Another Sunshine Coast MP gets the nod as new parliamentary Speaker
Queensland LNP MP Andrew Wallace will be nominated by the Liberals to take up the role of Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Sunshine Coast MP Andrew Wallace has been given the nod as the new parliamentary speaker - a role formerly held by fellow Sunshine Coaster Peter Slipper (Photo: Twitter).
Wallace received the endorsement of party colleagues on Tuesday and parliament is expected to formalise his new role as the 31st Speaker since federation when it sits from midday.
There will be a ballot on the floor of parliament if another candidate is nominated.
Wallace is set to replace Victorian Liberal MP Tony Smith who is going to the government backbench after more than six years in the role.
Smith, considered one of the best Speakers of modern times, will retire from parliament at the election due by May.
Wallace, a former construction lawyer based on the Sunshine Coast, was first elected to parliament in 2016 in the seat of Fisher and was re-elected in 2019.
As a member of the Speakers panel in parliament, he has regularly sat in the umpire’s chair and presided over debates.
The last Queenslander in the role was Peter Slipper in 2012.
