Dumped Labor treasurer Curtis Pitt elected Speaker despite LNP protest

Former Labor treasurer Curtis Pitt has been elected Speaker of the 56th Queensland Parliament, despite attempts by the LNP to block the move.

Mr Pitt lost the treasurer role to Deputy Premier Jackie Trad in the cabinet reshuffle after the election, with Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk nominating the member for Mulgrave for the speaker’s role.

QLD Labor MP Curtis Pitt attends a Labor Caucus meeting at Parliament House on Monday.Credit: Jono Searle/AAP.

The LNP had attempted to refer Mr Pitt to the Parliament’s powerful ethics committee over allegations he mislad the Parliament, but outgoing independent speaker Peter Wellington, who resigned at the election, cleared him the day prior.

Ms Palaszczuk said Mr Pitt was a man of integrity and honesty, and had worked tirelessly as a minister in two governments.

“Mr Pitt – a self-confessed rugby league tragic – is quick to criticise any referee who fails to strictly apply the rules governing the code,” she said.

“As anyone who has enjoyed his company of watching a State of Origin game will tell you, he employs his knowledge of the most complex of rugby league rules with forensic vigour.

“If he is elected speaker and presides as the ultimate ‘referee’ of this house, none of us should be in any doubt that Mr Pitt will employ the great passion in upholding our rules, to interpret them fairly, to act impartially, and in the best interests of all Queenslanders.”

The nomination would traditionally be seconded by the deputy premier but Katter MP Robbie Katter instead made the move.

Ms Trad said there were 48 members of Labor who would “jump at the chance” to second Mr Pitt’s nomination.

In a statement, Mr Katter said he was surprised when approached by Mr Pitt to second his election.

“While this is outside normal convention, I believe it reflects the important role the KAP will continue to play in the Parliament,” he said.

“The government is operating with a very slim majority and the KAP will continue to work with both sides of Parliament because we believe regional Queensland benefits most when neither city-centric major parties have an overwhelming mandate.”

LNP leader Deb Frecklington nominated LNP member for Caloundra Mark McArdle for the speaker’s position, but as Labor held the majority of seats in the Parliament, they won the vote.

Ms Frecklington said it was the first time since 1979 that the government did not have one of its own members second a nomination.

“They think the speaker’s chair is a way to keep a humiliated man happy,” she said.

“Becoming speaker should not be a consolation prize for a failed treasurer.”

Ms Frecklington said without an upper house, the speaker was an important check on the powers of government, and needed to be “independent-minded” and have integrity.

But Ms Trad said Mr McArdle, a member of the LNP, was not an independent voice.

“For those opposite to present the member for Caloundra as an independent voice in the speaker chair is something that borders on the ridiculous,” she said.

LNP member for Glass House Andrew Powell unusually suggested bringing back former Labor speaker John Mickel, who has not been in the Parliament since 2012, to be the speaker.

Mr Pitt was elected with 53 votes to Mr McArdle’s 40 votes.

He said he would continue to be a voice for regional Queensland and called for Parliament to be conducted with dignity and decorum.

Mr Pitt said he hoped there would be "robust debate" but with mutual respect.