Queensland go to polls next year to decide when to go to polls again

Queensland will head to the polls next year - to decide when Queensland should head to the polls.

An overwhelming majority of MPs voted to send Queensland to a referendum next year to decide whether the state should have fixed four-year terms.

That would bring Queensland in line with the other eastern states, but would need a constitutional change, leading to a referendum before Parliament can move forward with any changes.

If the public agreed with their MPs, Queensland would head to the polls on a fixed date in October, every four years.

The move had the support of most of the Parliament - both the LNP and Labor supported the opposition bill, with the Katter Party MPs voting no.

It's the first time the government and the opposition have managed to come to terms on fixed-year terms - both Labor and the LNP have supported the notion, but at different times.

The referendum would most likely be held in March, the same time as the Local Government election.

The following election would be held in within the usual three-year time frame, with the change to come in after the 2018 election.

The move has already won the support of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Queensland, with Nick Behrens welcoming the potential end to the "stop, start" to the economy with Queensland's shorter terms.

"The increase in parliamentary terms from three to fixed four years minimises the decline in consumer spend associated with an election and also enables the government sufficient time to facilitate good, long-term economic planning," he said in a statement.

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