Health Legislation Amendment Bill (No. 3) 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 received a referral for the Health Legislation Amendment Bill (No. 3) 2025. No committee report text or recommendations specific to this bill are available in the database. The bill has since passed the Legislative Assembly.
▸11 members spoke6 support5 mixed
Moved the second reading as Health Minister, defending all five reform areas including ART regulation, organ donation, cosmetic surgery standards, health board governance and occupational disease reporting.
“The Crisafulli government is committed to ensuring Queensland's health legislation is fit for purpose and can respond appropriately to the needs of our communities.”— 2025-12-09View Hansard
Stated Labor would support most elements of the bill including ART amendments, organ donation, and cosmetic surgery changes, but opposed the no-cause removal powers for health board members, calling it ideological rather than practical.
“The Labor opposition will be supporting most elements of this bill... While we support the majority of the positive changes introduced by this bill... we cannot support the amendment which is a clear example of the LNP choosing ideology.”— 2025-12-09View Hansard
Broadly supported the bill's reforms to ART, organ donation, cosmetic surgery and public health reporting, but strongly opposed the no-cause removal powers for health board members and CEOs, arguing it undermines integrity and good governance.
“On balance, Labor will support the bill in the current form in which it has been introduced... but we do not support things that go against integrity, good governance and confidence in the system.”— 2025-12-09View Hansard
Supported the bill as a government backbencher, emphasising the importance of modernising health legislation.
“I rise to support the Health Legislation Amendment Bill (No. 3) 2025.”— 2025-12-09View Hansard
Spoke in support of the bill after the cognate debate motion, defending the government's legislative program.
“I rise to support the Health Legislation Amendment Bill (No. 3) 2025.”— 2025-12-09View Hansard
Supported elements of the bill but raised concerns about the governance changes and the guillotining of debate on multiple bills.
“While we support the positive changes in this bill, we have concerns about the government's approach to governance.”— 2025-12-09View Hansard
Supported the bill as a government backbencher, highlighting the importance of modernising health legislation for her electorate.
“I rise to support the Health Legislation Amendment Bill (No. 3) 2025.”— 2025-12-09View Hansard
Supported most elements of the bill but raised concerns about governance provisions.
“While we support the positive health reforms in this bill, we have concerns about the removal of safeguards.”— 2025-12-09View Hansard
Supported most elements of the bill but opposed governance changes, particularly regarding no-cause removal powers for health board members.
“We have concerns about the governance changes in this bill.”— 2025-12-09View Hansard
Supported the bill, speaking on the importance of the health reforms for regional Queensland.
“I commend the bill to the House.”— 2025-12-09View Hansard
Supported the bill as representative of the Crisafulli government's commitment to modernising health laws and improving patient outcomes.
“This legislation is representative of the Crisafulli government's commitment to modernising health legislation and providing better health outcomes for families and the community.”— 2025-12-09View Hansard
Plain English Summary
Overview
This bill makes wide-ranging changes to eight Queensland health laws. The main reforms include strengthening oversight of IVF clinics while adding flexibility for families facing hardship, allowing the government to remove health board members more easily, requiring cosmetic surgery facilities to meet new national safety standards, and creating a legal framework to maximise organ donation opportunities.
Who it affects
The bill affects people using fertility services, families of potential organ donors, patients considering cosmetic surgery, and members of various health boards who can now be removed without specific grounds.
IVF and fertility services regulation
Updates Queensland's new assisted reproductive technology laws to address implementation issues. Creates new chief executive approval powers so families aren't prevented from using fertility services due to minor missing information or reaching donor limits. Also expands inspector powers and updates the accreditation framework.
- Chief executive can approve IVF treatment even if minor donor information is missing
- Families can apply to exceed the 10-family limit for donor gametes in hardship cases
- Transitional rules protect people who started IVF before the new Act commenced
- Inspector powers expanded to monitor compliance with licensing conditions
- Accreditation framework updated to reflect national changes replacing RTAC
Health board governance
Changes to four health Acts allow the Governor in Council to remove board members and CEOs of Hospital and Health Boards, Health and Wellbeing Queensland, Pharmacy Business Ownership Council, and Hospital Foundations for any reason or no reason at all.
- Board members and CEOs can now be removed without specific grounds
- Applies to existing appointees, not just future appointments
- External disqualification criteria (insolvency, criminal convictions) consolidated
Cosmetic surgery safety
Enables regulations to require cosmetic surgery facilities to comply with new National Safety and Quality Cosmetic Surgery Standards, following Health Ministers' agreement to strengthen oversight after industry failures.
- Private hospitals providing cosmetic surgery must meet specific national safety standards
- Standards address risks unique to cosmetic procedures
- Complements existing general health service standards all facilities must meet
Organ donation
Creates a clear legal framework for families to consent to medical procedures on potential organ donors before death (ante-mortem interventions) in cases of circulatory death, helping maximise donation opportunities.
- Next of kin can consent to pre-death procedures to assess and maintain organ viability
- Applies after a lawful decision to withdraw life support has been made
- Blood tests for donation suitability can proceed with family consent alone
- Brings Queensland in line with NSW and Victoria frameworks
Health data sharing
Streamlines how Queensland Health can share private hospital data with other state government agencies for public interest purposes.
- Information sharing agreements can be prescribed by regulation
- Aligns with existing frameworks for public health data sharing
- Chief executive must be satisfied disclosure is in the public interest