Hospital Foundations Bill 2018
Bill Journey
Referred to Health, Communities, Disability Services and Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Committee
Plain English Summary
Overview
This bill modernises the governance of Queensland's 13 hospital foundations and allows industrial hemp to be grown for food products. It replaces the outdated 1982 legislation governing hospital foundations with modern rules that better reflect how these charitable bodies actually operate, while also enabling Queensland farmers to grow low-THC hemp for the food market following a national decision to permit hemp seed foods.
Who it affects
Hospital foundation boards and staff will operate under clearer governance rules. Queensland hemp farmers gain access to a new market for food-grade hemp seed, while hemp food businesses can source locally instead of importing.
Hospital foundations governance
Repeals and replaces the 35-year-old Hospitals Foundations Act with modern legislation. The 13 foundations, which collectively raised over $74 million in 2016-17 to support public hospitals, will have clearer governance structures, updated board appointment processes, and streamlined financial powers.
- Formally establishes boards as the governing body of each foundation with at least seven members
- Requires criminal history checks for board members and ongoing disclosure of any convictions
- Removes unnecessary ministerial approvals for routine financial transactions like appointing funds managers
- Creates powers for the Minister to appoint administrators if serious governance concerns arise
- Foundations must notify the Minister of matters raising significant financial or governance concerns
Industrial hemp for food
Allows Queensland's industrial cannabis industry to grow low-THC hemp for human consumption. Following a November 2017 national food standards change permitting hemp seed foods, this bill removes restrictions that previously required all food-grade hemp seed to be imported from interstate or overseas.
- Removes the prohibition on growing industrial cannabis for human consumption
- Creates new 'seed handler' licence for businesses processing hemp seed for food
- Tightens licensing requirements for researchers working with high-THC cannabis varieties
- Introduces compliance notices and new regulatory offences for licence breaches
- Simplifies requirements for seed used for planting crops