Health Legislation Amendment Bill (No. 2) 2025
Bill Story
The journey of this bill through Parliament, including debate and recorded votes.
Referred to Ethics Committee
6 members · Chair: Ray Stevens
Vote on a motion
Motion by ALP to allow shadow health minister Hon. MC Bailey to be further heard after being ruled out of order for straying from the bill. Defeated 31-46.
The motion was rejected.
A formal vote on whether to accept a proposal — this could be the bill itself, an amendment, or another motion.
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Ayes (31)
Noes (46)
▸3 procedural votes
Vote to grant leave
ALP motion seeking leave to move amendments relating to pill testing. Defeated 33-47 as the LNP government refused to grant leave.
Permission was refused.
A vote on whether to grant permission — for example, to introduce an amendment or vary normal procedure.
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Ayes (33)
Noes (47)
That the House do now adjourn
The motion passed.
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Ayes (47)
Noes (32)
Vote to end debate
ALP procedural motion to end debate on Consideration in Detail and force a vote on the government's pill-testing ban amendment. Defeated 32-47.
The attempt to end debate failed.
A procedural vote to end debate and force an immediate decision. Sometimes called a “gag motion”.
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Ayes (32)
Noes (47)
▸20 members spoke13 support6 oppose1 mixed
As Minister for Health, introduced and defended the bill which strengthens health legislation in five key areas: pharmacy ownership regulation, occupational respiratory disease reporting, Japanese encephalitis detection, radiation safety, and mental health commissioner appointments.
“The Crisafulli government is committed to strengthening the performance and clarity of our health legislation. The Health Legislation Amendment Bill (No. 2) 2025 achieves this in five key areas.”— 2025-09-18View Hansard
As shadow health minister, criticised the bill as 'threadbare' and 'thin' but stated Labor supports the technical amendments. Expressed suspicion that late amendments would be moved to bypass committee scrutiny.
“While Labor supports the bill's intent, we do have concerns. On pharmacy ownership, stakeholders have raised issues about definitions that are not comprehensive enough.”— 2025-09-18View Hansard
As a Health Committee member, defended the bill and noted the committee recommended it be passed. Criticised the opposition for raising concerns when no statement of reservation was filed during committee process.
“I rise today to support the Health Legislation Amendment Bill (No. 2) 2025. In rising to speak, I want to acknowledge the role that the committee and the secretariat played in reviewing the legislation.”— 2025-09-18View Hansard
Strongly criticised the government for bringing late amendments to ban pill testing without committee scrutiny. Argued this undermines transparency and accountability, calling it contrary to the government's stated position of putting doctors and nurses in charge.
“Well, transparency and accountability are dead in the Queensland parliament. Here is the motion that they were so afraid of seeing in this House—the motion to bring pill-testing amendments into this House.”— 2025-09-18View Hansard
As a Health Committee member, supported the bill and highlighted its amendments to pharmacy ownership, dust lung disease reporting, mosquito surveillance for Japanese encephalitis, and mental health commissioner appointments.
“I rise to speak in support of the Health Legislation Amendment Bill (No. 2) 2025. I rise not only as the member for Redcliffe but also as a member of the Health, Environment and Innovation Committee.”— 2025-09-18View Hansard
Supported the bill and emphasised the importance of community pharmacies, particularly in regional areas like Hervey Bay where they are often the first point of health care contact.
“Community pharmacists are the heartbeat of healthcare across Queensland, particularly in regional communities like Hervey Bay.”— 2025-09-18View Hansard
Criticised the government for planning to introduce amendments that bypass fundamental legislative principles of committee scrutiny. Raised concerns about cuts to the Yarrabilba satellite hospital.
“We have to question why the government has brought this bill in in this way. This is a government that says that it does what it says, and here we have an example of it doing not very much.”— 2025-09-18View Hansard
Supported the bill as an important step in strengthening Queensland's health regulatory framework.
“I rise to support the Health Legislation Amendment Bill (No. 2) 2025.”— 2025-09-18View Hansard
Expressed concerns about the government's approach to the bill and the lack of transparency around proposed amendments.
“Labor will always listen to those on the ground and small locally owned independent pharmacies across the state.”— 2025-09-18View Hansard
Supported the bill and highlighted the importance of community pharmacies in delivering primary health care.
“I rise to speak in support of the Health Legislation Amendment Bill (No. 2) 2025.”— 2025-09-18View Hansard
Acknowledged the bill's objectives but attempted to raise concerns about the government's plans to introduce pill-testing ban amendments without committee scrutiny.
“This bill, as we have heard from many speakers, is an important step in strengthening Queensland's health regulatory framework. It contains a suite of targeted but significant reforms.”— 2025-09-18View Hansard
Supported the bill and highlighted the importance of the amendments for North Queensland communities.
“I rise to support the Health Legislation Amendment Bill (No. 2) 2025.”— 2025-09-18View Hansard
Acknowledged the technical amendments but expressed concerns about pharmacy ownership definitions. Particularly concerned about Japanese encephalitis virus detection in her electorate near the Port of Brisbane.
“Whilst the changes are largely technical, they nonetheless touch on important areas of health regulation, workforce safety and public health preparedness.”— 2025-09-18View Hansard
Supported the bill with particular focus on pharmacy ownership provisions, praising local pharmacists who serve diverse communities including Yazidi refugees in Toowoomba.
“I would like to thank the minister for bringing this very important bill to the House. As we know, it is an omnibus bill, but one of the key areas is something I am very passionate about—that is, pharmacy business ownership.”— 2025-09-18View Hansard
Supported the bill and emphasised the importance of community pharmacies and the amendments to support rural fire brigades.
“I rise to support the Health Legislation Amendment Bill (No. 2) 2025.”— 2025-09-18View Hansard
Supported the bill and highlighted the importance of community pharmacies in regional areas like Maryborough.
“I rise to support the Health Legislation Amendment Bill (No. 2) 2025.”— 2025-09-18View Hansard
Supported the bill and emphasised its importance for regional Queensland.
“I rise to support the Health Legislation Amendment Bill (No. 2) 2025.”— 2025-09-18View Hansard
Supported the bill and highlighted the importance of the amendments.
“I rise to support the Health Legislation Amendment Bill (No. 2) 2025.”— 2025-09-18View Hansard
Supported the bill and defended the government's approach to the legislation.
“I rise to support the Health Legislation Amendment Bill (No. 2) 2025.”— 2025-09-18View Hansard
Strongly opposed the bill due to the pill-testing ban amendment, arguing it would cost young lives at events like schoolies.
“Young Queenslanders in this state will die because of the health minister's actions here today. At no point did he want to admit that they would be bringing these amendments in.”— 2025-09-18View Hansard
That the minister’s amendment No. 2, as circulated, be agreed to
The motion passed.
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Ayes (47)
Noes (33)
As a rural firefighter, strongly supported the Fire Services Act amendment to clarify rural fire brigade powers during disasters.
“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.”— 2025-09-18View Hansard
That the bill, as amended, be now read a third time
Final passage vote for the Health Legislation Amendment Bill (No. 2) 2025 including the pill-testing ban amendment. Passed 47-33 with LNP support and ALP/Greens/Independent opposition.
The motion passed.
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Ayes (47)
Noes (33)
Plain English Summary
Overview
This bill makes technical improvements to several health-related laws before they take full effect. It clarifies pharmacy ownership rules, moves dust lung disease reporting to a national system, allows mosquito traps to be left on properties to detect Japanese Encephalitis Virus, and fixes minor issues in mental health and radiation safety legislation.
Who it affects
Pharmacy owners and pharmacists face updated licensing requirements, medical specialists must report lung diseases to a national registry, and property owners in mosquito risk areas may have trapping equipment placed on their land.
Pharmacy business ownership
The Pharmacy Business Ownership Act 2024 creates a new licensing system for pharmacy ownership, but several issues were found during implementation. This bill fixes these before the Act fully commences, ensuring pharmacies remain owned primarily by pharmacists or their families.
- Clarifies that shareholders cannot hold shares on trust for people who are not pharmacists or their close adult relatives
- Expands the definition of pharmacy services to include selling medicines, closing a potential loophole
- Removes inflexible 30-day timeframes for the Council to request information during licence applications
- Requires the Council to publish a register of pharmacy business licences online, including licence holder names and suspension details
- Enables information sharing between the Pharmacy Council and Queensland Health
Occupational lung disease reporting
Diagnoses of work-related lung diseases like pneumoconiosis and coal worker's lung disease will now be reported to a national registry instead of the Queensland state register. This avoids duplication and improves national tracking of these serious workplace diseases.
- Transitions reporting of notifiable dust lung diseases from the Queensland Register to the National Occupational Respiratory Disease Registry
- Silicosis is already required to be reported nationally, so this adds other conditions like asbestosis and coal worker's pneumoconiosis
- Historical data from the Queensland Register will be retained and protected
- 30-day reporting period is maintained
Japanese Encephalitis Virus surveillance
Japanese Encephalitis Virus is an emerging public health risk in Queensland. This change allows health officials to leave mosquito trapping equipment on properties overnight to collect adult mosquitoes for testing, enabling better disease detection.
- Authorised persons can now leave equipment and materials at a place for a reasonable period to collect mosquito samples
- Addresses a gap where current law only allowed taking equipment onto a property, not leaving it behind
Mental Health Commissioner and radiation safety
Minor fixes to ensure the Mental Health Commission has continuous leadership and to clarify that anyone can apply to dispose of radioactive material, not just licence holders.
- Minister can appoint an Acting Mental Health Commissioner when a Commissioner's term ends (previously unclear if this was allowed)
- Acting Commissioner can be appointed for up to 6 months, extendable by another 6 months
- Corrects a drafting error so any person can apply for radioactive material disposal approval