Significant reforms proposed to Queensland’s industrial relations and workers’ compensation frameworks, alongside two supplementary Appropriation Bills and the passage of a Bill establishing the new Queensland Protection Commission, were introduced in the October sitting week.
Bills introduced this sitting
Industrial Relations and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2026
On 14 October 2026, this Bill was introduced into Parliament and referred to the State Development, Infrastructure and Works Committee for detailed consideration.
The Bill’s primary objective is to support workplace productivity and a fair, balanced and sustainable workers’ compensation scheme. It does this by giving effect to certain recommendations arising from the 2026 industrial relations and workers’ compensation scheme review.
The Bill amends the Industrial Relations Act 2016 to:
- Ensure productive workplaces and providing adequate protections and fair conditions for employees is a main purpose of the Act;
- Balance freedom of association with the rule of law and a robust regulatory scheme for unions;
- Introduce changes to collective bargaining that promote fair and ethical conduct, including changes to balloting, protected industrial action and scope orders;
- Harmonise the Queensland industrial relations framework with the Commonwealth’s Fair Work Act 2009 for national consistency and to minimise regulatory burden;
- Support effective wage-setting mechanisms that provide for productivity and genuine bargaining;
- Support the efficient operation of the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission (QIRC) and the Industrial Court of Queensland.
It also restores parties’ right to engage legal representation in matters before the QIRC.
It amends the Workers’ Compensation and Rehabilitation Act 2003 to support a fair, balanced and sustainable workers’ compensation scheme by:
- Ensuring workers’ compensation coverage for psychological injuries is appropriately connected to employment;
- Strengthening the scheme’s ability to detect, prevent and respond to workers’ compensation fraud;
- Establishing strong clinical governance arrangements and efficient permanent impairment assessment pathways;
- Enhancing the regulatory tools available to the Workers’ Compensation Regulator to improve insurer performance;
- Increasing alignment between WorkCover Queensland and licensed self-insured employers;
- Providing consistent coverage for firefighters in relation to presumptive post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and presumed cancer provisions by extending coverage to Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service employees who undertake firefighting duties;
- Supporting fair and effective dispute resolution processes;
- Supporting informed employment and workplace risk management decisions;
- Improving the efficiency and administration of the scheme.
The Bill also amends:
- The Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games Arrangements Act 2021; and
- The Planning and Environment Court Act 2016.
The closing date for submissions is Monday, 2 November 2026 at 12pm. The committee is due to table its report on Friday, 27 November 2026.
Useful resources:
Appropriation (Parliament) (Supplementary 2025–2026) Bill 2026
On 13 October 2026, the Appropriation (Supplementary 2025–2026) Bill 2026 and Appropriation (Parliament) (Supplementary 2025–2026) Bill 2026 were introduced into Parliament and referred to the Governance, Energy and Finance Committee for detailed consideration.
The Appropriation (Supplementary 2025–2026) Bill 2026 provides supplementary appropriation for unforeseen expenditure that occurred in the 2025-26 financial year.
The Appropriation (Parliament) (Supplementary 2025–2026) Bill 2026 provides supplementary appropriation for the Legislative Assembly and parliamentary service for unforeseen expenditure that occurred in the 2025-26 financial year.
Appropriation (Parliament) (Supplementary 2025–2026) Bill 2026:
Appropriation (Supplementary 2025–2026) Bill 2026:
Bills passed this sitting
Queensland Protection Commission Bill 2026
This Bill was passed with amendment on 15 October 2026, establishing the Queensland Protection Commission (QPC) from 1 February 2027.
The amendments ensure that the Working with Children Check serious offence framework continues to capture dangerous driving offences after the replacement of former Criminal Code s 328A by the new dangerous vehicle operation offences introduced by the Criminal Code (Dangerous Driving) and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2026.
They align the Queensland Protection Commission Bill 2026 with the new offence structure so that offences involving the dangerous operation of a vehicle causing death or grievous bodily harm remain prescribed as serious offences for Working with Children Checks.
In its submission, the Queensland Law Society largely supported the establishment of the Queensland Protection Commission as a centralised, coordinated approach to safeguarding children and vulnerable people in Queensland. QLS also welcomed the implementation of Transformational Recommendations 4 and 9 of the In Plain Sight report and the measures it introduces to better protect children in Queensland.
The QLS submission can be read here, and the committee’s report here.
Useful resources:
- Bill
- Explanatory Notes
- Statement of Compatibility
- Explanatory Speech
- AinC govt agreed
- AinC exp note
- AinC statement of compatibility
Justice and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2026
This Bill was passed with amendment on 15 October 2026.
The objectives of the amendments to the Justice and Other Amendment Bill 2026 (Bill) to be moved during consideration in detail are to:
- Further amend Police Service Administration Act 1990 (PSA Act) to clarify a circumstance when the name of the alleged offender may be disclosed;
- Further amend the District Court of Queensland Act 1967 (District Court of Queensland Act), the Magistrates Courts Act 1921 (Magistrates Courts Act) and the Supreme Court of Queensland Act 1991 (Supreme Court of Queensland Act)(collectively, the Courts Acts) to remove the clauses of the Bill that would insert an offence in the Courts Acts in relation to further disclosure of alleged offender information, and to permit the registrar to disclose the alleged offender information in a way the registrar considers appropriate and provide an example that the registrar may provide a list;
- Further amend the Criminal Code to ensure the framework for animal valuations in relation to stock offences remains contemporary and operates effectively;
- Amend the Right to Information Act 2009 (Right to Information Act) to ensure that visual recordings received under Divisions 3B or 3C of Part 5 of the Fisheries Act 1994 (Fisheries Act) are not subject to the Right to Information Act;
- Amend the Legal Aid Queensland Act 1997 (Legal Aid Act) to provide greater flexibility for the composition of the Legal Aid Board (the Board);
- Amend the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act 2009 (QCAT Act) to:
- recognise former judges of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 2) (FCFCA Div 2) as former judges, who may be judicial members, for the purposes of the QCAT Act; and
- clarify that former acting judges of the District or Supreme Court or members of the Land Court may be nominated as a judicial member; and
- Address technical issues in the Bill.
In its submission, the Queensland Law Society generally supported the Bill but raised concerns about the need for the proposed metal theft offences and the effectiveness of increasing the District Court’s jurisdiction without additional resources. It also supported the integrity reforms, provided appropriate safeguards and guidance are in place.
The Queensland Law Society’s submission can be read here, and the committee’s report here.
Home Ownership and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2026
This Bill was passed with amendment on 13 October 2026.
The objectives of the amendments to be moved during consideration in detail of the Home Ownership and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2026 (the Bill) are to increase the effectiveness of Queensland’s Competitive Neutrality (CN) regime by:
- Broadening the basis upon which CN complaints may be made;
- Establishing a revised provision for a Ministerial Guideline to set out the process regarding how CN complaints are investigated; and
- Automatically applying the CN regime to subsidiaries of Government Owned Corporations (GOCs).
The Governance, Energy and Finance Committee’s report can be read here.
Useful resources:
- Bill
- Explanatory Notes
- Explanatory Speech
- Statement of Compatibility
- AinC govt agreed
- AinC exp note
- AinC statement of compatibility
Subordinate legislation
Subordinate Queensland Legislation notified in 2026 is available online.
Queensland Government Gazette
The Queensland Government Gazettes for 2026 are available online.
Parliamentary sitting dates
As indicated on the parliamentary website, the Queensland Parliament is scheduled to next sit from 27 October 2026 to 29 October 2026.
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