Qld's chief health officer to be governor

The Queensland premier says it was a "no brainer" to make the state's chief health officer the next governor in the middle of a pandemic.

Dr Jeannette Young's advice has informed Queensland's response to the coronavirus pandemic every day since it began.

That will change on November 1, when she will take up her appointment as Queensland's 27th governor.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Health Minister Yvette D'Ath said Dr Young's popularity, and her steady hand during the pandemic, made her a perfect candidate even though the health crisis is not over.

Current Governor Paul de Jersey has agreed to extend his appointment until November 1 to give Dr Young more time to advance the coronavirus vaccination program.

"People across Queensland have stopped me and have said to me Dr Young is going to be our governor. That's exactly what's going to happen," the premier told reporters on Monday.

"I think Queenslanders decided this."

The governor is appointed by the Queen upon advice provided to her by the premier.

The health minister said she was "sad to lose my chief health officer" but Dr Young's new job was important too, as the state's economy reopened.

Ms D'Ath said Dr Young would be "travelling right across this state, meeting with all types of people, all different businesses and organisations, hearing and supporting them".

"I know that Dr. Young will do an absolute amazing job."

Dr Young said it was a privilege to be appointed the next governor, and she was looking forward to travelling the state and talking to people, but promised her attention in coming months would still be focused on the vaccine rollout.

"I want every adult Queenslander 16 years of age and over to have at least been offered the vaccine before I become governor. That's absolutely my push over the time between now and November."

She said it would up to Ms D'Ath and Queensland Health's director-general John Wakefield to select her replacement as chief health officer, a role she's held for 16 years.

"There's so many candidates out there that I can think of off the top of my head," Dr Young said.

The premier said Dr Young had been a rock for Queenslanders during the pandemic.

"I'm quite sure that she will be the people's governor, because she has been with the people of this state through the most difficult challenges that our state has ever had to face."