Queensland Parliament sat from 30 August to 1 September 2022.
Bills introduced
The following Bills were introduced into the Legislative Assembly:
- Public Health and Other Legislation (COVID-19 Management) Amendment Bill 2022
- Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation (Rent Freeze) Amendment Bill 2022
Public Health and Other Legislation (COVID-19 Management) Amendment Bill 2022
On 1 September 2022, the Minister for Health and Ambulance Services, Yvette D’Ath, introduced the Public Health and Other Legislation (COVID-19 Management) Amendment Bill 2022.
The Bill proposes to insert temporary and more targeted powers to manage COVID-19 as a notifiable condition under the Public Health Act 2005 until 31 October 2023.
The proposed amendments seek to provide a step-down approach to managing the pandemic response, enabling Queensland to continue to respond to serious risks to the community, protect the capacity of the health system and implement national decisions and advice about the ongoing management of COVID-19.
The proposed powers would be subject to new procedures, limitations and safeguards to enhance transparency and scrutiny of public health directions, including potential limitations on human rights.
The Bill amends the:
- Corrective Services Act 2006
- Public Health Act 2005
- State Penalties Enforcement Regulation 2014
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The Bill has been referred to the Health and Environment Committee for inquiry. Details of the inquiry process, including submissions, will be published on the committee’s website.
Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation (Rent Freeze) Amendment Bill 2022
On 31 August 2022, the Member for South Brisbane, Dr Amy MacMahon, introduced the Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation (Rent Freeze) Amendment Bill 2022 as a private member’s bill.
The Bill proposes a two-year freeze on residential rents in Queensland. The Bill proposes to amend the Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation Act 2008, including:
- freezing of rents at no more than the amount publicly advertised by the lessor, or agreed by a lessor and lessee, on or before 1 August 2022
- applying a 50 penalty unit fine to lessors who fail to observe the rent freeze or who move a property from the private rental market to the short-term accommodation market during the rent freeze period
- capping rental increases after the two-year rent freeze period at no greater than 2% every two years
- setting rent for properties that have not been rented for over 12 months as the median rent for comparable properties in that postcode
- require the Residential Tenancies Authority to maintain a register of rents applicable to corresponding properties, as informed by the rental bond lodgement form, and
- providing the power to the Residential Tenancies Authority to compel lessors to provide information about the amount of rent payable with respect to a residential tenancy agreement for which a rental bond has not been lodged with the Residential Tenancies Authority, with a 50 penalty unit fine applying to lessors who fail to provide that information.
Useful resources:
The Bill was referred to the Community Support and Services Committee for inquiry. Closing date for written submissions is Monday 31 October 2022 at 5pm.
Legislation passed this Parliament
The following legislation was passed by the Legislative Assembly:
- Inspector of Detention Services Bill 2021
- Transport Legislation (Road Safety and Other Matters) Amendment Bill 2022
Inspector of Detention Services Bill 2021
On 28 October 2021, the Inspector of Detention Services Bill 2021 was introduced into the Legislative Assembly 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 Legal Affairs and Safety Committee for detailed consideration.
The Bill was passed without amendment on 30 August 2022.
The purpose of the Bill is to establish an independent inspectorate 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 amends the:
- Corrective Services Act 2006
- Crime and Corruption Act 2001
- Hospital and Health Boards Act 2011
- Mental Health Act 2016
- Ombudsman Act 2001
- Parliament of Queensland Act 2001
- Youth Justice Act 1992
Useful resources:
- QLS submission
- Parliamentary report
- Bill
- Explanatory note
- Statement of compatibility
- Explanatory speech
- Committee
Transport Legislation (Road Safety and Other Matters) Amendment Bill 2022
On 26 May 2022, the Transport Legislation (Road Safety and Other Matters) Amendment Bill 2022 was introduced by the Minister for Transport and Main Roads, Mark Bailey.
The Bill was referred to the Transport and Resources Committee for detailed consideration.
The Bill was passed without amendment on 31 August 2022.
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:
- Motor Accident Insurance Regulation 2018
- State Penalties Enforcement Regulation 2014
- Transport Infrastructure Act 1994, the 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.
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Assent
A number of Bills received assent during this sitting week, including:
- Appropriation (Parliament) Bill 2022
- Appropriation Bill 2022
- Trading (Allowable Hours) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2022
Appropriation (Parliament) Bill 2022
On 29 August 2022, the Appropriation (Parliament) Bill 2022 received assent.
The Act provides for:
- Appropriation for 2022-23 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 2023-24 to allow the normal operations of the Legislative Assembly and parliamentary service to continue until the 2023-24 Appropriation (Parliament) Bill receives assent.
Useful resources:
Appropriation Bill 2022
On 29 August 2022, the Appropriation Bill 2002 received assent.
The Act provides for:
- Appropriation for 2022-23 to fund the cost of delivering departmental services, administered items and equity adjustment in that year, and
- Supply for 2023-24 to allow normal operations of government to continue until the 2023-24 Appropriation Bill receives assent.
Useful resources:
Trading (Allowable Hours) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2022
On 29 August 2022, the Trading (Allowable Hours) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2022 received assent.
The Act implements recommendations from the Education, Employment and Training Committee’s Inquiry into the operation of the Trading (Allowable Hours) Act 1990.
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Second reading
The second reading of a number of Bills was adjourned during this sitting week, including:
- Nature Conservation and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2022
- Food (Labelling of Seafood) Amendment Bill 2021
Nature Conservation and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2022
On 1 September 2022, the second reading for the Nature Conservation and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2022 was adjourned.
The objective of the Bill is to allow beekeeping on certain national parks to continue until 2044 by amending the Nature Conservation Act 1992.
A range of other amendments unrelated to beekeeping are also proposed, including enhancing the Department of Environment and Science’s capacity to respond to misconduct in Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service managed areas, amendments to the Wet Tropics World Heritage Protection and Management Act 1993 to reflect amendments to intergovernmental arrangements and simplify the process for consequential amendments to the Wet Tropics Management Plan 1998.
Useful resources:
Food (Labelling of Seafood) Amendment Bill 2021
On 30 August 2022, the second reading to the Food (Labelling of Seafood) Amendment Bill 2021 was adjourned.
The objective of the Bill is to introduce mandatory Country of Origin Labelling of seafood sold at dining outlets across Queensland by amending the Food Act 2006.
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Subordinate legislation
Subordinate Queensland Legislation notified in 2022 is available online.
Subordinate Legislation notified on the Queensland Legislation website from 26 August to 2 September 2022:
- SL No.120 of 2022: Vegetation Management (Regional Ecosystems) Amendment Regulation 2022
- SL No.119 of 2022: Water Plan (Fitzroy Basin) Amendment Plan 2022
- SL No.118 of 2022: Voluntary Assisted Dying Regulation 2022
- SL No.117 of 2022: Legal Profession (Australian Solicitors Conduct Rules) Notice 2022
- SL No.116 of 2022: Sugar Industry Regulation 2022
- SL No.115 of 2022: Status of Children Regulation 2022
- SL No.114 of 2022: Energy and Water Ombudsman Regulation 2022
- SL No.113 of 2022: Statutory Instruments 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 13 to 15 September 2022.
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