Queensland Parliament held its sixth regional sitting in Cairns from 9 May to 11 May 2023.
Bills introduced
The following Bills were introduced into the Legislative Assembly:
- Gas Supply and Other Legislation (Hydrogen Industry Development) Amendment Bill 2023
Gas Supply and Other Legislation (Hydrogen Industry Development) Amendment Bill 2023
On 9 May 2023 the Minister for Energy, Renewables and Hydrogen and Minister for Public Works and Procurement, Michael de Brenni, introduced the Gas Supply and Other Legislation (Hydrogen Industry Development) Amendment Bill 2023.
The Gas Supply and Other Legislation (Hydrogen Industry Development) Amendment Bill 2023 aims to provide a clear regulatory assessment pathway to authorise the construction and operation of pipelines for hydrogen and hydrogen carriers in Queensland. Hydrogen carriers could include ammonia, methanol, methyl-cyclohexane (MCH), dimethyl-ether and toluene in pipelines.
To achieve its objectives, the Bill proposes to amend:
- The Gas Supply Act 2003 to expand its jurisdiction to hydrogen blends, biomethane and other gases, and
- The Petroleum and Gas (Production and Safety) Act 2004 to provide a clear and effective regulatory pathway for a proponent to apply for a pipeline license for the transmission of hydrogen and hydrogen carriers.
Useful resources:
The Bill was referred to the parliamentary Transport and Resources Committee for inquiry. Submissions to the inquiry will close on 6 June 2023 and details of a public hearing will be advised in due course. For more details regarding the inquiry process, visit the committee website.
Legislation passed this Parliament
The following legislation was passed by the Legislative Assembly:
- Path to Treaty Bill 2023
Path to Treaty Bill 2023
On 22 February 2023, the Premier and Minister for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, Annastacia Palaszczuk, introduced the Path to Treaty Bill 2023.
The objectives of the Bill are to establish:
- A First Nations Treaty Institute to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to develop and provide a framework for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to prepare for and then commence treaty negotiations with the Queensland Government, and
- A Truth-telling and Healing Inquiry to inquire into, and report on, the effects of colonisation on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
The Bill was referred to the Community Support and Services Committee, which received 39 submissions, held public hearings in Brisbane on 13 March, 27 March and 17 April 2023 and reported on 21 April 2023.
The Bill was passed with amendment on 10 May 2023. Amendments were moved during consideration in detail to achieve its policy objectives by:
- Omitting clause 55(1)(d) to remove mandatory disqualification of a person who has previously been convicted of an indictable offence from becoming a member of the Treaty Institute Council or senior executive officer of the Treaty Institute. To give effect to Recommendation 10 of the Community Support and Services Committee report, consequential amendments were also made to clauses 19, 37, 42, 55, 60 and Schedule 1 (Dictionary).
- Amending clause 87 to include provision for a review at 12 months after the commencement of the Truth-telling and Healing Inquiry (the Inquiry) to ensure the powers of the Inquiry continue to support the effective gathering of information that reveals the full impact of colonisation on First Nations people of Queensland.
- Amending the definition of government entity in Schedule 1 (Dictionary) to give effect to the Department of Seniors, Disability Services and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships’ commitment to amend the relevant clause to clarify the policy intent that the powers of the Inquiry to compel information will apply to the Commissioner of Queensland Police Service.
The Bill amends the:
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities (Justice, Land and Other Matters) Act 1984
- Fire and Emergency Services Act 1990
Queensland Law Society provided a submission on the Bill.
Useful resources:
- 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
- Monitoring of Places of Detention (Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture) Bill 2022
Subordinate legislation
Subordinate Queensland legislation notified in 2023 is available online.
Subordinate Legislation notified on the Queensland Legislation website from 22 April 2023 to 17 May 2023:
- SL No.31 of 2023: Public Trustee (Interest Rate) Amendment Regulation (No.4) 2023
- SL No.32 of 2023: Proclamation No.1 – Land and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2023 (commencing certain provisions)
- SL No.33 of 2023: Stock Route Management Regulation 2023
- SL No.34 of 2023: Legal Profession (Society Rules) Amendment Notice 2023
- SL No.35 of 2023: Rural and Regional Adjustment (Boosting Accessible Tourism Experiences Grants Scheme) Amendment Regulation 2023
- SL No.36 of 2023: Fisheries Quota (Regulated Coral Trout) Amendment Declaration 2023
- SL No.37 of 2023: Proclamation No.1 – Health Practitioner Regulation National Law and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2022 (commencing certain provisions)
- SL No.38 of 2023: Acts Interpretation (Fee Unit) Amendment Regulation 2023
Queensland Government Gazette
The Queensland Government Gazettes for 2023 are available online.
Parliamentary sitting dates
As indicated on the parliamentary website, the Queensland Parliament is currently scheduled to next sit from 23 May 2023 to 25 May 2023.
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