Parliamentary update

On 10 February 2026, the Fighting Antisemitism and Keeping Guns out of the Hands of Terrorists and Criminals Amendment Bill 2026 was introduced into Parliament and referred to the Justice, Integrity and Community Safety Committee for detailed consideration.

The Explanatory Notes outline the purpose of the Bill:

• Strengthen laws targeting antisemitism, including bans on hate symbols and expressions.
• Introduce new offences protecting access to places of worship and increases penalties for disrupting religious worship.
• Significantly increase penalties for weapons offences and adds new crimes such as reckless discharge of a weapon and possession/distribution of 3D printed firearm blueprints.
• Tighten firearms licensing (citizenship requirement, broader criminal history checks) and strengthens the Firearm Prohibition Order regime.
• Expand police powers, including controlled operations for preventing criminal activity and enhanced search powers linked to FPOs and hate related offences.

Submissions to the Committee are invited, with a closing date of Tuesday, 17 February 2026. The Committee is scheduled to table its report on Friday, 27 February 2026.

On 11 February 2026, the Transport Affordability Amendment Bill 2026 was introduced into Parliament and referred to the State Development, Infrastructure and Works Committee for detailed consideration.

The Explanatory Notes outline the purpose of the Bill, being to ensure that 50 cent public transport fares are enshrined in legislation, so it is difficult for current or future governments to increase them. The Bill introduces the requirement for a motion to be put to the Legislative Assembly to vote upon if the government of the day wishes to increase public transport fares to be more than 50 cents.

Submissions are invited to the Committee, with a closing date to be announced. The Committee is due to table its report on 12 August 2026.

On 10 December 2025, the Youth Justice (Electronic Monitoring) Amendment Bill 2025 was introduced into the Queensland Parliament and referred to the Education, Arts and Communities Committee for detailed consideration. The Bill was passed without amendment on 12 February 2026.

QLS contributed to the Committee’s inquiry through a formal submission and appearance before the Committee, represented by President Peter Jolly, Chair of the Children’s Law Committee Damian Bartholomew, Co-Chair of the First Nations Legal Policy Committee Kristen Hodge and Deputy Co-Chair of the Human Rights and Public Law Committee Bridget Burton.

QLS raised concerns about the Bill’s proposal to make electronic monitoring permanent, expand the scheme State-wide, and remove key eligibility safeguards – such as the requirement that a child be at least 15 and charged with a prescribed offence. QLS warned that these changes risk widening the net, subjecting more children to 24/7 surveillance and exposing them to criminalisation for minor breaches like device battery depletion.

QLS also cautioned that electronic monitory devices (EMDs) may undermine rehabilitation, noting the stigma associated with their use can deter children from engaging with education or employment. Additionally, QLS highlighted the limitations of the Electronic Monitoring Trial, where the impact of EMDs could not be separated from the effects of the wraparound support services provided.

More details on the Bill and our appearance before the Committee here.

On 11 December 2025, the Electoral Laws (Restoring Electoral Fairness) Amendment Bill 2025 was introduced into the Queensland Parliament and referred to the Justice, Integrity and Community Safety Committee for detailed consideration. The Bill was passed without amendment on 10 February 2026.  

QLS contributed to the inquiry through a formal submission informed by expertise from the QLS Human Rights and Public Law Committee and the Criminal Law Committee. In its submission, QLS opposed the proposed amendments that would prohibit individuals serving a sentence of imprisonment of one year or longer from voting in State elections, referendums and local government elections. QLS noted that no evidence has been presented to justify the need for such restrictions and cautioned that the amendments would result in a significant and unwarranted limitation on human rights without adequate justification.

QLS also drew the Committee’s attention to the High Court’s decision in Roach v Electoral Commissioner (2007) 233 CLR 162, which confirmed the removal of voting rights must be a proportionate consequence of punishment for serious criminal offending, rather than an automatic outcome of any term of imprisonment. In line with this authority, QLS emphasised that the Committee must carefully weigh the importance and practical achievability of the Bill’s policy objectives against the profound implications for the fundamental rights of those affected.

For more information on QLS’s position, please read our submission on the QLS website.

On 26 August 2025, the Major Sports Facilities and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025 was introduced into the Queensland Parliament and referred to the State Development, Infrastructure and Works Committee for detailed consideration. The Bill was passed with amendments on 12 February 2026.

The amendments in cabinet strengthen the legislative framework for delivering the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games by formally defining designated Games villages and transport infrastructure, and enabling necessary land tenure changes at Victoria Park to allow construction of the new Brisbane Stadium and National Aquatic Centre to begin by 1 June 2026.

Cabinet also endorsed adding the Brisbane Athletes Village and the Gabba Arena as recognised Games venues, clarified that the Games Infrastructure and Coordination Authority will oversee additional venues only when directed by the Minister, and confirmed that Games related developments may be used before their official Games function commences.

Further amendments were made to the Major Events Act 2014 (ME Act) to provide for a two-stage commencement for ME Act amendments proceeding under the Bill, to ensure:

• the regulation prescribing AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 as a major event continues to be valid; and
• amendments increasing penalties for unlawful ticket reselling under both the ME Act and the Major Sports Facilities Act 2001 commence at the same time, avoiding inconsistency across the statute book.

Amendments were also introduced to the Racing Act 2002 to give urgent effect to several provisions of the Queensland Racing Review 2025.

For more details on the Bill and the Committee inquiry process, please see the Committee website.