Sometimes you’d think the weather gods have a wicked sense of humour. This week’s budget sitting in Brisbane was marked by mornings of peasouper fogs.

This was the last week before Treasurer Dick presents Parliament with the next Queensland budget. It was a strange week. On Tuesday afternoon the Callide C power plant blew up, as the week unfolded Victoria’s latest COVID outbreak took off and Parliament House was lit up to promote National Palliative Care Week.

I’m sorry this is a week overdue, but I had to travel straight from parliament to attend the Western Queensland Alliance of Councils in Richmond.  I’ll try and give you double the value this week. First to last week’s sitting.

Central Queensland has certainly been buzzing with activity in the last couple of weeks. Easter brought the start of our festivals, shows and special country race days, while the Premier brought her cabinet to Longreach and Beef Week has attracted both the Premier and the PM, along with record crowds in Rockhampton.

Parliament had a busy sitting this week, with important bills passed regarding the adoption of children  in the child protection system, consent laws in rape prosecutions as well as a number of interesting reports and announcements.

It’s been a busy week in parliament with lots of bits and pieces to tell you about so I’ll jump to it.

COVID19 Rules Eased for Easter

COVID19 first.

As of 1 am tomorrow (Saturday, March 13) private, outdoor gatherings can have up to 500 attendees. Private, indoor gatherings will be allowed up to 100 attendees.

I’ve spent the past week in Brisbane for the first sitting of the Queensland Parliament for 2021.

Kick Off

With the election over, parliament sat last week for the formal opening of the 57^th Parliament. This  was full of ceremony, with the swearing-in of new members and the Queensland Governor giving the government’s address on their plans for this term.

This week the Queensland Government eased the corona virus “Gathering” restrictions – how many people can gather in particular places. With workplaces currently booking Christmas Parties, this will be a big plus for our hospitality businesses.

Four More Years of Labor

With 88 seats out of the 93 seats now officially declared, it is clear that the winner is the ALP and Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk. They will govern in their own right with an estimated 52 seats.