Executive Council meetings during the caretaker period

In accordance with the Constitution of Queensland 2001 (the Constitution), commencing from the 2020 State General Election, elections are held in Queensland every four years on the last Saturday in October, unless the Legislative Assembly has been otherwise dissolved under the Constitution. Under Part 2A of the Constitution, the Governor is to dissolve the Legislative Assembly and issue the writ 26 days before the polling day.

The caretaker period begins at the time the Legislative Assembly is dissolved and concludes when the election result is clear, if the Government is to be returned to office, or if there is to be a change of Government – when the new Government is sworn in by the Governor.

Ordinary meetings of the Executive Council are not held during the caretaker period. However, with the consent of the Premier and the Governor, special sittings of Executive Council may be held to consider limited business that does not breach the caretaker conventions and cannot be held over until the end of the caretaker period.

Arrangements for Executive Council will be forwarded to all departments by the Executive Council Secretariat at the commencement of the caretaker period. Guidance on the Caretaker period is outlined in the Guidelines on the Caretaker Conventions (PDF, 199KB).