Queensland Institute of Medical Research Bill 2025
Bill Story
The journey of this bill through Parliament, including debate and recorded votes.
Referred to Health, Environment and Innovation Committee
5 members · Chair: Robert Molhoek
The Health, Environment and Innovation Committee examined two bills referred together: the Queensland Institute of Medical Research Bill 2025 and the Health Legislation Amendment Bill (No. 2) 2025. The committee recommended both be passed. The QIMR Bill modernises the governance of the Queensland Institute of Medical Research, adding commercialisation as a statutory function and allowing non-employees to receive incentive payments for intellectual property contributions. The Health Legislation Amendment Bill (No. 2) clarifies pharmacy business ownership regulations, transitions the state dust lung disease register to a national registry, and enables mosquito trapping to detect Japanese encephalitis virus.
Key findings (4)
- The QIMR Bill adds commercialisation of intellectual property as a statutory function and allows incentive payments to non-employees who contribute to intellectual property development
- The Health Legislation Amendment Bill (No. 2) addresses implementation issues in the Pharmacy Business Ownership Act 2024, closing a loophole allowing non-pharmacists to hold beneficial interests in pharmacy businesses through trusts
- The bill transitions the Queensland Notifiable Dust Lung Disease Register to the National Occupational Respiratory Disease Registry, removing duplicative reporting obligations for medical practitioners
- The committee found both bills compatible with human rights and consistent with fundamental legislative principles
Recommendations (1)
- The committee recommends that the Bill be passed.
▸12 members spoke5 support7 mixed
Moved the second reading as Health Minister, arguing the bill modernises QIMR's 80-year-old legislative framework to meet contemporary governance standards. Strongly defended clause 11 allowing ministerial appointment of council members.
“We cannot keep doing things the way they have been done in the past. We need to be agile. We need to be able to move quickly. We need to give our institutions and our bodies the capacity to do so.”— 2025-10-14View Hansard
Supported modernising QIMR's governance framework, fairer incentive payments and greater reporting obligations, but strongly opposed clause 11 which removes Governor in Council oversight of council appointments, calling it a reduction in transparency.
“Labor says clearly that we support modernising the QIMR, we support fairer incentive payments and we support greater reporting obligations, but we do not support the removal of Governor in Council oversight of council appointments.”— 2025-10-14View Hansard
Supported the bill as committee chair, recognising 80 years of world-class medical research and the need for modern governance to allow QIMR to continue saving lives.
“This bill is not simply a legislative update; it is a recognition of 80 years of world-class medical research and it ensures that one of Queensland's most valued institutions has the governance it needs to continue saving lives for generations to come.”— 2025-10-14View Hansard
Supported the bill's modernisation of QIMR but shared concerns about clause 11 reducing transparency in the appointment process for council members.
“While we do have concerns in relation to some areas of this bill, we support those changes that modernise QIMR.”— 2025-10-14View Hansard
Supported the bill as bringing QIMR's governance into line with modern legislative and accountability standards after 80 years.
“This bill repeals and replaces the Queensland Institute of Medical Research Act 1945, bringing the governance and operation of this world-class research institute into line with modern legislative and accountability standards.”— 2025-10-14View Hansard
Supported the modernisation of QIMR's legislative framework but raised concerns about the government's approach to transparency, particularly regarding council appointments.
“We have grave concerns about the appointment process.”— 2025-10-14View Hansard
Supported the bill as an important modernisation of QIMR's governance framework.
“I rise to speak in support of the Queensland Institute of Medical Research Bill 2025.”— 2025-10-14View Hansard
Supported many aspects of the bill but expressed grave concerns about the change to the appointment process under clause 11, arguing it removes important protections when appointments are made at the whim of the minister.
“We do have concerns about the appointment process. I do not know why you would want to remove protections that are not there when it is done at the whim of the minister.”— 2025-10-14View Hansard
Supported modernising QIMR but raised concerns about clause 11 and transparency in the appointment process.
“While we do have concerns in relation to some areas of this bill, we support those changes that modernise QIMR.”— 2025-10-14View Hansard
Supported the bill as an important reform to modernise Queensland's statutory frameworks, ensuring QIMR remains contemporary, accountable and capable of delivering innovation.
“This legislation represents another important reform by the Crisafulli Liberal National Party state government to modernise Queensland's statutory frameworks, ensuring that our public institutions remain contemporary, accountable and capable of delivering the innovation that underpins the health and prosperity of our state.”— 2025-10-14View Hansard
Supported the modernisation of QIMR but raised concerns about the governance changes, particularly regarding the removal of Governor in Council oversight.
“We support modernising the QIMR, we support fairer incentive payments and we support greater reporting obligations, but we do not support the removal of Governor in Council oversight of council appointments.”— 2025-10-14View Hansard
Supported the bill's intent to modernise QIMR but raised concerns about transparency and the appointment process under clause 11.
“We support modernising the QIMR but have concerns about the appointment process.”— 2025-10-14View Hansard
▸1 clause vote (all passed)
Vote on clause 11
Vote on whether to retain clause 11, which allows the Health Minister alone to appoint QIMR Council members instead of requiring Governor in Council (cabinet) approval. The ALP opposed the clause arguing it reduces transparency, while the LNP government defended it as modernising the appointment process in line with QIMR's own request.
The clause was kept in the bill.
A vote on whether a specific clause should remain in the bill as written.
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Ayes (50)
Noes (35)
Plain English Summary
Overview
This bill replaces the nearly 80-year-old legislation governing the Queensland Institute of Medical Research (QIMR), one of Australia's leading medical research organisations. It modernises governance arrangements, introduces integrity safeguards for Council members, and creates a framework for rewarding researchers when their work is commercialised.
Who it affects
QIMR's approximately 1,000 scientists, support staff and students are most affected, particularly through new arrangements for commercialised incentive payments. Council members face new integrity requirements including criminal history checks.
Key changes
- Council members now appointed by the Minister rather than Governor in Council, with criminal history checks and conflict of interest requirements
- New commercialised incentive payment framework allows the Council to reward all contributors to successful research, capped at $10 million per item and $5 million per person per year
- Director appointed by the Council with Ministerial approval, enabling faster and more competitive recruitment
- Council and Director can now delegate functions to appropriately qualified staff
- New requirement for Council to immediately notify the Minister of matters affecting the Institute's financial viability or management