1894	46 years, 353 days	30 October 1905	15 years, 79 days	62 years, 67 days
11	Hugh Nelson	31 December 1833	27 October 1893	59 years, 300 days	13 April 1898	64 years, 103 days	1 January 1906	7 years, 263 days	72 years, 1 day
12	Thomas Joseph Byrnes	11 November 1860	13 April 1898	37 years, 153 days	27 September 1898 [3]	37 years, 320 days	27 September 1898	N/A	37 years, 320 days
13	James Dickson	30 November 1832	1 October 1898	65 years, 305 days	1 December 1899	67 years, 1 day	10 January 1901	1 year, 40 days	68 years, 41 days
14	Anderson Dawson	16 July 1863	1 December 1899	36 years, 138 days	7 December 1899	36 years, 144 days	20 July 1910	10 years, 225 days	47 years, 4 days
15	Robert Philp	28 December 1851	17 December 1899	47 years, 354 days	18 February 1908	56 years, 52 days	17 July 1922	14 years, 149 days	70 years, 201 days
16	Arthur Morgan	19 September 1856	17 September 1903	46 years, 363 days	19 January 1906	51 years, 12 days	20 December 1916	10 years, 336 days	60 years, 92 days
17	William Kidston	17 August 1849	19 January 1906	56 years, 155 days	7 February 1911	61 years, 174 days	25 October 1919	8 years, 260 days	70 years, 69 days
18	Digby Denham	25 January 1859	7 February 1911	52 years, 13 days	1 June 1915	56 years, 127 days	10 May 1944	28 years, 344 days	85 years, 106 days
19	T. J. Ryan	1 July 1876	1 June 1915	38 years, 335 days	12 April 1920	43 years, 113 days	1 August 1921	1 year, 283 days	45 years, 31 days
20	Ted Theodore	29 December 1884	22 October 1919	34 years, 297 days	26 February 1925	40 years, 59 days	9 February 1950	24 years, 348 days	65 years, 42 days
21	William Gillies	27 October 1868	26 February 1925	56 years, 122 days	22 October 1925	56 years, 360 days	9 February 1928	2 years, 110 days	59 years, 105 days
22	William McCormack	27 April 1879	22 October 1925	46 years, 178 days	21 May 1929	50 years, 24 days	21 November 1947	18 years, 184 days	68 years, 208 days
23	Arthur Edward Moore	9 February 1876	21 May 1929	53 years, 101 days	17 June 1932	56 years, 129 days	7 January 1963	30 years, 204 days	86 years, 332 days
24	William Forgan Smith	15 April 1887	17 June 1932	45 years, 63 days	16 September 1942	55 years, 154 days	25 September 1953	11 years, 9 days	66 years, 163 days
25	Frank Cooper	16 July 1872	16 September 1942	70 years, 62 days	7 March 1946	73 years, 234 days	30 November 1949	3 years, 268 days	77 years, 137 days
26	Ned Hanlon	1 October 1887	7 March 1946	58 years, 157 days	15 January 1952 [3]	64 years, 106 days	15 January 1952	N/A	64 years, 106 days
27	Vince Gair	25 February 1901	17 January 1952	50 years, 326 days	12 August 1957	56 years, 168 days	11 November 1980	23 years, 91 days	79 years, 260 days
28	Frank Nicklin	6 August 1895	12 August 1957	62 years, 6 days	17 January 1968	72 years, 164 days	29 January 1978	10 years, 12 days	82 years, 176 days
29	Jack Pizzey	2 February 1911	17 January 1968	56 years, 349 days	21 July 1968 [3]	57 years, 151 days	21 July 1968	N/A	57 years, 170 days
30	Gordon Chalk	16 May 1913	1 August 1968	55 years, 77 days	8 August 1968	55 years, 84 days	26 April 1991	22 years, 268 days	77 years, 345 days
31	Joh Bjelke-Petersen	13 January 1911	13 January 1911	57 years, 208 days	1 December 1987	76 years, 322 days	23 April 2005	17 years, 143 days	94 years, 100 days
32	Mike Ahern	2 June 1942	1 December 1987	45 years, 182 days	25 September 1989	47 years, 115 days		33 years, 67 days	80 years, 182 days
33	Russell Cooper	4 February 1941	25 September 1989	48 years, 233 days	7 December 1989	48 years, 306 days		32 years, 359 days	81 years, 300 days
34	Wayne Goss	26 February 1951	7 December 1989	38 years, 284 days	19 February 1996	44 years, 358 days	10 November 2014	18 years, 264 days	63 years, 257 days
35	Rob Borbidge	12 August 1954	19 February 1996	41 years, 191 days	20 June 1998	43 years, 312 days		24 years, 164 days	68 years, 111 days
36	Peter Beattie	18 November 1952	20 June 1998	45 years, 214 days	13 September 2007	54 years, 299 days		15 years, 79 days	70 years, 13 days
37	Anna Bligh	14 July 1960	13 September 2007	47 years, 61 days	26 March 2012	51 years, 256 days		10 years, 250 days	62 years, 140 days
38	Campbell Newman	12 August 1963	26 March 2012	48 years, 227 days	14 February 2015	51 years, 186 days		7 years, 290 days	59 years, 111 days
39	Annastacia Palaszczuk	25 July 1969	14 February 2015	45 years, 204 days	Incumbent	Incumbent		Incumbent	53 years, 129 days

^[4]

Living former premiers

As of 1 December 2022, six former premiers are alive, the oldest being Russell Cooper (1989, born 1941). The most recent premier to die was Wayne Goss (1951–2014), on 10 November 2014.

Name	Term as premier	Date of birth
Mike Ahern	1987–1989	(1942-06-02) 2 June 1942 (age 80)
Russell Cooper	1989	(1941-02-04) 4 February 1941 (age 81)
Rob Borbidge	1996–1998	(1954-08-12) 12 August 1954 (age 68)
Peter Beattie	1998–2007	(1952-11-18) 18 November 1952 (age 70)
Anna Bligh	2007–2012	(1960-07-14) 14 July 1960 (age 62)
Campbell Newman	2012–2015	(1963-08-12) 12 August 1963 (age 59)

Oldest living premiers of Queensland

Not all premiers live to become the oldest of their time. Of the 32 deceased premiers, 14 eventually became the oldest of their time, while 18 did not (including all 3 premiers who died in office, and 15 others). Joh Bjelke-Petersen became the oldest living premier when Vince Gair died in 1980 and remained so until his death in 2005, for a record 24 years and 163 days. Hugh Nelson became the oldest living premier after the death of Robert Herbert, but he survived Herbert by only 240 days.

On two occasions the oldest living premier lost this distinction not by his death, but due to the appointment of a premier who was older. Robert Herbert lost this distinction when Arthur Macalister was appointed, but when John Douglas died in 1904 Herbert regained it again until his own death in 1905 for a total period of 6 years and 340 days. Arthur Macalister lost this distinction when Robert Mackenzie was appointed, but regained it again when Mackenzie died in 1875, Consequently, Macalister too was the oldest living premier twice: first from 1866 to 1867 (from first appointment), and a second time from Mackenzie's death in 1873 until his own death in 1883 for a total period of 10 years and 15 days.

Vince Gair was the oldest to acquire this distinction at the age of 76 years, and 338 days. Gordon Chalk, who was aged 77 years, and 345 days when he died, on 26 April 1991 was the oldest premier to die without ever acquiring this distinction. Wayne Goss who was aged 63 years and 257 days when he died on 10 November 2014 is the most recent premier to die without ever acquiring this distinction.

Premier	Period when oldest living premier		Age		Duration
	Start date	End date	at start	at end
Robert Herbert	10 December 1859	1 February 1866	28 years, 181 days	34 years, 234 days	6 years, 53 days
Arthur Macalister	1 February 1866	15 August 1867	48 years, 14 days	49 years, 209 days	1 year, 195 days
Robert Mackenzie	15 August 1867	19 September 1873	56 years, 25 days	62 years, 60 days	6 years, 35 days
Arthur Macalister	19 September 1873	23 March 1883	55 years, 244 days	65 years, 64 days	9 years, 185 days
Arthur Hunter Palmer	23 March 1883	20 March 1898	63 years, 85 days	78 years, 82 days	14 years, 362 days
John Douglas	20 March 1898	23 July 1904	70 years, 14 days	76 years, 139 days	6 years, 125 days
Robert Herbert	23 July 1904	6 May 1905	73 years, 41 days	73 years, 328 days	287 days
Hugh Nelson	6 May 1905	1 January 1906	71 years, 126 days	72 years, 1 day	240 days
Samuel Griffith	1 January 1906	9 August 1920	60 years, 194 days	75 years, 49 days	14 years, 221 days
Robert Philp	9 August 1920	17 July 1922	68 years, 225 days	70 years, 201 days	1 year, 342 days
Digby Denham	17 July 1922	10 May 1944	63 years, 173 days	85 years, 106 days	21 years, 298 days
Frank Cooper	10 May 1944	30 November 1949	71 years, 299 days	77 years, 137 days	5 years, 204 days
Arthur Edward Moore	30 November 1949	7 January 1963	73 years, 294 days	86 years, 332 days	13 years, 38 days
Frank Nicklin	7 January 1963	29 January 1978	67 years, 154 days	82 years, 176 days	15 years, 22 days
Vince Gair	29 January 1978	11 November 1980	76 years, 338 days	79 years, 260 days	2 years, 287 days
Joh Bjelke-Petersen	11 November 1980	23 April 2005	69 years, 303 days	94 years, 100 days	24 years, 163 days
Russell Cooper	23 April 2005	Current oldest living premier	64 years, 78 days	Current oldest living premier	17 years, 222 days
Premier	Start date	End date	Age at start	Age at end	Duration

^[4]

Graphical timeline

See also

• List of premiers of Queensland by time in office
• Government of Queensland
• Politics of Queensland

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.
2. "The Premier of Queensland" (PDF). Queensland Parliament . July 2015. Retrieved 17 July 2022.
3. Died in office on this date.
4. Updated daily according to UTC.