Question time has concluded.
Parliament will continue until 6.30pm before rising and returning next month.
Queensland Parliament live blog: Qld records 8 new Covid deaths, 6k cases
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has confirmed another 6094 new Covid cases and eight deaths in the state overnight.Four of the deaths were in aged care.
Another eight people have died in Queensland after contracting Covid-19 as the state recorded 6094 new cases.
Four of those deaths were in aged care.
The number of people being treated in hospital is continuing to fall with 334 people currently admitted - down from 379 on Wednesday.
"There's also pleasing news in the number of cases among children, which is also trending down," Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said during her update in Parliament.
The state's vaccine coverage has increased slightly, with 92.64 per cent of people aged 16 and above receiving their first dose, and 90.71 per cent of the population now double-dosed.
"And 63.59 per cent of the eligible elderly population have had their boosters," Ms Palaszczuk said.
Child vaccinations have also steadily climbed, with 42.8 per cent of children aged between 5-12 having received their first dose.
"Again, this is a reminder to parents to please book your children in, especially before March the 4th," she said.
Meanwhile, as she addressed Parliament on the ongoing severe weather event hitting southeast Queensland, the Premier said the SES had received more than 240 rescue requests in the past 24 hours, including a caravan rescue in Mudgeeraba on the Gold Coast.
"Our message is very clear to people this afternoon; please listen to your radio, social media, and televisions," Ms Palaszczuk said.
"If it's flooded, forget it."
Meanwhile, Helen Bowskill has been appointed Chief Justice of the Queensland Supreme Court following the retirement of Catherine Holmes.
Ms Palaszczuk announced on Thursday that Justice Bowskill would take up the esteemed role, making her the second woman to hold the position.
Justice Bowskill has been a judge of the Supreme Court since 2017, following her appointment to the District Court in 2014.
Ms Palaszczuk said one day it would go unremarked that Justice Bowskill and her predecessor – Justice Holmes – were both women.
“Sadly we are not quite there. But we are close,” the Premier said.
“It is a source of pride to me that all three branches of public administration in this state are led by women.”
Ms Palaszczuk paid tribute to Justice Holmes for her service, describing her as one of the finest legal minds that Queensland has produced.
Justice Bowskill will take up the role on March 19 when Justice Holmes officially stands down.
Ms Palaszczuk said Justice Bowskill was well qualified for the job, saying she brought a wealth of experience and skills to the role.
“Her Honour, a university medalist in law from QUT, was admitted as a barrister to the Supreme Court of Queensland in 1998,” the Premier said.
“She practised widely in public, administrative and commercial law, with a particular focus on native title law.”
Justice Bowskill was appointed as the Senior Judge Administrator in August 2021, and has been a Queen’s Counsel since 2013.
Justice Bowskill’s appointment means all three branches of government will still be led by women, with Ms Palaszczuk serving as premier and Jeannette Young serving as governor.
Queensland Law Society President Kara Thomson welcomed Justice Bowskill’s appointment – saying her Honour was ideally suited for the role.
“Justice Bowskill is ideally suited to this appointment and is highly respected both as a judicial officer and a leader in the legal profession in Queensland,” Ms Thomson said.
“Her Honour has frequently engaged and consulted with QLS in her role as Senior Judge Administrator of the Supreme Court throughout the response to the COVID-19 pandemic and has championed the Court’s work to develop its technology and processes.”
Ms Thomson said the incoming Chief Justice would lead the court into a new era.
“Justice Bowskill’s judicial experience in the District Court, the Childrens Court, the Planning and Environment Court and most recently in the Supreme Court, will be invaluable in leading the Queensland courts into a new era,” she said.
“We wish Justice Bowskill all the best on her appointment and look forward to maintaining our close working relationship with the court.”
Shadow Attorney General Tim Nicholls welcomed Justice Bowskill’s appointment, saying she would bring a “diverse and high level of skill to the position”.
“Her Honour is held in high regard in both branches of the legal profession and I know will be warmly supported in her new role,” he said.
“Her Honour will have challenges ahead as we emerge from the pandemic and as court life seeks to return to normal.
“I wish her well in those challenges and the many other duties her new role requires of her.”
Mr Nicholls also paid tribute to the outgoing Chief Justice Catherine Holmes.
“Since my appointment as Shadow Attorney-General the Chief Justice has afforded me the utmost courtesy for which I thank her,” he said.
“More importantly her Honour has led the Court through the recent turbulent Covid times with a sure and steady hand.
“Her Honour has also led the way for women in the legal profession throughout her career and I thank her for her dedication and commitment to the people of Queensland in her many roles and positions in public life.
“I wish her all the best in her well-earned retirement.”
Updates
Question time concludes
No detail on how Pinkenba, Wellcamp will work
THE LNP's Pat Weir has asked the Premier if the state will use the Pinkenba quarantine facility – instead of Wellcamp – when it opens.
Ms Palaszczuk said there were currently over 90 people at the Wellcamp quarantine facility, where someone tested positive to Covid yesterday.
She defended the government's decision to go ahead with Wellcamp site, saying it was about future proofing the state.
The Premier said the state government was yet to find out when the Pinkenba facility would open.
– Jack McKay
'Body of work' ongoing on manufactured homes
South Brisbane MP Amy MacMahon has questioned Housing Minister Leeanne Enoch over a government rental review for people living in manufactured homes.
Ms Enoch said work was already underway and offered to provide more information to Mr MacMahon.
"It's a very important topic and there is a body of work happening," she said.
– Hayden Johnson
When will the government approve Copper String?
Katter's Australian Party leader Robbie Katter has asked Energy Minister Mick de Brenni to provide details about when the Copper String project will be given the green light by the state government.
Mr de Brenni acknowledged that energy security and reliability was a concern for Mr Katter's constituents.
He said there were back up generators in the region to ensure there is an emergency supply of energy.
Mr de Brenni said the government released a consultation impact statement on the Copper String project in December, with submissions to close on February 28.
– Jack McKay
Will Premier accept Integrity Commissioner's offer?
Opposition backbencher Laura Gerber has asked the Premier whether she would accept Integrity Commissioner Nikola Stepanov's offer to remain in her role until this year's estimates hearing.
In her resignation letter, Dr Stepanov said she was flexible about her end date which is scheduled for sometime in July.
Ms Palaszczuk said whether the Integrity Commissioner stayed on was a matter between her and her new employer.
– Domanii Cameron
Miles to LNP frontbencher: 'You're still my VIP'
Opposition Environment spokesman Sam O'Connor has noted the meetings between lobbying-firm Anacta and Deputy Premier Steven Miles' chief of staff.
He noted amid the meetings Anacta – which was acting for waste company Wanless – donated $34,000 to the Labor Party.
Mr Miles tabled a series of documents related to his decision to call-in the Wanless development application.
"That's now all on the record," he said.
Mr Miles also took aim at the Opposition after The Australian newspaper revealed correspondence from Wanless went straight to his VIP correspondence inbox.
The Deputy Premier revealed correspondence from LNP MPs, including Mr O'Connor, had also made it to his VIP inbox.
"You might not be important over there but you're still make it to my important folder," Mr Miles said about Mr O'Connor.
– Hayden Johnson
Premier insists lobbyists not involved in Wellcamp decision
Opposition frontbencher John-Paul Langbroek has asked the Premier to provide details about the panel of advisors that determined what medical assistance would be provided at the Wellcamp quarantine facility.
Ms Palaszczuk said the decision to outsource medical services was made in consultation with hospital and health services as well as other stakeholders.
The government has previously revealed that Aspen Medical would provide on-site services at the facility.
The Premier insisted that Anacta had not made any representation on behalf of Aspen Medical about the Wellcamp facility.
– Jack McKay
Questions over medical contract for Wellcamp quarantine
Deputy Opposition Leader David Janetzki has asked the Premier whether she stood by the decision that only one company had the capabilities to provide medical services at the state government's Wellcamp quarantine facility.
It was recently revealed there was no tender process to secure Aspen Medical, which is a client of Anacta.
Anacta has previously said it did not make any representations on behalf of Aspen relating to the Wellcamp project.
Ms Palaszczuk said Deputy Premier Steven Miles had advised her that Aspen was the only company that could do the contract.
– Domanii Cameron
LNP questions if firm is 'funnelling illegal donations'
Opposition Integrity spokeswoman Fiona Simpson said Labor-linked lobbying firm Anacta has donated $164,000 to the party since 2019 – three times more than any other lobbyist.
Ms Simpson noted Anacta represents property developers, from whom electoral donations are prohibited.
The LNP frontbencher asked the Premier if she can "assure the house Anacta is not being used to funnel illegal donations to Labor?"
Ms Palaszczuk said if the Opposition "have any evidence" it should be referred to appropriate authorities.
– Hayden Johnson
'Anacta donated $35,000': Opposition
Opposition Leader David Crisafulli said lobbying firm Anacta had recently donated $35,000 to Labor.
Mr Crisafulli asked what steps would be taken to return the money.
Ms Palaszczuk said any donations that were made had to be declared.
She pointed to her government's record of lowering the disclosure limits of political donations and accused the LNP of wanting donations to be hidden.
– Jack McKay
Join the conversation
Greens MP’s refusal to fly Australian flag a ‘pure snub’, war heroes claim
Brisbane Greens MP Elizabeth Watson-Brown’s repudiation of the Australian flag has been slammed as a “pure snub” by a group of retired soldiers. VOTE IN OUR POLL
Read more
‘Spineless, no emotion’: Scathing review of Premier’s first 100 days
Everyday Qlders who were profiled in The Courier-Mail’s exclusive Voter Verdict survey for the election are back to give their raw and honest opinions on David Crisafulli’s first 100 days.
Read more