Queensland Parliament sat from 29 to 31 March 2022.
Bills introduced
- Building and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2022
- Personal Injuries Proceedings and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2022
Building and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2022
The Building and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2022 was introduced on 29 March 2022 by the Minister for Energy, Renewables and Hydrogen and Minister for Public Works and Procurement, Michael de Brenni.
The purpose of the Bill is to:
- Support contemporary consumer expectations about efficiency of buildings through amendments to legislative provisions regarding:
- ‘ban the banners’ – solar hot water systems and solar panels
- expanded use of greywater
- holding tanks for sewage and greywater
- Enhance the efficacy and transparency of the regulatory framework through amendments to legislative provisions regarding:
- head contractor licensing
- sharing information on investigation outcomes
- decision making
- Improve the operation of building-related legislation through minor technical amendments.
The Bill amends the:
- Architects Act 2002
- Building Act 1975
- Building Industry Fairness (Security of Payment) Act 2017
- Building Industry Fairness (Security of Payment) and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2020
- Building Industry Fairness (Security of Payment) Regulation 2018
- Planning Act 2016
- Plumbing and Drainage Act 2018
- Professional Engineers Act 2002
- Queensland Building and Construction Commission Act 1991
The Bill has been referred to the parliamentary Transport and Resources Committee for inquiry. The inquiry’s report is due to be tabled by 13 May 2022. The closing date for written submissions is 4pm Wednesday 13 April 2022.
Useful resources:
Personal Injuries Proceedings and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2022
The Personal Injuries Proceedings and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2022 was introduced on 31 March 2022 by the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Minister for Women and Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence, Shannon Fentiman.
The objectives of the Bill are to:
- Stop claim farming for personal injury and workers’ compensation claims.
- Prevent undesirable costs agreement practices by law practices for personal injury claims.
- Confirm the policy intent for when an entitlement to terminal workers’ compensation arises under the Workers’ Compensation and Rehabilitation Act 2003.
- Make technical and clarifying amendments to the Electoral Act 1992 relating to fundraising contributions and state campaign accounts and disclosure returns.
The Bill amends the:
- Electoral Act 1992
- Electoral and Other Legislation (Accountability, Integrity and Other Matters) Amendment Act 2020
- Legal Profession Act 2007
- Motor Accident Insurance Act 1994
- Personal Injuries Proceedings Act 2002
- Workers’ Compensation and Rehabilitation Act 2003
The Bill has been referred to the parliamentary Legal Affairs and Safety Committee for inquiry.
Useful resources:
Legislation passed this Parliament
The following legislation was passed by the Legislative Assembly:
- Public Health and Other Legislation (Extension of Expiring Provisions) Amendment Bill 2022
- Small Business Commissioner Bill 2021
Public Health and Other Legislation (Extension of Expiring Provisions) Amendment Bill 2022
The Public Health and Other Legislation (Extension of Expiring Provisions) Amendment Bill 2022 was introduced into the Legislative Assembly on 22 February 2022 by the Minister for Health and Ambulance Services, Yvette D’Ath.
The Bill was referred to the parliamentary Community Support and Services Committee for detailed consideration.
The Bill passed without amendment on 31 March 2022.
The objectives of the Bill are to:
- Further extend the operation of essential public health measures implemented to facilitate Queensland’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including to:
- increase certain 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 people to quarantine or self-isolate and implement other containment measures
- authorise the sharing of confidential information for contact tracing
- increase the period for which a regulation may extend a declared public health emergency from seven to 90 days
- Amend the Acts Interpretation Act 1954 to include the new defined term ‘COVID-19 public health legislation expiry day’, as the term is used in a number of Acts extending COVID-19 public health measures. The ‘COVID-19 public health legislation expiry day’ is defined by reference to section 315 of the Public Health Act 2005, that is, to mean the day the COVID-19 emergency ends under section 324(1) of the Public Health Act or 31 October 2022, whichever is earlier
- Extend amendments to the Corrective Services Act 2006, Disaster Management Act 2003 and Mental Health Act 2016 to support the public health response
- Continue certain savings and transitional provisions in the COVID-19 Emergency Response Act 2020 including the:
- operation of the temporary Queensland Small Business Commissioner until a permanent commissioner has been appointed
- continued operation of retail leasing dispute measures under the Retail Shop Leases and Other Commercial Leases (COVID-19 Emergency Response) Regulation 2020.
Useful resources:
- QLS Submission
- Parliamentary Report
- Bill
- Explanatory Note
- Statement of Compatibility
- Explanatory Speech
- Committee
Small Business Commissioner Bill 2021
The Small Business Commissioner Bill 2021 was introduced into the Legislative Assembly on 12 October 2021 by the Minister for Employment and Small Business and Minister for Training and Skills Development, Di Farmer.
The Bill was referred to the parliamentary Education, Employment and Training Committee for detailed consideration.
The Bill passed with amendment on 29 March 2022.
The Bill proposes to establish the Queensland Small Business Commissioner (Commissioner) and a supporting office on a permanent basis. The Commissioner and the supporting office will be responsible for providing tailored support and advice to small businesses in Queensland. According to the explanatory notes, the Bill will:
- Provide the power to appoint a commissioner.
- Provide the mediation process for the commissioner to mediate disputes relating to retail tenancy disputes, other small business lease disputes and small business franchise disputes.
- Provide regulation-making powers to, among other objectives, prescribe fees and the practices and procedures of the mediation process the commissioner will administer.
- Provide other miscellaneous provisions to support the operation of the Act.
Useful resources:
- QLS Submission
- Parliamentary Report
- Bill
- Explanatory Note
- Statement of Compatibility
- Explanatory Speech
- Committee
- Amendment in Committee – Government Agreed
- Amendment in Committee – Explanatory Note
- Amendment in Committee – Statement of Compatibility
Second reading
The second reading for the Environmental and Other Legislation (Reversal of Great Barrier Reef Protection Measures) Amendment Bill 2021 failed (the Bill then is disposed of and removed from the Notice Paper) on 29 March 2022.
Useful resources:
Subordinate legislation
Subordinate Queensland Legislation notified in 2022 is also available online.
Subordinate legislation notified on the Queensland Legislation website from 18 March 2022 to 4 April 2022.
- SL No.32 of 2022: Motor Accident Insurance and Other Legislation (Administration Fee and Levies) Amendment Regulation 2022
- SL No.31 of 2022: Proclamation No.6—Building Industry Fairness (Security of Payment) Act 2017 (commencing remaining provisions)
- SL No.30 of 2022: Proclamation No.5—Building Industry Fairness (Security of Payment) Act 2017 (repealing previous proclamation)
- SL No.29 of 2022: Education (General Provisions) (Winton State School) Amendment Regulation 2022
Queensland Government Gazette
The Queensland Government Gazettes for 2022 are available online.
Parliamentary sitting dates
As indicated on the parliamentary website, the Queensland Parliament is currently scheduled to next sit on 10 to 12 May 2022.
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