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What to expect on legislative agenda

Queensland Parliament has two sitting dates before the end of the year with the first set down for 26 November 2024. 

Before the election, the Liberal National Party laid out its 100 Day Plan1 which contains the priorities proposed to be implemented within its initial months in office.

With a strong focus on areas such as criminal justice reform, housing and child protection, the plan signals a range of legislative and policy reform proposals that will be of interest to the legal profession in Queensland.

These include:

  • Making Queensland Safer Laws

Legislating the Making Queensland Safer Laws commitment is geared toward reshaping the state’s approach to criminal sentencing. Under this initiative, the new government will seek to implement its Adult Crime, Adult Time policy and remove the principle of detention as a last resort for children and young people.

  • Enhancing DPP Capacity

The plan proposes to expand the capacity of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to streamline case management of cases impacted by DNA lab backlogs.

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  • Strengthening the Crime and Corruption Commission

Additionally, the plan committed to working with the Crime and Corruption Commission (CCC) to enhance its reporting functions.

  • Elder Abuse and Child Protection Inquiries

The incoming Government has also indicated plans to establish distinct inquiries into elder abuse and the Blue Card Child Protection System.

  • Housing Access and Affordability and Property Law

In response to housing affordability, the plan also includes establishing a Cabinet Housing Ministerial Taskforce to address access and affordability issues.

Other notable reform proposals include: Facilitating housing access for first-time buyers by allowing recipients of the First Home Grant to rent rooms without penalty; “Unlocking” church and charity-owned land for community housing; and Re-establishing the Productivity Commission to conduct a regulatory review of the building industry.

  • Electricity Maintenance Guarantee

The Electricity Maintenance Guarantee proposes to increase transparency in maintenance for government-owned power plants, by mandating reporting on maintenance requests to Shareholding Ministers, and will likely impact energy law practitioners focused on regulatory and environmental compliance.

Key commitments to the QLS Call to Parties

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The new Government also outlined multiple commitments in its response to the QLS Call to Parties.

Notably, it has committed to improving access to Queensland courts, commissions and tribunals by upgrading court facilities and expanding digital capacity.

Additionally, it has pledged to ensure the Community Legal Centre network is appropriately resourced and to consult further on the potential establishment of a Judicial Commission for Queensland. The Government also plans to continue the roll out of domestic and family violence specialist courts.

The new government has indicated it will not continue with the Path to Treaty process but that its focus will be on addressing the Closing the Gap outcomes.

It’s environmental commitments include reducing emissions and reaching net zero by 2050, alongside establishing a code of conduct for renewable energy developers.  It also committed to the implementation of the seller disclosure regime. 

In response to the housing crisis, the new government put forward a plan that includes stamp duty reform for first-home buyers and initiatives to expand home ownership opportunities within Indigenous communities.

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Conclusion

QLS looks forward to working with the State Government as it moves forward with its 100 Day Plan as well as providing the input and views of our members to continue to promote the development of good law in Queensland.

Members are encouraged to provide input on all Bills and legislative proposals by emailing QLS directly to policy@qls.com.au.

Footnotes
1 LNP – Liberal National Party of Queensland (LNP)

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