Health Legislation Amendment Bill (No. 2) 2025
Plain English Summary
Overview
This bill amends five health-related laws to strengthen pharmacy ownership regulation, improve occupational disease tracking, enhance mosquito-borne disease surveillance, streamline Mental Health Commissioner appointments, and clarify radioactive waste disposal rules. The largest component prepares Queensland's pharmacy business ownership licensing framework for full commencement by March 2026.
Who it affects
Pharmacy business owners face tightened ownership and licensing requirements. Workers exposed to occupational dust will have their diagnoses recorded nationally. Communities in mosquito-prone areas benefit from improved Japanese Encephalitis monitoring.
Pharmacy business ownership
Refines the licensing framework for pharmacy ownership before it fully commences in 2026. Closes loopholes around trust arrangements, broadens the definition of core pharmacy services to include over-the-counter medicine sales, and transfers regulatory responsibility from Queensland Health to the new Pharmacy Business Ownership Council.
- Shareholders of pharmacy business owners cannot hold shares in trust for people who are not pharmacists or their close adult relatives
- Selling medicines under pharmacist supervision is now a core pharmacy service, bringing more businesses under the licensing scheme
- The Council must publish a register of pharmacy business licences online, including licence holder names and any suspensions or cancellations
- People can appeal Council decisions directly to QCAT or the courts without needing internal review first when the Council made the original decision
Occupational lung disease reporting
Transitions mandatory reporting of workplace dust-related lung diseases from Queensland's state register to the Commonwealth's National Occupational Respiratory Disease Registry. The Queensland register is decommissioned but its historical data is preserved.
- Specialist doctors must report diagnoses of occupational lung diseases to the Commonwealth Chief Medical Officer within 30 days instead of to Queensland Health
- Silicosis is excluded from Queensland's reporting requirements as it is already mandatorily reported under Commonwealth law
- Historical data from the Queensland register is preserved with continued confidentiality protections
Japanese Encephalitis Virus surveillance
Clarifies that public health officers can leave mosquito trapping equipment on properties for a reasonable period to collect adult mosquito samples for Japanese Encephalitis Virus testing.
- Authorised officers can leave light traps and sampling equipment on properties overnight or longer to capture adult mosquitoes for JEV testing
- This addresses the increasing detection of JEV across Queensland since the 2022 outbreak that caused five cases including one death
Mental Health Commissioner appointments
Clarifies that the Minister can appoint an Acting Mental Health Commissioner when a Commissioner's term ends, preventing leadership gaps at the Queensland Mental Health Commission.
- The Minister can appoint an Acting Commissioner for up to six months, with one possible six-month extension
- This removes ambiguity about whether a vacancy existed when a Commissioner's term simply expired
Radioactive material disposal
Fixes a drafting error so that any person who finds radioactive material can apply for a disposal approval, not just existing radiation licence holders.
- References to 'licensee' replaced with 'holder of the approval' in section 71 of the Radiation Safety Act
Bill Story
The journey of this bill through Parliament, including debate and recorded votes.
▸Committee22 May 2025View Hansard
Referred to Ethics Committee
6 members · Chair: Ray Stevens
The Health, Environment and Innovation Committee examined the Bill over approximately seven weeks, receiving five written submissions and holding a public briefing with Queensland Health. The committee unanimously recommended the Bill be passed, finding it compliant with both the Legislative Standards Act 1992 and the Human Rights Act 2019. Submitters broadly supported the Bill's objectives, with the Pharmacy Guild and Pharmaceutical Society of Australia offering differing views on how broadly 'core pharmacy services' should be defined.
Key findings (5)
- The committee found that proposed amendments to the Pharmacy Business Ownership Act 2024 were necessary to close a loophole allowing non-pharmacists to hold beneficial interests in pharmacy businesses through trust arrangements.
- Stakeholders supported the Bill's objectives, though the Pharmacy Guild sought a broader definition of 'core pharmacy services' to capture clinical advice, while the Pharmaceutical Society preferred the narrower definition in the Bill.
- The transition from the Queensland Notifiable Dust Lung Disease Register to the National Occupational Respiratory Disease Registry was supported by the Interim Australian Centre for Disease Control and Lung Foundation Australia as reducing duplicate reporting obligations.
- The committee was satisfied that removing the 30-day timeframe for the Pharmacy Business Ownership Council to request additional information from applicants was justified to prevent unnecessary rejection of applications.
- Amendments to enable mosquito trapping equipment to be left at locations overnight were deemed necessary to manage the increasing risk posed by Japanese Encephalitis Virus, which caused at least two deaths in Queensland in 2025.
Recommendations (1)
- The committee recommends that the Bill be passed.
Committee report tabled
▸Second Reading18 Sept 2025View Hansard
Vote on a motion
Vote on an opposition motion during the Consideration in Detail stage, which was defeated with LNP voting against.
The motion was rejected.
A formal vote on whether to accept a proposal — this could be the bill itself, an amendment, or another motion.
▸Show individual votesHide individual votes
Ayes (31)
Noes (46)
▸2 procedural votes
Vote to grant leave
Earlier procedural vote on an ALP motion (moved by Mr de Brenni) seeking leave to move a motion without notice regarding the government's pill testing amendments, which the opposition argued had not been circulated to members. Defeated by LNP majority.
Permission was refused.
A vote on whether to grant permission — for example, to introduce an amendment or vary normal procedure.
▸Show individual votesHide individual votes
Ayes (33)
Noes (47)
That the House do now adjourn
Procedural vote on whether to adjourn the House during the debate on the Health Legislation Amendment Bill (No. 2), relating to the lengthy late-night sitting for the bill's passage.
The motion passed.
▸Show individual votesHide individual votes
Ayes (47)
Noes (32)
▸23 members spoke23 support
As Minister for Health, introduced the bill and delivered the minister's reply. Strongly defended the bill's provisions on pharmacy ownership, dust lung disease, JEV vaccination, and radiation safety. Moved government amendments banning pill testing and clarifying rural fire brigade powers.
“I want to make it absolutely clear that there is no safe way to take illegal drugs, and this government does not support publicly or privately funded pill testing. The amendments I will be moving will ensure that pill testing does not take place in Queensland.”— 2025-09-18View Hansard
As shadow health minister, supported the bill's core health provisions but was highly critical of the government's approach, describing the bill as 'embarrassingly lacking in policy substance'. Strongly opposed the pill testing ban amendments introduced during CID.
“This is an embarrassingly thin piece of legislation from a health minister who has been in the job for nearly a year.”— 2025-09-18View Hansard
Spoke in support of the bill as a government member, highlighting the pharmacy ownership protections and community pharmacy model.
“Community pharmacies are the backbone of primary health care in Queensland, and this bill protects that model.”— 2025-09-18View Hansard
Supported the bill's health provisions but was repeatedly ruled out of order for attempting to speak about the government's planned pill testing ban amendments during the second reading. Was ultimately ejected from the chamber for one hour for continued irrelevance.
“Transparency and accountability are dead in the Queensland parliament.”— 2025-09-18View Hansard
Supported the bill as a government member and committee member, speaking about the pharmacy ownership reforms, dust lung disease provisions, and community pharmacy model.
“This bill is another important step by the Crisafulli government to strengthen the clarity and performance of health legislation across Queensland.”— 2025-09-18View Hansard
Supported the bill's health provisions while raising concerns about the government's broader health policy approach.
“We support these sensible amendments to protect the community pharmacy model and improve public health responses.”— 2025-09-18View Hansard
Spoke in support of the bill, highlighting the JEV vaccination provisions and their importance for regional Queensland.
“Japanese encephalitis virus is a serious threat in regional Queensland, and these amendments ensure we are prepared.”— 2025-09-18View Hansard
Supported the bill while criticising the government's approach to health policy and the late introduction of pill testing ban amendments.
“We support the health provisions in this bill, but the government must be transparent about its agenda.”— 2025-09-18View Hansard
Spoke at length about the JEV provisions, sharing detailed experiences from his electorate about the impact of Japanese encephalitis virus on piggeries and agricultural workers.
“JEV is a serious and potentially fatal disease, and these provisions ensure Queensland is prepared for the next outbreak season.”— 2025-09-18View Hansard
Supported the bill, speaking about the importance of public health provisions for her electorate.
“These are sensible reforms that will improve public health outcomes for Queenslanders.”— 2025-09-18View Hansard
Supported the bill as a government member.
“This bill ensures Queensland's health legislation is contemporary and effective.”— 2025-09-18View Hansard
Supported the bill's health provisions while raising broader concerns about health resourcing.
“We support these amendments to protect community pharmacy and improve public health.”— 2025-09-18View Hansard
Supported the bill, speaking about health service delivery in Far North Queensland.
“The people of Far North Queensland deserve a health system that works for them, and this bill helps deliver that.”— 2025-09-18View Hansard
As an independent member, expressed conditional support for the bill while raising concerns about specific provisions.
“I will be supporting this bill, but I want to see the government continue to work with communities on health service delivery.”— 2025-09-18View Hansard
Supported the bill, speaking about health provisions relevant to his regional electorate.
“Community pharmacies are essential for rural and regional communities like Gympie.”— 2025-09-18View Hansard
Supported the bill's health provisions.
“We support these important amendments to Queensland's health legislation.”— 2025-09-18View Hansard
Supported the bill as a government member.
“This bill delivers practical improvements to health legislation for all Queenslanders.”— 2025-09-18View Hansard
Supported the bill and spoke during CID in favour of the rural fire brigade amendment, highlighting the importance for his northern Gold Coast community.
“This clause allows local rural fire brigades to get out there and work in their local area. Their knowledge of their local areas is something we need to rely on.”— 2025-09-18View Hansard
Supported the bill as a government member.
“This bill protects Queensland's community pharmacy model and improves public health responses.”— 2025-09-18View Hansard
Supported the bill as a government member.
“This bill delivers important health reforms for North Queensland.”— 2025-09-18View Hansard
Supported the bill as a government member.
“This bill ensures Queensland's health legislation keeps pace with community needs.”— 2025-09-18View Hansard
Supported the bill as a government member.
“This bill protects community pharmacies and strengthens Queensland's health framework.”— 2025-09-18View Hansard
Supported the bill's core health provisions but was strongly critical of the government's pill testing ban amendments, arguing they would cost lives.
“The evidence is clear that pill testing saves lives, and this government is putting ideology ahead of evidence.”— 2025-09-18View Hansard
▸In Detail18 Sept 2025View Hansard
Government amendment No. 1 inserting a new Part 1A to amend the Fire Services Act 1990, adding section 139A to clarify that rural fire brigades can carry out activities to help communities during events and disasters at the direction of the commissioner, in response to a community request, or on their own initiative, with notification to the commissioner at the first opportunity.
Government amendment No. 2 inserting a new Part 1B to amend the Medicines and Poisons Act 2019, banning pill testing (drug checking) in Queensland. The amendment prohibits the chief executive from granting approvals for drug checking services, ends existing authorisations with a 30-day wind-down for disposal, and provides no compensation for affected licence holders.
Government amendment No. 3 amending the long title of the bill to include references to the Fire Services Act 1990 and the Medicines and Poisons Act 2019.
That the minister’s amendment No. 2, as circulated, be agreed to
The motion passed.
▸Show individual votesHide individual votes
Ayes (47)
Noes (33)
▸1 procedural vote
Vote to end debate
ALP motion (moved by Ms Fentiman) to end debate on the rural fire brigade amendment and move immediately to the pill testing amendment, as time was running out in the allocated debate period. Defeated by the LNP government majority.
The attempt to end debate failed.
A procedural vote to end debate and force an immediate decision. Sometimes called a “gag motion”.
▸Show individual votesHide individual votes
Ayes (32)
Noes (47)
Supported the bill and spoke strongly during CID about the rural fire brigade amendment, drawing on his personal experience as a rural firefighter and the Western Queensland floods.
“As a rural firefighter—as somebody in this place who will be directly affected by the changes in this amendment—natural disasters can occur at any time, so there is no time to waste.”— 2025-09-18View Hansard
As Minister for Fire Services, spoke during CID in support of the rural fire brigade amendment, thanking the member for Theodore for raising the issue.
“Our rural fire brigades are not only helping people through the event itself but also helping them get back on their feet once the event has passed and we are into the recovery phase.”— 2025-09-18View Hansard
▸Third Reading18 Sept 2025View Hansard
That the bill, as amended, be now read a third time
Final passage vote on the Health Legislation Amendment Bill (No. 2) 2025, as amended to include the rural fire brigade provisions and the pill testing ban. ALP, Greens and independent member Sullivan voted against the third reading due to the pill testing ban amendments; passed by LNP majority.
The motion passed.