Premier Newman Swears in New LNP-Dominated Queensland Parliament
New Queensland Premier Campbell Newman officially swore into office on Tuesday members of the new state parliament, which saw an overhaul during the March election and booted out the Labor government.
Mr Newman resoundingly defeated Anna Bligh, bringing with him 78 MPs that carry the Liberal National Party colours, described by state opposition leader Annastacia Palaszczuk as "the largest majority Queensland has ever seen in its political history."
"It is great to be here with two fantastic friends, who with me over 12 months ago decided that we together would do our very best to give Queenslanders a chance for an alternative government," Mr Newman told reporters in Brisbane.
He was of course referring to Jeff Seeney and Tim Nichols, who will serve the Queensland government as deputy premier and treasurer, respectively.
But the Labor imprint seems lingering as Mr Newman alluded to the past rule of Ms Bligh when he told ABC that "it's going to be very, very hard for me not to say madam chairman ... I've been saying madam chairman for many years."
Yet he quickly recovered by declaring "it really starts here today."
And the prospect of smooth governance beckons before the LNP as the 89-strong state parliament would be swamped by members all geared to support Mr Newman's program, with the real business commencing on Thursday this week.
The heavy majority, however, comes with a slight hurdle, which according to LNP chief whip Vaughan Johnson will be mostly in orienting the new MPs that came with the sweeping win of Mr Newman.
Helping out the new MPs, Mr Johnson said, "will be a challenge but I think with the experience I have had and the people I'll have around me, that we will be able to manage it pretty well."
He should be getting considerable boost from Fiona Simpson, who will assume the restored post of speaker.
Ms Simpson vowed to safeguard the foremost functions of all MPs, irrespective of their party affiliation, which was to ensure that "people have the right to speak."
With too many LNP members on the floor, opposition voices could be drowned out easily and as Labor's Ms Palaszczuk confirmed, "We have a really important job to do to keep the Newman government accountable."
The LNP onslaught had annihilated any signs that former Premier Bligh also came to power in a landslide manner, giving up only 11 seats for the then opposition Liberal-National coalition.
But clearly the table has been turned as Ms Palaszczuk can only rely on seven Labor MPs to aid her in establishing a viable opposition to the Newman government.
She, however, expressed confidence that Labor will hold the state government into account and her ranks could soon be joined by two independent MPs and another two from the Australian Party.
Rob Katter of the Australian Party told ABC that he's working on the likelihood that Mr Newman will recognize the four MPs as officially aligned with the Labor opposition.