Police Service Administration and Other Legislation Amendment Bill (No. 2) 2022
Bill Story
The journey of this bill through Parliament, including debate and recorded votes.
Referred to Economics and Governance Committee
Supports the bill which enhances police service administration, acknowledging the work of frontline workers in difficult times.
“All workers have a duty to take reasonable care for their own health and safety and not adversely affect the safety of others.”— 2022-05-12View Hansard
Supports the bill's police administration provisions.
“The bill provides important updates to police service administration.”— 2022-05-12View Hansard
Supports the bill's provisions for police services.
“The bill supports our police services.”— 2022-05-12View Hansard
Supports the bill's provisions.
“The bill provides important updates.”— 2022-05-12View Hansard
Plain English Summary
Overview
This bill modernises Queensland's police, fire and emergency services legislation. It streamlines police discipline processes, automatically dismisses officers sentenced to imprisonment, strengthens protections for confidential police information, and updates fire safety and emergency response provisions.
Who it affects
Police officers face stricter accountability, while firearms licence applicants may see faster processing. Building occupiers must maintain external fire safety equipment, and anyone accessing police information is now subject to criminal penalties for misuse.
Police accountability and discipline
Strengthens police accountability by automatically dismissing officers sentenced to imprisonment (including suspended sentences) and creating new criminal offences for misusing confidential police information. Also improves the discipline system by clarifying timeframes and allowing proceedings to continue if a prescribed officer becomes unavailable.
- Police officers and recruits automatically dismissed when sentenced to imprisonment
- New offence for misusing confidential police information with penalties up to 2 years imprisonment
- Discipline proceedings can be delayed until related domestic violence order applications are finalised
- Another prescribed officer can take over if the original officer dies, resigns or becomes incapacitated
Weapons licensing efficiency
Allows police officers and QPS staff members to be delegated authorised officer powers for processing firearms licence and permit applications, addressing backlogs in the licensing system.
- Authorised officer powers can be delegated to appropriately qualified staff
- Validates licences and permits issued before the changes take effect
Fire and emergency services
Modernises fire and emergency services operations including allowing drones and robots for fire investigations, enabling fire permits to be suspended rather than revoked, and allowing interstate brigades to assist with hazardous materials emergencies.
- Fire officers can use remote-controlled devices (drones, robots) for investigations
- Fire permits can be suspended during high-risk periods instead of revoked
- Interstate fire brigades can assist with hazardous materials emergencies in Queensland
- Impersonating a Rural Fire Brigade member is now an offence
- Building occupiers must maintain fire safety equipment located outside buildings
Legislative modernisation
Removes obsolete provisions and updates publication requirements from print to online, reflecting modern government practices.
- Removes obsolete MINDA software references and the anachronistic offence of harbouring police
- Updates fire ban and emergency declaration notices to online publication
- Removes duplicated provisions already covered by other Acts