Queensland Parliament sat from 31 August to 2 September 2021 (inclusive).
Bills introduced
The following Bills were introduced into the Legislative Assembly
- Queensland University of Technology Amendment Bill 2021
- Superannuation (State Public Sector) (Scheme Administration) Amendment Bill 2021
- Working with Children (Indigenous Communities) Amendment Bill 2021
Queensland University of Technology Amendment Bill 2021
The Queensland University of Technology Amendment Bill 2021 was introduced by the Minister for Education, Minister for Industrial Relations and Minister for Racing, Grace Grace, on 1 September 2021.
The Bill has been referred to the parliamentary Education, Employment and Training Committee. Submissions on this Bill are due by 5pm Tuesday, 21 September 2021. See more information on the committee inquiry.
The Bill seeks to amend the Queensland University of Technology Act 1998. As outlined in the explanatory notes, the objectives of the Bill are to:
- implement governance reforms for Queensland University of Technology (QUT)
- enable an appropriate balance between the number of members and a mix of necessary skills and expertise required for effective governance on the QUT Council (Council).
Useful resources:
Superannuation (State Public Sector) (Scheme Administration) Amendment Bill 2021
The Superannuation (State Public Sector) (Scheme Administration) Amendment Bill 2021 was introduced by the Treasurer and Minister for Investment, Cameron Dick, on 1 September 2021.
The Bill has been referred to the parliamentary Economics and Governance Committee. See more information on the committee inquiry.
The Bill seeks to amend the Public Officers Superannuation Benefits Recovery Act 1988, the Right to Information Act 2009, the Superannuation (State Public Sector) Act 1990 and the legislation mentioned in schedule 1 for particular purposes. The Bill also seeks to repeal the Superannuation (State Public Sector) Deed 1990.
As outlined in the explanatory notes, the objectives of the Bill are to:
- support the merger of QSuper and Sunsuper by:
- retiring the board of QSuper (QSuper Board) as trustee of QSuper, and
- moving the trust deed for QSuper out of legislation
- ensure the merged superannuation entity continues to be based in Queensland
- maintain public sector employees’ defined benefit protections within legislation
- retain a statutory framework for state public sector employees’ superannuation contribution arrangements.
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Working with Children (Indigenous Communities) Amendment Bill 2021
The Working with Children (Indigenous Communities) Amendment Bill 2021was introduced by the Member for Traeger, Robbie Katter, on 1 September 2021.
The Bill has been referred to the parliamentary Legal Affairs and Safety Committee. [IG1]
The Bill seeks to amend the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities (Justice, Land and Other Matters) Act 1984 and the Working with Children (Risk Management and Screening) Act 2000.
As outlined in the explanatory notes, the objectives of the Bill are to provide a new blue card framework that empowers Indigenous communities to make decisions which best serve their interests in relation to child protection and employment of community members.
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Legislation passed this Parliament
The following legislation was passed by the Legislative Assembly
- Public Health and Other Legislation (Further Extension of Expiring Provisions) Amendment Bill 2021
- Appropriation (Parliament) Bill 2021
- Appropriation Bill 2021
Public Health and Other Legislation (Further Extension of Expiring Provisions) Amendment Bill 2021
The Public Health and Other Legislation (Further Extension of Expiring Provisions) Amendment Bill 2021 was introduced into the Legislative Assembly by the Minister for Health and Ambulance Services, Yvette D’Ath, on 16 June 2021, and was passed with amendment on 2 September 2021 following an inquiry by the parliamentary Economics and Governance Committee
The Bill amends the:
- Body Corporate and Community Management Act 1997
- Corrective Services Act 2006
- COVID-19 Emergency Response Act 2020
- Economic Development (COVID-19 Emergency Response) Regulation 2020
- Environmental Protection Act 1994
- Explosives Legislation (COVID-19 Emergency Response) Regulation 2020
- Gaming Machine Act 1991
- Health Legislation (COVID-19 Emergency Response) Regulation 2020
- Justice and Other Legislation (COVID-19 Emergency Response) Amendment Act 2020
- Mental Health Act 2016, the Public Health Act 2005
- Public Health and Other Legislation (Extension of Expiring Provisions) Amendment Act 2021
- Public Health and Other Legislation (Public Health Emergency) Amendment Act 2020
As outlined in the explanatory notes, the purpose of the Bill is to support Queensland’s approach to managing the health risks associated with COVID-19. Among other things, the amendments:
- increase powers for emergency officers and the Chief Health Officer to limit, or respond to, the spread of COVID-19 in Queensland, including by issuing directions to require physical distancing, restrict movement and gatherings, require persons to quarantine or self-isolate and implement other containment measures
- authorise the sharing of confidential information for contact tracing
- encourage compliance with quarantine requirements, border restrictions and other public health directions by providing appropriate penalties for contraventions
- increase the period for which a regulation may extend a declared public health emergency from seven to 90 days
- enable fees to be charged for costs associated with the mandatory quarantine of persons in government-provided accommodation.
Useful resources:
- The Bill
- Explanatory notes
- Statement of compatibility with human rights
- Amendments to the Bill
- Explanatory notes to the amendments
- Statement of compatibility to the amendments.
Queensland Law Society make submissions to the committee inquiry and appeared at the public hearing. Read the committee report, which refers to the QLS submissions.
Appropriation (Parliament) Bill 2021
The Appropriation (Parliament) Bill 2021 was introduced into the Legislative Assembly by the Treasurer and Minister for Investment, Cameron Dick, on 15 June 2021 and was passed on 1 September 2021.
The Bill authorises the Treasurer to pay amounts from the consolidated fund for the Legislative Assembly and parliamentary service for the financial years starting 1 July 2021 and 1 July 2022.
As outlined in the explanatory notes, the purpose of the Bill is to provide for:
- Appropriation for 2021-22 to fund the cost of providing the services, equity adjustment and administered items of the Legislative Assembly and parliamentary service in that year, and
- Supply for 2022-23 to allow the normal operations of the Legislative Assembly and parliamentary service to continue until the 2022-23 Appropriation (Parliament) Bill receives assent.
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Appropriation Bill 2021
The Appropriation Bill 2021 was introduced into the Legislative Assembly by the Treasurer and Minister for Investment, Cameron Dick, on 15 June 2021 and was passed on 1 September 2021.
The Bill authorises the Treasurer to pay amounts from the consolidated fund for departments for the financial years starting 1 July 2021 and 1 July 2022.
As outlined in the explanatory notes, the purpose of the Bill is to provide for:
- Appropriation for 2021-22 to fund the cost of delivering departmental services, administered items and equity adjustment in that year, and
- Supply for 2022-23 to allow normal operations of government to continue until the 2022-23 Appropriation Bill receives assent.
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Subordinate legislation
Subordinate Queensland Legislation notified in 2021 is available online.
Subordinate Legislation notified on the Queensland Legislation website from 29 May 2021 to 3 September 2021:
Queensland Government Gazette
The Queensland Government Gazettes for 2021 are available online.
Parliamentary sitting dates
As indicated on the parliamentary website, the Queensland Parliament is currently scheduled to next sit on 14 to 16 September 2021.
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