Queensland Government

The Queensland Government is the state government of Queensland, Australia, a parliamentary constitutional monarchy. Government is formed by the party or coalition that has gained a majority in the state Legislative Assembly, with the governor officially appointmenting office-holders. The first government of Queensland was formed in 1859 when Queensland separated from New South Wales under the state constitution. Since federation in 1901, Queensland has been a state of Australia, with the Constitution of Australia regulating its relationship with the federal government.

Queensland's system of government is influenced by the Westminster system and Australia's federal system of government. Executive acts are given legal force through the actions of the governor of Queensland (the representative of the monarch, Charles III), although the governor in practice performs only ceremonial duties, with de facto executive power lying with the Cabinet. The Cabinet is the government's chief policy-making organ which consists of the premier and all ministers. Each minister is responsible for exercising policy and legislation through the respective state government department.

The headquarters for each government department are located in the capital city of Brisbane, with most government departments based at 1 William Street, a purpose-built skyscraper in Brisbane CBD.

Executive and judicial powers
Queensland is governed according to the principles of the Westminster system, a form of parliamentary government based on the model of the United Kingdom. Legislative power rests with the Parliament of Queensland, which consists of the King, represented by the Governor of Queensland, and the one house, the Legislative Assembly of Queensland. De jure executive power rests formally with the Executive Council, which consists of the Governor and senior minister, but is exercised de facto by the state cabinet.

The Governor, as representative of the Crown, is the formal repository of power, which is exercised by him or her on the advice of the Premier of Queensland and the Cabinet. The Premier and Ministers are appointed by the Governor, and hold office by virtue of their ability to command the support of a majority of members of the Legislative Assembly. Judicial power is exercised by the Supreme Court of Queensland and a system of subordinate courts, but the High Court of Australia and other federal courts have overriding jurisdiction on matters which fall under the ambit of the Australian Constitution.

Queensland Government departments


The Queensland Government delivers services, determines policy and regulations, including legal interpretation, by a number of agencies grouped under areas of portfolio responsibility. Each portfolio is led by a government minister who is a member of the Parliament. there were 23 lead agencies, called government departments, that consist of:
 * Department of the Premier and Cabinet
 * Queensland Treasury
 * Department of Children, Youth Justice and Multicultural Affairs
 * Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
 * Department of Education
 * Department of Employment, Small Business and Training
 * Department of Environment and Science
 * Queensland Health
 * Department of Justice and Attorney-General
 * Department of Seniors, Disability Services and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships
 * Department of State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning
 * Department of Transport and Main Roads
 * Department of Tourism, Innovation and Sport
 * Department of Resources
 * Department of Energy and Public Works
 * Department of Regional Development, Manufacturing and Water
 * Department of Communities, Housing and Digital Economy
 * Public Service Commission
 * Queensland Ambulance Service
 * Queensland Corrective Services
 * Queensland Police Service
 * Queensland Fire and Emergency Services

A range of other agencies support the functions of these departments.