Queensland Parliament sat from 26 to 28 October 2021.
Bills introduced
The following Bills were introduced into the Legislative Assembly:
- Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games Arrangements Bill 2021
- Inspector of Detention Services Bill 2021
- Public Trustee (Advisory and Monitoring Board) Amendment Bill 2021
- Big Bank Levy (COVID-19 Health Response) Bill 2021
Government Bills
Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games Arrangements Bill 2021
The Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games Arrangements Bill 2021 was introduced into the Legislative Assembly on 27 October 2021 by the Premier and Minister for the Olympics Annastacia Palaszczuk.
The Bill proposes to establish an organising committee for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. According to the Explanatory Notes, the primary objectives of the Bill are to:
- Establish the Brisbane Organising Committee for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games (the Corporation) to undertake and facilitate the organisation, conduct, promotion and commercial and financial management of the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
- Establish a board of directors of the Corporation to ensure it performs its functions in a proper, effective and efficient way.
The Bill amends the Right to Information Act 2009 to make documents created or received by the Brisbane Organising Committee for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games exempt from the Right to Information Act 2009.
The Bill has been referred to the Economics and Governance Committee for inquiry. Submissions to this inquiry are due by 8 November 2021. See more information on the committee inquiry.
Useful resources:
Inspector of Detention Services Bill 2021
The Inspector of Detention Services Bill 2021 was introduced into the Legislative Assembly on 28 October 2021 by the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Minister for Women and Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence, Shannon Fentiman.
The purpose of the Bill is to promote the improvement of detention services and places of detention with a focus on promoting and upholding the humane treatment of detainees, including the conditions of their detention, and preventing detainees from being subjected to harm, including torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment.
This Bill will address recommendations stemming from a number of reviews into the Queensland criminal justice system since 2016 which have recommended the establishment of an independent inspector over adult correctional services, youth detention centres and/or police watch-houses.
The Bill was referred to the Legal Affairs and Safety Committee. See more information on the committee inquiry.
Useful resources:
Public Trustee (Advisory and Monitoring Board) Amendment Bill 2021
The Public Trustee (Advisory and Monitoring Board) Amendment Bill 2021 was introduced into the Legislative Assembly on 28 October 2021 by the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Minister for Women and Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence, Shannon Fentiman.
The purpose of the Bill is to amend the Public Trustee Act 1978 to establish the Public Trustee Advisory and Monitoring Board (the board). The board is intended to provide additional oversight over the Public Trustee to enhance transparency and public accountability.
The Bill incorporates recommendations contained in the report ‘Preserving the financial futures of vulnerable Queenslanders: A Review of the Public Trustee’s fees, charges and practices’ (the OPA Report), specifically recommendation 30, which recommended that government consider additional oversight and/or reporting mechanisms to improve the Public Trustee’s performance, transparency and public accountability.
The Bill was referred to the Community Support and Services Committee. See more information on the committee inquiry.
Useful resources:
- Bill
- Explanatory notes
- Statement of compatibility
- The OPA Report
- Government’s response to the OPA Report
Non-government Bills
Big Bank Levy (COVID-19 Health Response) Bill 2021
The Big Bank Levy (COVID-19 Health Response) Bill 2021 was introduced into the Legislative Assembly on 27 October 2021 by the Member for South Brisbane, Amy McMahon.
As detailed in the explanatory notes, the Bill proposes to enact a 0.05% levy on the five largest banks operating in Queensland, to be used to help ensure the hospital system is adequately funded to deal with an increase in COVID-19 cases. The levy will apply from the first quarter starting immediately after the commencement of the Act.
The Bill includes a stipulation that any amounts payable under the levy:
- cannot be directly recovered from bank customers
- must be paid out of profits or other funds of the bank.
The Bill also amends certain provisions in the Taxation Administration Act 2001 and allocates the Big Bank Levy (COVID-19 Health Response) Act 2021 a revenue law.
The Bill was referred to the Economics and Governance Committee. See more information on the committee inquiry.
Useful resources:
Legislation passed this Parliament
The following legislation was passed by the Legislative Assembly:
- Queensland Veterans’ Council Bill 2021
- Superannuation (State Public Sector) (Scheme Administration) Amendment Bill 2021
Queensland Veterans’ Council Bill 2021
The Queensland Veterans’ Council Bill 2021 was introduced into the Legislative Assembly by the Premier and Minister for the Olympics, Annastacia Palaszczuk, on 22 April 2021. The Bill was passed with amendment on 28 October 2021 following an inquiry by the parliamentary Community Support and Services Committee.
The Bill amends the:
- Anzac Day Act 1995
- Public Sector Ethics Regulation 2010
- Statutory Bodies Financial Arrangements Regulation 2019
As outlined in the explanatory notes, the objective of the Bill is to establish the Queensland Veterans’ Council (QVC) as a statutory body. The QVC will have three areas of responsibility:
- trustee of Anzac Square under the Land Act 1994 and the ongoing management and operation of Anzac Square
- the functions of the Board of Trustees under the Anzac Day Act 1995 (AD Act)
- providing advice to government on veterans’ matters.
Useful resources:
- Bill
- Explanatory notes
- Statement of compatibility
- Explanatory speech
- Committee report
- Amendment in committee Government agreed
- Amendment in committee explanatory notes
- Amendment in committee statement of compatibility
Superannuation (State Public Sector) (Scheme Administration Amendment Bill 2021)
The Superannuation (State Public Sector) (Scheme Administration Amendment Bill 2021) was introduced into the Legislative Assembly by the Treasurer and Minister for Investment, Cameron Dick, on 1 September 2021. The Bill was passed with amendment on 26 October 2021 following an inquiry by the Economics and Governance Committee.
The Bill amends the:
- Public Officers Superannuation Benefits Recovery Act 1988
- Right to Information Act 2009
- Superannuation (State Public Sector) Act 1990
- City of Brisbane Act 2010
- Governors (Salary and Pensions) Act 2003
- Industrial Relations Act 2016
- Judges (Pension and Long Leave) Act 1957
- Land Court Act 2000
- Local Government Act 2009
- Statutory Instruments Act 1992
- Superannuation (Public Employees Portability) Act 1985
The Bill repeals the:
- Superannuation (State Public Sector) Deed 1990
The explanatory notes for the Bill provides that its main objectives are to:
- Support the merger of QSuper and Sunsuper by:
- Retiring the board of QSuper (QSuper Board) as trustee of QSuper
- 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.
The proposed merger of QSuper and Sunsuper will include:
- Transferring the Sunsuper fund into the QSuper fund (the fund will be renamed)
- Continuing the current trustee of Sunsuper as trustee of the merged fund (the trustee will be renamed and its board reconstituted)
- Converting the Superannuation (State Public Sector) Deed 1990 (Superannuation Deed), being QSuper’s trust deed, into a non-statutory instrument, which complements the trustee’s status as a proprietary company under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth)
- Retiring the QSuper Board as trustee of QSuper.
Useful resources:
- Bill
- Explanatory notes
- Statement of compatibility
- Explanatory speech
- Committee report
- Amendment in committee Government agreed
- Amendment in committee explanatory notes
- Amendment in committee statement of compatibility
- Act
Subordinate legislation
Subordinate Queensland legislation notified in 2021 is available online.
Subordinate legislation notified on the Queensland Legislation website from 14 October 2021 to 29 October 2021.
- SL No.162 of 2021: Fisheries Legislation Amendment Declaration (No.2) 2021
- SL No.161 of 2021: Governors (Salary and Pensions) Amendment Regulation 2021
- SL No.160 of 2021: Rural and Regional Adjustment (Drought Preparedness Grant Scheme) Amendment Regulation 2021
- SL No.159 of 2021: Professional Engineers (Code of Practice) Amendment Regulation 2021
- SL No.158 of 2021: Forestry and Other Legislation Amendment Regulation (No.2) 2021
- SL No.157 of 2021: Transport Legislation Amendment Regulation (No.2) 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 16 to 18 November 2021.
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