Parliamentary update

The Defamation and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025 was introduced on 14 October 2025 and referred to the Justice, Integrity and Community Safety Committee for consideration.

The Explanatory Notes outline the proposed amendments to the Defamation Act 2005 to implement nationally agreed changes to the law of defamation.

The amendments include:

• Provision for a digital intermediary, some limited protections from liability and a defence for third-party content.
• Allow for an offer to make amends including the removal of or restrictions of access to defamatory digital content.
• Enhance court powers so they can:
  • Order intermediaries (even if not parties to a case) to remove or block defamatory content.
  • Require disclosure of the identify of anonymous posters, considering specific factors.
• Allow the service of notices and other documents via email, messaging or other electronic communication to an electronic address or located indicated by the recipient.

The Bill, Explanatory Notes and Statement of Compatibility are available on the Committee Inquiry page. 

Submissions to the inquiry are due 28 October 2025, with the Committee due to table its report on 28 November 2025.

The Health Legislation Amendment Bill (No. 3) 2025 was introduced on 14 October 2025 and referred to the Health, Environment and Innovation Committee for consideration.

The Explanatory Notes amend:

• Assisted Reproductive Technology Act 2024 (ART Act) to support the implementation of the regulatory framework for assisted reproductive technology (ART) services in Queensland by clarifying provisions, promoting equitable outcomes and, where appropriate, introducing a pathway for case-by-case decision-making so the administration of the Act does not result in undue hardship.

• Private Health Facilities Act 1999 to:
  • Clarify the head of power to specify types of private health facilities that must comply with standards of accreditation to provide a mechanism for requiring facilities that provide cosmetic surgery to comply with the National Safety and Quality Cosmetic Surgery Standards (Cosmetic Surgery Standards) and support the safe delivery of cosmetic surgery in Queensland.
  • Enable a regulation to prescribe information sharing agreements with Queensland Government entities about information collected under the Act.
• Transplantation and Anatomy Act 1979 to maximise opportunities for organ donation in cases of circulatory death by providing a clear framework for consent to be given to conduct interventions on a potential donor before life-sustaining measures are withdrawn. This is to better determine suitability and matching of organs and improve organ viability.
• Public Health Act 2005 to make a minor consequential amendment to require occupational respiratory diseases to be notified in accordance with proposed changes to Commonwealth legislation.

The Bill amends the:

• Assisted Reproductive Technology Act 2024
• Health and Wellbeing Queensland Act 2019
• Health Legislation Amendment Act 2025
• Hospital and Health Boards Act 2011
• Hospital Foundations Act 2018
• Pharmacy Business Ownership Act 2024
• Private Health Facilities Act 1999
• Public Health Act 2005
• Transplantation and Anatomy Act 1979

The Bill, Explanatory Notes and the Statement of Compatibility are available on the Committee Inquiry page. The date for submission has not yet been announced but will be available in due course on the Committee Inquiry page.

The Energy Roadmap Amendment Bill 2025 was introduced on 16 October 2025 and referred to the Governance, Energy and Finance Committee for consideration.

The Explanatory Notes outline the proposed amendments, including:

• Repealing the current renewable energy targets under the Energy Act.
• Repealing the Energy Industry Council, the Queensland Energy System Advisory Board and the Queensland Renewable Energy Jobs Advocate.
• Renaming the Renewable Energy Zone (REZ) framework as ‘regional energy hubs’.
• Updating the energy system planning framework.
• Clarifying public ownership provisions to confirm the State will retain 100 per cent public ownership of its existing operational generation assets.
• Amending the Priority Transmission Investment (PTI) framework.
• Establishing the mechanism for the responsible Ministers to support the delivery of the CopperString project.

The Bill amends the Energy (Renewable Transformation and Jobs) Act 2024.

The Bill, Explanatory Notes and Statement of Compatibility are available on the Committee Inquiry page. Submissions to the inquiry are due 30 October 2025, with the Committee due to table its report on 5 December 2025.

QLS previously participated in the Parliamentary Committee process when the Energy (Renewable Transformation and Jobs) Act 2024 was first introduced.

The Act establishes a Mining and Resources Coroner to conduct coronial investigations and mandatory inquests for all mining related reportable deaths. The Mining and Resources Coroner will now be able to make public findings and recommendations to prevent similar deaths from happening in the future.

The Act was passed on 16 October 2025 and received assent on 20 October 2025.

QLS contributed to the inquiry through a formal submission and also appeared before the Committee, as detailed in QLS Proctor.

QLS supported the Bill but expressed concern that its current form failed to address certain categories of workplace-related deaths. During the hearing before the Primary Industries and Resources Committee, it was noted that two significant types of fatalities remain excluded from the proposed reforms: those resulting from motor vehicle accidents while commuting to and from work sites, and those caused by occupational illnesses or diseases, such as dust-related conditions. It was argued that these incidents should be incorporated to ensure the reforms offer comprehensive protection for all workers.

Additionally, the Society supported calls from other witnesses and submissions for self-inflicted injuries and suicides to fall within the Mining and Resources Coroner’s remit, enabling specialist scrutiny of industry-specific factors that may contribute to such deaths.

During the parliamentary debate, the opposition moved amendments to address concerns raised by QLS and other submitters but these amendments were not adopted.

Passed with amendments.

The Bill was passed on 16 October 2025 to amend Education (General Provisions) Act 2006 and other legislation to reduce the regulatory burden and red tape on schools, parents and students.

A key amendment in the Bill fast-tracks the rollout of the Reportable Conduct Scheme, originally introduced under the Child Safe Organisations Act 2024. Originally planned to roll out in three phases between 2026 and 2027, the scheme will now commence in full on 1 July 2026, covering all relevant sectors including early childhood education, health, education, and religious bodies. Additionally, the statutory review of the Act has been brought forward to 1 July 2029.

The Act also removes rest period staffing exemptions in early childhood education and care services, to align Queensland with national standards. From 1 January 2026, these exemptions will be eliminated, requiring services to maintain minimum staffing and qualification levels at all times.

QLS contributed to the inquiry through a formal submission. QLS supported centralised approval of online services for schools but raises concerns about removing parent/student consent for sharing personal data, recommending an opt-in model. It highlights the need for transparency around privacy, intellectual property, and contractual terms, and urges the government to provide families with clear information to support informed choices.

More details about the Bill here.