By Steve Zeppa
It was not all Question Time mudslinging in Queensland Parliament this week, with a range of new laws passed.
In true Newsreel style, direct from the source, here is a rundown … in case you missed the changes to legislation amidst all the name calling.
Firearm prohibition
New laws will restrict high-risk individuals from accessing a firearm.
The laws implement a Firearm Prohibition Order regime in Queensland and empower police with the ability to carry out searches of high-risk individuals, their vehicles and place of residence to ensure compliance with the Order.
A Firearm Prohibition Order (FPO) prohibits a high-risk individual subject to the order from possessing, using, or acquiring a firearm or firearm-related item.
Examples of high-risk individuals include terrorists, organised crime participants and high-risk domestic and family violence perpetrators.
The new laws also amended the Explosives Act to introduce a new offence which requires sellers to engage in a new verification process to ensure a buyer of small arms ammunition possesses a valid licence or authority to purchase the ammunition.
Crime boasting
Current “Post and Boast’ laws were expanded, creating a new stand-alone offence for publishing material on social media depicting crimes where the purpose was to glorify the conduct or increase someone’s reputation.
This includes offences involving:
- Driving or operating a vehicle.
- Violence or a threat of violence.
- Taking, damaging, destroying, removing, using, interfering with or entering property.
- A weapon.
The laws will prohibit offenders and associated persons posting their offending behaviour online to promote and glorify the offence and evoke fear in the community.
The new offence applies to prescribed types of offending behaviour and has a maximum penalty of 2 years imprisonment.
The new laws also expand offences that the aggravating factor of social media boasting can apply.
These include:
- Going armed so as to cause fear.
- Dangerous operation of a vehicle.
- Common assault.
- Assaults occasioning bodily harm.
- Burglary.
- Possession of a knife in a public place or a school.
It was noted, the law does not capture community members who share offending behaviour for the purpose of warning others in the community, or journalists.
Dangerous driving
New laws increase penalties for people who show reckless disregard for the directions of police and the welfare of other people in the community.
People who drive dangerously, evade police, and then become involved in a crash that causes death or grievous bodily harm now face up to 20 years in prison.
The change will be known as Susan’s Law, in honour of the mother of Claudine Snow, who lost loved ones in tragic circumstances and advocated for the law.
The new circumstance of aggravation, and the new 20 year penalty are part of a broader package of reforms targeting people who drive dangerously.
The maximum penalty for someone who drives dangerously and leaves a crash scene after causing death or grievous bodily harm has been increased from 14 years to 20 years.
In addition, the maximum penalty for dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing death or grievous bodily harm will increase from 10 to 14 years.
This new circumstance of aggravation will also apply to youth offenders who drive dangerously, evade police and cause death or grievous bodily harm.
Jack’s law
Under changes to Jack’s law, police wanding operations to detect knives and other dangerous items will now be authorised in a broader range of public places.
This includes shopping and retail centres, sporting, entertainment and licensed premises and Queensland Rail trainlines, including Gold Coast Rail.
Previously, wanding operations were authorised in Safe Night Precincts and at public transport hubs.
The expansion of Jack’s Law is designed to capture public places characterised by high pedestrian density.
Compensation and electrical safety
Workers’ compensation, electrical safety and work health and safety laws were amended.
The change to workers’ compensation laws adds an extra 11 cancers to the list of presumed firefighter diseases, taking the total to 23.
There will be faster access to weekly compensation payments for injured workers, with the introduction of default payments once a claim is accepted.
The new laws also provide improvements to early intervention and support for workers to prevent the development of secondary psychological and psychiatric injuries.
New electrical safety laws modernised the definitions of “electrical equipment” and “electrical installation”.
Changes allow certain prescribed extra low voltage equipment to be captured in regulation as “electrical equipment” where it is placing or may place persons or property at an electrical risk.
This will allow the Electrical Safety Regulator to respond to risks caused by these technologies in the community.
Items that may be considered for prescription include e-scooter or e-bike batteries although prescription of any items will be subject to consultation.
The Bill clarifies the definition of “electrical installation” to capture new and emerging energy generation and storage systems.
This makes clear the licensing requirements for working on these systems and ensures compliance with the Wiring Rules.
Changes were also passed to enhance the Work Health and Safety Act, including the expansion of the scope of the industrial manslaughter offence beyond workers to capture the work-related death of any person who is owed health and safety duties.
Community Safety Plan
The previously listed law changes were part of a broad package of changes tabled under the Community Safety Plan.
Other changes under the Plan included:
- Expanding electronic monitoring of young offenders.
- Strengthening hooning laws.
- New offences for ramming an emergency vehicle.
- Removing detention as a last resort.
New Commissioners
Laws were passed to establish statutory roles for a Queensland Night-Life Economy Commissioner, Food Farmers’ Commissioner and Cross-Border Commissioner.
The Queensland Night-Life Economy Commissioner role was announced in June 2024 to work with businesses, live music venues, and entertainment precincts to create a vibrant and safe nightlife environment.
The Queensland Food Farmers’ Commissioner came as a recommendation from the recent Supermarket Pricing Select Committee and will assist producers to navigate supplier arrangements with supermarkets.
The Cross-Border Commissioner was also announced in June 2024 and will assist to resolve local issues arising along the border in partnership with the New South Wales Cross Border Commission and other Queensland Government agencies.
Journalist shield
Amendments were passed which introduced qualified journalist privilege under the Crime and Corruption Act consistent with the Evidence Act.
The changes means journalists cannot be compelled to provide information, documents, or answer questions in CCC proceedings where it would identify a confidential source, unless this is in the public interest.
Journalists who disagree with a CCC decision on journalist privilege have the right to apply to the Supreme Court to determine their claim.
Lobbyists
New laws amend the Integrity Act to widen the definition of “opposition representative” to include Shadow Ministers and Shadow Assistant Ministers.
Meetings registered lobbyists have with a Shadow Minister or Shadow Assistant Minister, which fit the definition of lobbying activity, will now be recorded and publicly available.
