Peter Wellington has been elected as the first independent Queensland Speaker in more than a century.
The independent kingmaker MP was elected unopposed as the Speaker of Queensland's 55th parliament on Tuesday morning.
After being supported by both the government and opposition, Opposition Leader Lawrence Springborg quickly declared Mr Wellington's election without the need for a ballot.
"Honourable members, as there are no further nominations, I declare the honourable Member for Nicklin, Peter Wellington, to be the Speaker of Legislative Assembly of Queensland and congratulate him on his election," Mr Springborg proclaimed to the house.
Mr Wellington barely resisted when the Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Deputy Premier Jackie Trad dragged him up to the Speaker's chair, in keeping with parliamentary tradition.
He told the house that "fairness, equality and justice for all" had been the cornerstones of his life as a police officer, a solicitor and a politician.
"I owe no favours to vested interests, lobby groups or parties, and in this context I acknowledge the significance of my election to this office as only the second independent Speaker in Queensland's history," Mr Wellington said.
He said as kingmaker he has pledged to support Ms Palaszczuk's government on all matters of confidence unless there were incidents of corruption, illegal activities or like matters.
But Mr Wellington said in relation to proposed changes laws he would vote as he chose.
"Irrespective of whether the proposal is from the government, the opposition or the crossbench," he said.
"But I want to make it very clear that if I vote against the government on numerous occasions it cannot be seen as a trigger for a vote of no confidence in the government."
He acknowledged his wife Jenny, who was sitting the public gallery, as his "researcher, campaign manager, wordsmith and best mate".
He credited her for being the driving force behind his political career.
Ms Palaszczuk congratulated Mr Wellington for his election as the first independent Speaker in living memory.
"I wish you all the very best in your dealings with both the government and the opposition and I know that you will deliberate on a fair basis at every opportunity," she said.
"I also acknowledge that you are welcoming the media back on the floor of the House which I know that they will be very pleased about."
Those words caused Mr Wellington to chuckle to himself, which came through his microphone.
Opposition Leader Lawrence Springborg also congratulated Mr Wellington on his ascendancy to the "high office of Speaker".
"Mr Speaker, you have been given what is an unusual but not unique privilege, and that is for someone outside of the major parties to have been elected Speaker," he said.
Mr Springborg said Mr Wellington came to the position with the best wishes of the Liberal National Party opposition.
"I congratulate you, we look forward to a rather unusual opportunity which can now operate in this parliament," he said.
"I do believe that there is a great chance now for not only good proposals from the government, but also non-government members, to actually meet with the support of this chamber and to meet with the approval of the people of Queensland."
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