Yvette D’Ath, who is also Minister for Justice and Leader of the House, was injured while exercising on Sunday – a week after the Cabinet reshuffle prompted by the resignation of deputy premier and treasurer Jackie Trad.

In a series of Twitter posts, D’Ath said she was jogging with her two small dogs along the Redcliffe waterfront when they “got a bit excited and I tripped over and ended up breaking and dislocating my fingers”.

After seeking medical advice, D’Ath was booked in for surgery on Monday night, and was not among the MPs returning to parliament today for the first full sitting in months.

Palaszczuk announced Local Government Minister Stirling Hinchliffe would be filling in for D’Ath for the time being.

“I wish the Attorney-General a speedy recovery after her surgery,” Palaszczuk told MPs.

Parliament was already sparsely populated, with colour-coded seating to keep MPs apart and preventive health measures in place throughout the precinct.