The Making Queensland Safer (Adult Crime, Adult Time) Amendment Bill 2025, on which the Queensland Law Society made a submission, was passed during the Queensland Parliament sitting from 20 May to 22 May 2025.
Bills introduced
The following Bills were introduced into the Legislative Assembly:
- Penalties and Sentences (Sexual Offences) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025
- Health Legislation Amendment Bill (No. 2) 2025
- Queensland Institute of Medical Research Bill 2025
Penalties and Sentences (Sexual Offences) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025
On 20 May 2025, the Penalties and Sentences (Sexual Offences) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025 was introduced into the Queensland Parliament. The Bill was referred to the Justice, Integrity and Community Safety Committee for detailed consideration.
The Bill’s objectives are to:
- implement four recommendations from the Queensland Sentencing Advisory Council (QSAC) report, Sentencing of Sexual Assault and Rape: The Ripple Effect (the Report);
- QSAC’s review of the sentencing practices for rape and sexual assault included whether sentences for these offences adequately reflect community views. The Report made four recommendations for specific legislative amendments to the Penalties and Sentences Act 1992 (PS Act). The Bill will amend the PS Act to:
- expand the sentencing purposes to include recognition of harm caused to a victim of an offence;
- qualify the court’s treatment of good character as a mitigating factor in sentencing persons convicted of offences of a sexual nature;
- introduce a statutory aggravating factor for rape and sexual assault against children aged 16 or 17 years; and
- clarify that no inference may be drawn from the absence of details of harm caused to a victim.
- QSAC’s review of the sentencing practices for rape and sexual assault included whether sentences for these offences adequately reflect community views. The Report made four recommendations for specific legislative amendments to the Penalties and Sentences Act 1992 (PS Act). The Bill will amend the PS Act to:
- introduce a new offence for false representations in relation to government agencies.
- realign the Queensland Crimes at Sea Act 2001 with relevant provisions of the Commonwealth Crimes at Sea Act 2000;
- ensure the blue card system operates as intended.
The Bill amends the:
- Crimes at Sea Act 2001
- Criminal Code 1899
- Penalties and Sentences Act 1992,
- Working with Children (Risk Management and Screening) Act 2000
Useful resources:
Submissions to the committee inquiry will close on 4 June 2025. For further details regarding the inquiry process, visit the committee’s website here.
Health Legislation Amendment Bill (No. 2) 2025
On 22 May 2025, the Health Legislation Amendment Bill (No. 2) 2025 was introduced into the Queensland Parliament. The Bill was referred to the Health, Environment and Innovation Committee for detailed consideration.
The Bill’s objectives are to:
- clarify requirements of regulations surrounding pharmacy business ownership;
- support the transition to the National Occupational Respiratory Disease Registry, including amendments to the Public Health Regulation 2018 to mirror amendments made to the Public Health Act 2005;
- enable materials and equipment to be left to collect samples of designated pests, including adult mosquitoes for the purposes of detecting Japanese Encephalitis Virus;
- clarify that all persons may apply for, and hold, an approval to dispose of radioactive waste; and,
- clarify the conditions on, and process of, Ministerial appointment of an Acting Mental Health Commissioner, where a Mental Health Commissioner’s term has ended.
The Bill amends the:
- Pharmacy Business Ownership Act 2024
- Public Health Act 2005
- Queensland Mental Health Commission Act 2013
- Radiation Safety Act 1999
Useful resources:
- Bill
- Explanatory Notes
- Statement of Compatibility
- Committee
- Submissions to the committee inquiry will close on 9 June 2025 and a public hearing is scheduled to be held on 23 June 2025. For further details regarding the inquiry process, visit the committee’s website here.
Queensland Institute of Medical Research Bill 2025
On 22 May 2025, the Queensland Institute of Medical Research Bill 2025 was introduced into the Queensland Parliament. The Bill was referred to the Primary Industries and Resources Committee for detailed consideration.
The purpose of the Bill is to repeal and replace the Queensland Institute of Medical Research Act 1945 (Act). The Act no longer meets the legislative expectations or governance standards appropriate for the institution and repealing and replacing it will introduce new governance, procedural and operational frameworks and remove redundant provisions. The Bill will support the institution’s ability to attract funding, deliver impactful research and remain competitive in the medical research sector.
The Bill repeals the:
- Queensland Institute of Medical Research Act 1945
Useful resources:
- Bill
- Explanatory Notes
- Statement of Compatibility
- Committee
- Submissions to the committee inquiry will close on 4 June 2025 and a public hearing is scheduled to be held on 11 June 2025. For further details regarding the inquiry process, visit the committee’s website here.
Legislation passed this Parliament
Making Queensland Safer (Adult Crime, Adult Time) Amendment Bill 2025
On 1 April 2025, the Making Queensland Safer (Adult Crime, Adult Time) Amendment Bill 2025 (Bill) was introduced into the Queensland Parliament. The Bill was referred to the Justice, Integrity and Community Safety Committee for detailed consideration.
The Bill was passed on 21 May 2025.
The Queensland Law Society appeared before the parliamentary committee inquiring into the Bill and made a submission on the Bill, which can be found here.
The Bill will amend section 175A of the Youth Justice Act 1992 (YJ Act) to introduce ‘adult crime, adult time’ for an additional 20 criminal offences under the Criminal Code and Drugs Misuse Act 1986 including offences such as:
- Attempted murder
- Threatening violence
- Torture
- Rape
- Kidnapping
- Arson
- Trafficking in dangerous drugs
The Bill also contains additional technical amendments to the YJ Act to allow for persons automatically registered on the victims’ register to ‘opt out’ of receiving information directly regarding an offender’s movements and to remove a reference to a repealed section of the Police Powers and Responsibilities Act 2000.
The Bill amends the:
- Youth Justice Act 1992.
Useful resources:
Subordinate legislation
Subordinate Queensland Legislation notified in 2025 is available online.
Queensland Government Gazette
The Queensland Government Gazettes for 2025 are available online.
Parliamentary sitting dates
As indicated on the parliamentary website, the Queensland Parliament is currently scheduled to next sit from 10 June to 12 June 2025.
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