Opposition condemnation to the appointment of former treasurer Curtis Pitt as Speaker has stolen the attention on a historic day in Queensland politics.
For the first time, two women were sworn in as leaders of the state's major parties with the LNP's Deb Frecklington assuming her position to oppose second-term Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk.
But Ms Frecklington was quick to ensure Queensland's 56th parliament endured a combative start by vigorously protesting the ascension of Mr Pitt as Speaker.
Dumped as treasurer and replaced by Deputy Premier Jackie Trad after the November election, he was earmarked for the Speaker's role by Labor in a cabinet reshuffle.
Signalling another term of acrimony, the LNP were scathing in their assessment of Mr Pitt and did all they could to block the move.
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"Becoming Speaker should not be a consolation prize for a failed treasurer," Ms Frecklington said.
"They think the Speaker's chair is a way to keep a humiliated man happy.
"A Speaker is an important check over maintaining control over the executive, so the Speaker must be someone who is independently minded, and not the lap-dog of cabinet."
The LNP put forward party elder Mark McArdle as their own candidate, but Mr Pitt won the secret ballot 53 votes to 40.
It was the opposition's second failed attempt in two days after referring him to the ethics committee over allegations he misled parliament over Queensland Rail enterprise bargaining negotiations last year.
But outgoing Speaker Peter Wellington cleared the Mulgrave MP on Monday.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk formally nominated Mr Pitt for speaker, saying he was well suited as a person of "energy, integrity and experience".
"I know Curtis will bring his well-known diligence, fairness, and attention to detail to the role of Speaker," Ms Palaszczuk told the house.
The premier said she knew from watching State of Origin matches with the "self-confessed rugby league tragic" he was a stickler for the rules, and would bring that quality to his role.
Interestingly, instead of being seconded by Ms Trad the nomination was seconded by Katter's Australian Party state leader Robbie Katter, leading to speculation Mr Pitt had deliberately snubbed the woman who took over his treasury role.
Mr Katter refused to be drawn on who asked him to second the nomination, but conceded "significant members" of the government had surprisingly approached him.
"But at the end of the day the government deserves to have its choice of Speaker in place, whether it happened under an LNP or a Labor government we respect that," he told reporters.
After his elevation, Mr Pitt pledged to have an "open door" to all MPs and called for mutual respect and tolerance.
It followed the swearing-in of all 93 MPs to the parliament ahead of the official opening on Wednesday, before getting down to business with the first sitting day on Thursday.
