The expansion of scanning powers was approved during last week’s Queensland Parliament sitting as the Police Powers and Responsibilities (Making Jack’s Law Permanent) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025 was passed with amendment.
Bills introduced
The following bills were introduced into the Legislative Assembly:
- Coroners (Mining and Resources Coroner) Amendment Bill 2025
Coroners (Mining and Resources Coroner) Amendment Bill 2025
On 12 June 2025, the Coroners (Mining and Resources Coroner) Amendment Bill 2025 was introduced into the Queensland Parliament. The Bill was referred to the Primary Industries and Resources Committee for detailed consideration.
The Bill’s objectives are to:
Establish a dedicated Mining and Resources Coroner in Queensland. This Coroner will conduct mandatory investigations and inquests into all mining-related deaths, including those occurring on coal mines, quarries, and certain petroleum and gas sites.
The primary objectives are to provide timely answers and certainty to families, prevent similar deaths in the future, and hold mining companies accountable.
Additionally, the Coroner will make public findings and recommendations to enhance safety and transparency in the mining sector.
The Bill amends the:
- Coroners Act 2003
Useful resources:
The Bill was referred to the Primary Industries and Resources Committee for inquiry. For further details regarding the inquiry process, visit the committee’s website here.
Legislation passed this Parliament
Police Powers and Responsibilities (Making Jack’s Law Permanent) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025 – passed with amendment
On 2 April 2025, the Police Powers and Responsibilities (Making Jack’s Law Permanent) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025 was introduced into Queensland Parliament.
The Bill was passed with amendment on 11 June 2025.
QLS appeared before the parliamentary committee inquiring into the Bill and made a submission on the Bill, which can be found here.
The Bill expands the existing Jack’s Law provisions which currently allow police officers to use a handheld scanner to detect knives or other weapons in certain places.
In particular, the Bill amends the Police Powers and Responsibilities Act 2000 (PPRA) to:
- Allow a police officer to use a handheld scanner in a ‘relevant place’ without the need to obtain an authority to do so from a senior officer;
- Expand the application of Jack’s Law to allow a police officer to use a handheld scanner in public places, which are not ‘relevant places’, provided they first obtain authority to do so from a senior officer;
- Improve policing efficiencies by making amendments to the legislative framework provided in the PPRA.
Useful resources:
- Parliamentary Report
- Amendments to the Bill
- Bill
- Explanatory Note
- Statement of Compatibility
- Committee
Corrective Services (Parole Board) Amendment Bill 2025 – passed with amendment
On 3 April 2025, the Corrective Services (Parole Board) Amendment Bill 2025 was introduced into Queensland Parliament.
The Bill was passed with amendment on 11 June 2025.
The Bill’s stated objective is to ensure the Parole Board Queensland can make decisions that maintain community safety.
The explanatory notes state that the Bill empowers the Board with the authority to review all decisions made by a prescribed board member after a request for immediate suspension from QCS, including where a prescribed board member decides not to suspend parole.
Useful resources:
- Parliamentary Report
- Amendments to the Bill
- Bill
- Explanatory Note
- Statement of Compatibility
- Committee
Health Legislation Amendment Bill – passed with amendment
On 14 March 2025 the Health Legislation Amendment Bill 2025 was introduced into Queensland Parliament.
The Bill was passed with amendment on 12 June 2025.
The Bill amends the:
- Hospital and Health Boards Act 2011 to require at least one member of each Hospital and Health Board to be a clinician employed or engaged by the Hospital and Health Service for which the board is established, and provide they may not be appointed as chair or deputy chair of the board;
- Tobacco and Other Smoking Products Act 1998 (TOSPA) to:
- allow the chief executive of Queensland Health to immediately forfeit vaping goods upon seizure; empower courts to order persons convicted of an offence under TOSPA to pay the State reasonable costs incurred by the State because of the offence.
Useful resources:
- Parliamentary Report
- Amendments to the Bill
- Bill
- Explanatory Note
- Statement of Compatibility
- Committee
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 26 to 28 August 2025.
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