Members of the Legislative Assembly are elected using the optional preferential voting system.
The role of a Member of the Legislative Assembly is a multi-functional one. Members have a responsibility to three primary groups in their role as:.
• The elected representative of an electorate,.
• A Member of Parliament; and.
• As a member of a particular political party (the exception being for Independents, meaning Members who are non party aligned). E.g. Lex Bell, Member for Surfers Paradise.
Representing an Electorate:.
As a representative of all the constituents in their electorate, the demands on the MLA and his/her electorate office staff can be quite profuse and diverse. This role involves:.
• giving assistance and advice to those in difficulty;.
• acting as a lobbyist for local interest groups;.
• being a communicator for his/her party's policies; and.
• playing an active community role.
Member of Parliament:.
Their parliamentary functions include:.
• enacting and debating legislation;.
• scrutinising the actions of the Government and Government Departments as members of parliamentary committees;.
• participating in general debates in the House;.
• attending parliamentary party meetings;.
• availing themselves to their constituents who may visit Parliament House;.
• providing interviews for media; and.
• performing other duties within the parliamentary complex such as guest speaker roles.
Member of a political party:.
As a member of a political party, the MLA attends parliamentary party meetings during the sitting of the House. These meetings involve:.
• planning strategies;.
• developing policies;.
• scrutinising proposed legislation; and.
• discussing parliamentary business.
In their electorates, their party responsibilities include:.