Queensland Parliament sat from 24 to 26 May 2022.
Bills introduced
The following Bills were introduced into the Legislative Assembly:
- Casino Control and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2022
- Transport Legislation (Road Safety and Other Matters) Amendment Bill 2022
- Trading (Allowable Hours) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2022
Casino Control and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2022
The Casino Control and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2022 was introduced on 26 May 2022 by the Minister for Education, Minister for Industrial Relations and Minister for Racing, Grace Grace.
The Bill implements a range of reforms relevant to the regulation of liquor, gaming and fair trading in Queensland. The policy objectives of the Bill are to:
- ensure casino integrity and modernise gambling legislation
- introduce a framework for wagering on simulated events
- extend New Year’s Eve gaming hours, and
- introduce a cross-border recognition scheme for charitable fundraising, under which charities registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission will be eligible to receive a fundraising authorisation from a participating jurisdiction simply by notifying the state regulator that such an authorisation is required.
The Bill amends the:
- Casino Control Act 1982
- Casino Control Regulation 1999
- Charitable and Non-Profit Gaming Act 1999
- Collections Act 1966
- Gaming Machine Act 1991
- Interactive Gambling (Player Protection) Act 1998
- Keno Act 1996
- Lotteries Act 1997
- Wagering Act 1998
- Wagering Regulation 1999
The Bill was referred to the parliamentary Legal Affairs and Safety Committee for inquiry. The committee’s report is due on 22 July 2022.
Useful resources:
Transport Legislation (Road Safety and Other Matters) Amendment Bill 2022
The Transport Legislation (Road Safety and Other Matters) Amendment Bill 2022 was introduced on 26 May 2022 by the Minister for Transport and Main Roads, Mark Bailey.
The policy objectives of the Bill are to improve road safety, increase the range of allowable motorised mobility devices, make improvements to court and other processes, and make minor enhancements to transport and other legislation.
The Bill will achieve this by amending the Transport Operations (Road Use Management) Act 1995 and making consequential amendments to various regulations to:
- modernise and clarify how financial penalties collected for camera-detected offences can be spent on road safety initiatives
- implement the national motorised mobility devices changes in Queensland, and apply gratuitous registration and compulsory third party arrangements to a greater range of motorised mobility devices
- ensure a health professional who provides information about a non-Queensland driver licence holder’s fitness to drive has the same legal protection as would apply if they provided information about a Queensland driver licence holder
- allow for documentary-related evidence to be provided to courts for certain objective and non-contentious information relevant to vehicle standards related offences, and
- update the definition of gross vehicle mass.
In addition, the Bill amends the:
- Transport Planning and Coordination Act 1994 to provide that a digital photo taken when a person is less than 15 years old will have a shelf life of five years instead of 10 years
- Transport Infrastructure Act 1994 to clarify accommodation works may be undertaken as a result of a rail project to provide certainty and consistency for landowners and occupiers and all transport infrastructure projects, and
- Housing Legislation Amendment Act 2021 to correct the numerical drafting error in section 83A by renumbering the affected provisions before they are inserted into the Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation Act 2008 on 1 October 2022.
The Bill amends the:
- Housing Legislation Amendment Act 2021
- Motor Accident Insurance Regulation 2018
- State Penalties Enforcement Regulation 2014
- Transport Infrastructure Act 1994
- Transport Operations (Road Use Management) Act 1995
- Transport Operations (Road Use Management—Road Rules) Regulation 2009
- Transport Operations (Road Use Management—Vehicle Registration) Regulation 2021
- Transport Operations (Road Use Management—Vehicle Standards and Safety) Regulation 2021
- Transport Planning and Coordination Act 1994
The Bill has been referred to the parliamentary Transport and Resources Committee for inquiry. The committee’s report is due on 22 July 2022.
Useful resources:
Trading (Allowable Hours) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2022
The Trading (Allowable Hours) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2022 was introduced on 25 May 2022 by the Minister for Education, Minister for Industrial Relations and Minister for Racing, Grace Grace.
The Bill’s primary objective is to implement recommendations of the Education, Employment and Training Committee following its recent inquiry into the operation of the Trading (Allowable Hours) Act 1990. The committee made the following recommendations:
- streamlining the categories of core trading hours for non-exempt shops by reducing the number of categories from five to four and re-categorising the Mossman and Port Douglas Tourist Area to support the local tourism industry
- clarifying special event declarations made by the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission which exempt all shops in a stated area from trading hours restrictions, including to provide clear guidance on the matters the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission must have regard to
- clarifying that the power of the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission to make orders for non-exempt shops is limited to determining the category of core trading hours that should apply to a particular location and to determining definitions and boundaries of such locations
- ensuring consistent voluntary work protections for employees from working extended hours, including where extended hours arise due to an order or special declaration of the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission, unless the employee has freely elected to work extended hours
- extending two existing moratoriums for a further 12 months until 31 August 2023 to ensure ongoing stability for the retail industry and community, and
- retaining previous reforms that have been found to be working effectively.
The Bill amends the Trading (Allowable Hours) Act 1990 to implement each of the committee’s recommendations listed above.
The Bill also modernises particular provisions in the Education (General Provisions) Act 2006 and Education (Queensland College of Teachers) Act 2005 in relation to using technology for attendance at meetings of the Queensland College of Teachers and parents and citizens’ association meetings. The amendments make permanent the temporary arrangements that were put in place during the COVID-19 public health emergency.
The Bill amends the:
- Education (General Provisions) Act 2006
- Education (Queensland College of Teachers) Act 2005
- Trading (Allowable Hours) Act 1990
The Bill has been referred to the Education, Employment and Training Committee for inquiry. The committee’s report is due on 22 July 2022.
Useful resources:
- Bill
- Explanatory Note
- Statement of Compatibility
- Inquiry into the operation of the Trading (Allowable Hours) Act 1990
- Government response to the committee’s report
- Committee
Legislation passed this Parliament
The following legislation was passed by the Legislative Assembly:
- Evidence and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2021
- Building and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2022
- State Penalties Enforcement (Modernisation) Amendment Bill 2022
Evidence and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2021
The Evidence and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2021 was introduced on 16 November 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 Bill was referred to the parliamentary Legal Affairs and Safety Committee for detailed consideration.
The Bill passed with amendment on 26 May 2022.
The objectives of the Bill are to:
- establish a statutory framework that allows protection against the disclosure of the identity of journalists’ confidential informants
- introduce a legislative framework to support a pilot enabling video recorded statements taken by trained police officers to be used as an adult victim’s evidence-in-chief in domestic and family violence related criminal proceedings
- provide a specific process for the viewing and examination of the body of a deceased person in a criminal proceeding to implement the Queensland Government’s response to Recommendation 2 in the findings of the inquest into the disappearance and death of Daniel James Morcombe
- clarify the operation of computer warrants in relation to bail, and
- enable service as a magistrate in Toowoomba to constitute regional experience for the purpose of a transfer decision under the Magistrates Act 1991.
Useful resources:
- Queensland Law Society 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
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 Bill was referred to the parliamentary Transport and Resources Committee for detailed consideration.
The Bill passed with amendment on 25 May 2022.
The objectives of the Bill are 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 amendments made during consideration in detail were to clarify that both the Queensland Building and Construction Commission and local governments (or a person authorised by that local government) have the power to commence prosecutions relating to offences relating to the Combustible Cladding Checklist.
Useful resources:
- Queensland Law Society 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
State Penalties Enforcement (Modernisation) Amendment Bill 2022
The State Penalties Enforcement (Modernisation) Amendment Bill 2022 was introduced on 17 March 2022 by the Treasurer and Minister for Trade and Investment, Cameron Dick.
The Bill was referred to the parliamentary Economics and Governance Committee for detailed consideration.
The Bill passed without amendment on 24 May 2022.
The Bill proposes to amend the State Penalties Enforcement Act 1999, the State Penalties Enforcement Regulation 2014 and the State Penalties Enforcement Amendment Act 2017 to:
- implement an integrated approach to managing fines for camera-detected offences and tolling offences, with functions centralised in a single agency – the Queensland Revenue Office
- provide a framework for the earlier registration of unpaid infringement notices with the State Penalties Enforcement Registry for enforcement
- make miscellaneous amendments to modernise the operation of the State Penalties Enforcement Act 1999 and support the effective administration of State Penalties Enforcement Registry.
The Bill also proposes to:
- make consequential amendments to the Transport Operations (Road Use Management) Act 1995 and the Traffic Regulation 1962 on account of the integrated approach to fines management
- amend the Land Tax Act 2010 to ensure that trustees of Special Disability Trusts are subject to the higher tax-free threshold and lower land tax rates that apply to individuals
- amend the Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation Act 2008 to provide stable funding for the Residential Tenancies Authority and ensure security of residential bonds on behalf of Queensland tenants
- modernise the confidentiality provisions in the State Penalties Enforcement Act 1999 and the Taxation Administration Act 2001.
Useful resources:
Second reading
The second reading of the Inspector of Detention Services Bill 2021 was adjourned.
Useful resources:
- Queensland Law Society submission
- Bill
- Explanatory Note
- Statement of Compatibility
- Explanatory Speech
- Committee
The second reading of the Personal Injuries Proceedings and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2022 was moved.
Useful resources:
Subordinate legislation
Subordinate Queensland Legislation notified in 2022 is also available online.
Subordinate Legislation notified on the Queensland Legislation website from 14 May 2022 to 27 May 2022:
- SL No.62 of 2022: Adoption (Fee Unit Conversion) Amendment Regulation 2022
- SL No. 61 of 2022: Forestry (Use of Side-by-side Vehicles) Amendment Regulation 2022
- SL No.60 of 2022: Water (Fee Unit Conversion) Amendment Regulation 2022
- SL No.59 of 2022: Retirement Villages (Exempt Schemes) Amendment Regulation 2022
- SL No.58 of 2022: Major Events (Motor Racing Events) (Townsville 500) Amendment Regulation 2022
- SL No.57 of 2022: Building Amendment Regulation 2022
- SL No.56 of 2022: Transport Legislation (Fee Unit Conversion and Registration Fees) 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 sit for Budget week from 21 to 24 June 2022 and then sit on 16 to 18 August 2022.
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