Legislative Activity for Queensland in 2017: Key Acts in Crime, Environment and Workplace Safety

In 2017, the Queensland Parliament passed a total of 44 Acts, with many of the key Acts focussing on criminal legislation reform, child protection, environmental issues and workplace issues.

Criminal Law Reform

In the area of criminal law reform, the Queensland Parliament passed the Victims of Crime Assistance and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2017 (QLD) (Act No 8 of 2017).  This Act implemented the recommendations of the Final Report of the Review of the Victims of Crime Assistance Act 2009. The Act also introduced a sexual assault counselling privilege for victims, and gave victims of sexual offences automatic status as a special witness when giving evidence against the accused. For more information, read TimeBase's earlier article.

The Bail (Domestic Violence) and Another Act Amendment Act 2017 (QLD) (Act No 9 of 2017) addressed the issue of the presumption of bail in domestic violence cases. The Act reversed the presumption of bail for alleged offenders of domestic violence, meaning that presumptions in favour of bail are now displaced in Queensland.  Additionally the Act established a special bail condition for a tracking device to be imposed on the offender, and introduced a system that alerts the victim when the defendant applies for bail, is released on bail, or receives a variation to a bail condition. This Act was originally introduced as a Private Member's Bill in response to a rise in domestic violence offences and the death of Teresa Bradford. For an overview of the background to this Act, read TimeBase's earlier article.

Finally, with regard to criminal law reform, the Parliament addressed the matter of historical convictions for homosexuality with the Criminal Law (Historical Homosexual Convictions Expungement) Act 2017 (QLD) (Act No 37 of 2017). This Act established an administrative scheme for applications for expungement of convictions for the pre-existing offence of homosexual activity.  For an overview of the background to this Act, read TimeBase's previous article.

Child Protection

The Queensland Parliament also focused on child protection legislation in 2017. The Child Protection Reform Amendment Act 2017 (QLD) (Act No 44 of 2017) sought to implement key reforms under the Supporting Families Changing Futures Programme. This Act aimed to promote long-term benefits and outcomes for children were in the child protection system, with the goal of reuniting them with family or finding alternative long-term care situations. TimeBase has provided a further overview of this Act in a previous article.

Environmental Issues

The Waste Reduction and Recycling Amendment Act 2017 (QLD) (Act No 31 of 2017) introduced a state-wide container refund scheme and additionally a ban on the supply of lightweight plastic shopping bags in Queensland. For more information on this Act, read TimeBase's previous article.

Workplace Issues and Occupational Health and Safety

The Work Health and Safety and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2017 (QLD) (Act No 38 of 2017) was passed in response to fatalities at Dreamworld and established mandatory training for health and safety representatives, expanded the jurisdiction of the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission to determine disputes, and introduced the new offence of industrial manslaughter.

The Labour Hire Licensing Act 2017 (QLD) (Act 33 of 2017) was passed with the aim of protecting labour hire workers from exploitation by employers by improving regulation of labour hire service providers.

The Workers’ Compensation and Rehabilitation (Coal Workers’ Pneumoconiosis) and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2017 (QLD) (Act 27 of 2017) sought to improve the compensation scheme for workers who contracted coal workers’ pneumoconiosis or other types of dust diseases common among coalminers.

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Bail (Domestic Violence) and Another Act Amendment Act 2017 (QLD), available from TimeBase's LawOne service.

Child Protection Reform Amendment Act 2017 (QLD), available from TimeBase's LawOne service.

Criminal Law (Historical Homosexual Convictions Expungement) Act 2017 (QLD), available from TimeBase's LawOne​​​​​​​ service.

Labour Hire Licensing Act 2017 (QLD), available from TimeBase's LawOne​​​​​​​ service.

Victims of Crime Assistance and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2017 (QLD), available from TimeBase's LawOne​​​​​​​ service.

Waste Reduction and Recycling Amendment Act 2017 (QLD), available from TimeBase's LawOne​​​​​​​ service.

Work Health and Safety and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2017 (QLD), available from TimeBase's LawOne​​​​​​​ service.

Workers’ Compensation and Rehabilitation (Coal Workers’ Pneumoconiosis) and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2017 (QLD), available from TimeBase's LawOne​​​​​​​ service.