Electrical Safety and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025

Introduced: 28/10/2025By: Hon J Bleijie MPStatus: PASSED with amendment
Safety & EmergencyWork & EmploymentBusiness & Economy
This summary was generated by AI and has not yet been reviewed by a human.

Plain English Summary

This is an omnibus bill covering multiple policy areas.

Overview

This bill strengthens Queensland's electrical safety laws by giving the regulator clearer, more accountable powers to ban unsafe electrical equipment and by confirming that electricity distributors can legally issue defect notices for unsafe equipment found at properties. It also removes an uncommenced workplace health and safety provision before it takes effect.

Who it affects

Property owners and occupants who may receive defect notices about unsafe electrical equipment, businesses that sell or install electrical equipment, and workplace health and safety representatives who will not gain a planned new information-sharing avenue.

Unsafe electrical equipment bans

The regulator's power to prohibit the sale, installation or use of unsafe electrical equipment is moved from the Electrical Safety Regulation into the Electrical Safety Act. Directions must now specify a maximum period of 10 years, be published on the department's website, and can be challenged at QCAT.

  • Regulator can ban the sale, installation or use of unsafe electrical equipment for up to 10 years
  • Decisions must be made by the regulator personally and cannot be delegated
  • People affected by a ban can seek review at QCAT
  • Non-compliance carries a penalty of up to 40 penalty units

Electricity entity defect notices

The bill confirms the legal basis for electricity distributors like Energex and Ergon Energy to issue defect notices when they find unsafe electrical equipment during property inspections. It also retrospectively validates all defect notices issued since 2002.

  • Electricity entities can continue issuing defect notices for unsafe equipment found at properties
  • All defect notices issued since 2002 are retrospectively validated
  • The regulation-making power is clarified to specifically authorise these notices

Workplace safety information sharing

An uncommenced provision from the 2024 WHS reforms that would have let health and safety representatives and union WHS entry permit holders request certain notice information from the regulator is removed before it takes effect.

  • Removes the planned new avenue for health and safety representatives to request notice information from the regulator
  • Existing information access rights under the WHS Act are not affected
  • Aligns Queensland with other states and territories that do not have this provision

Bill Story

The journey of this bill through Parliament, including debate and recorded votes.

▸Introduced28 Oct 2025View Hansard

Vote on a motion

Vote on a procedural motion during the sitting, not related to the Electrical Safety bill

Passed51 ayes – 37 noes2025-10-28

The motion was agreed to.

A formal vote on whether to accept a proposal — this could be the bill itself, an amendment, or another motion.

▸Show individual votes

Ayes (51)

B. James(Liberal National Party)
Baillie(Liberal National Party)
Barounis(Liberal National Party)
Bates(Liberal National Party)
Bennett(Liberal National Party)
Bleijie(Liberal National Party)
Boothman(Liberal National Party)
Camm(Liberal National Party)
Crandon(Liberal National Party)
Crisafulli(Liberal National Party)
Dalton(Liberal National Party)
Dillon(Liberal National Party)
Doolan(Liberal National Party)
Dooley(Liberal National Party)
Field(Liberal National Party)
Frecklington(Liberal National Party)
G. Kelly(Liberal National Party)
Gerber(Liberal National Party)
Head(Liberal National Party)
Hunt(Liberal National Party)
Hutton(Liberal National Party)
Janetzki(Liberal National Party)
Kempton(Liberal National Party)
Kirkland(Liberal National Party)
Krause(Liberal National Party)
Langbroek(Liberal National Party)
Last(Liberal National Party)
Leahy(Liberal National Party)
Lee(Liberal National Party)
Lister(Liberal National Party)
Mander(Liberal National Party)
Marr(Liberal National Party)
McDonald(Liberal National Party)
Mickelberg(Liberal National Party)
Minnikin(Liberal National Party)
Molhoek(Liberal National Party)
Morton(Liberal National Party)
Nicholls(Liberal National Party)
O’Connor(Liberal National Party)
Perrett(Liberal National Party)
Poole(Liberal National Party)
Powell(Liberal National Party)
Purdie(Liberal National Party)
Rowan(Liberal National Party)
Simpson(Liberal National Party)
Stevens(Liberal National Party)
Stoker(Liberal National Party)
T. James(Liberal National Party)
Vorster(Liberal National Party)
Watts(Liberal National Party)
Young(Liberal National Party)

Noes (37)

Asif(Australian Labor Party)
Bailey(Australian Labor Party)
Bolton(Independent)
Bourne(Australian Labor Party)
Boyd(Australian Labor Party)
Bush(Australian Labor Party)
Butcher(Australian Labor Party)
Dick(Australian Labor Party)
Enoch(Australian Labor Party)
Farmer(Australian Labor Party)
Furner(Australian Labor Party)
Grace(Australian Labor Party)
Healy(Australian Labor Party)
Howard(Australian Labor Party)
J. Kelly(Australian Labor Party)
Katter(Katter's Australian Party)
King(Australian Labor Party)
Knuth(Katter's Australian Party)
Linard(Australian Labor Party)
Martin(Australian Labor Party)
McCallum(Australian Labor Party)
McMillan(Australian Labor Party)
Mellish(Australian Labor Party)
Miles(Australian Labor Party)
Mullen(Australian Labor Party)
Nightingale(Australian Labor Party)
O’Shea(Australian Labor Party)
Pease(Australian Labor Party)
Power(Australian Labor Party)
Pugh(Australian Labor Party)
Russo(Australian Labor Party)
Ryan(Australian Labor Party)
Scanlon(Australian Labor Party)
Smith(Australian Labor Party)
Sullivan(Independent)
Whiting(Australian Labor Party)
de Brenni(Australian Labor Party)
▸3 procedural votes

Vote to grant leave

Procedural motion to grant leave, not related to the Electrical Safety bill debate

Passed51 ayes – 36 noes2025-10-28

Permission was granted.

A vote on whether to grant permission — for example, to introduce an amendment or vary normal procedure.

▸Show individual votes

Ayes (51)

B. James(Liberal National Party)
Baillie(Liberal National Party)
Barounis(Liberal National Party)
Bates(Liberal National Party)
Bennett(Liberal National Party)
Bleijie(Liberal National Party)
Boothman(Liberal National Party)
Camm(Liberal National Party)
Crandon(Liberal National Party)
Crisafulli(Liberal National Party)
Dalton(Liberal National Party)
Dillon(Liberal National Party)
Doolan(Liberal National Party)
Dooley(Liberal National Party)
Field(Liberal National Party)
Frecklington(Liberal National Party)
G. Kelly(Liberal National Party)
Gerber(Liberal National Party)
Head(Liberal National Party)
Hunt(Liberal National Party)
Hutton(Liberal National Party)
Janetzki(Liberal National Party)
Kempton(Liberal National Party)
Kirkland(Liberal National Party)
Krause(Liberal National Party)
Langbroek(Liberal National Party)
Last(Liberal National Party)
Leahy(Liberal National Party)
Lee(Liberal National Party)
Lister(Liberal National Party)
Mander(Liberal National Party)
Marr(Liberal National Party)
McDonald(Liberal National Party)
Mickelberg(Liberal National Party)
Minnikin(Liberal National Party)
Molhoek(Liberal National Party)
Morton(Liberal National Party)
Nicholls(Liberal National Party)
O’Connor(Liberal National Party)
Perrett(Liberal National Party)
Poole(Liberal National Party)
Powell(Liberal National Party)
Purdie(Liberal National Party)
Rowan(Liberal National Party)
Simpson(Liberal National Party)
Stevens(Liberal National Party)
Stoker(Liberal National Party)
T. James(Liberal National Party)
Vorster(Liberal National Party)
Watts(Liberal National Party)
Young(Liberal National Party)

Noes (36)

Asif(Australian Labor Party)
Bailey(Australian Labor Party)
Bourne(Australian Labor Party)
Boyd(Australian Labor Party)
Bush(Australian Labor Party)
Butcher(Australian Labor Party)
Dick(Australian Labor Party)
Enoch(Australian Labor Party)
Farmer(Australian Labor Party)
Fentiman(Australian Labor Party)
Furner(Australian Labor Party)
Grace(Australian Labor Party)
Healy(Australian Labor Party)
Howard(Australian Labor Party)
J. Kelly(Australian Labor Party)
Katter(Katter's Australian Party)
King(Australian Labor Party)
Knuth(Katter's Australian Party)
Linard(Australian Labor Party)
Martin(Australian Labor Party)
McCallum(Australian Labor Party)
McMillan(Australian Labor Party)
Mellish(Australian Labor Party)
Miles(Australian Labor Party)
Mullen(Australian Labor Party)
Nightingale(Australian Labor Party)
O’Shea(Australian Labor Party)
Pease(Australian Labor Party)
Power(Australian Labor Party)
Pugh(Australian Labor Party)
Russo(Australian Labor Party)
Ryan(Australian Labor Party)
Scanlon(Australian Labor Party)
Smith(Australian Labor Party)
Whiting(Australian Labor Party)
de Brenni(Australian Labor Party)

Vote on whether a member could speak

Opposition motion to allow the member for Pine Rivers to speak, defeated by government majority

Defeated37 ayes – 51 noes2025-10-28

The member was not allowed to speak.

A vote on whether a specific member should be allowed to continue speaking.

▸Show individual votes

Ayes (37)

Asif(Australian Labor Party)
Bailey(Australian Labor Party)
Bolton(Independent)
Bourne(Australian Labor Party)
Boyd(Australian Labor Party)
Bush(Australian Labor Party)
Butcher(Australian Labor Party)
Dick(Australian Labor Party)
Enoch(Australian Labor Party)
Farmer(Australian Labor Party)
Furner(Australian Labor Party)
Grace(Australian Labor Party)
Healy(Australian Labor Party)
Howard(Australian Labor Party)
J. Kelly(Australian Labor Party)
Katter(Katter's Australian Party)
King(Australian Labor Party)
Knuth(Katter's Australian Party)
Linard(Australian Labor Party)
Martin(Australian Labor Party)
McCallum(Australian Labor Party)
McMillan(Australian Labor Party)
Mellish(Australian Labor Party)
Miles(Australian Labor Party)
Mullen(Australian Labor Party)
Nightingale(Australian Labor Party)
O’Shea(Australian Labor Party)
Pease(Australian Labor Party)
Power(Australian Labor Party)
Pugh(Australian Labor Party)
Russo(Australian Labor Party)
Ryan(Australian Labor Party)
Scanlon(Australian Labor Party)
Smith(Australian Labor Party)
Sullivan(Independent)
Whiting(Australian Labor Party)
de Brenni(Australian Labor Party)

Noes (51)

B. James(Liberal National Party)
Baillie(Liberal National Party)
Barounis(Liberal National Party)
Bates(Liberal National Party)
Bennett(Liberal National Party)
Bleijie(Liberal National Party)
Boothman(Liberal National Party)
Camm(Liberal National Party)
Crandon(Liberal National Party)
Crisafulli(Liberal National Party)
Dalton(Liberal National Party)
Dillon(Liberal National Party)
Doolan(Liberal National Party)
Dooley(Liberal National Party)
Field(Liberal National Party)
Frecklington(Liberal National Party)
G. Kelly(Liberal National Party)
Gerber(Liberal National Party)
Head(Liberal National Party)
Hunt(Liberal National Party)
Hutton(Liberal National Party)
Janetzki(Liberal National Party)
Kempton(Liberal National Party)
Kirkland(Liberal National Party)
Krause(Liberal National Party)
Langbroek(Liberal National Party)
Last(Liberal National Party)
Leahy(Liberal National Party)
Lee(Liberal National Party)
Lister(Liberal National Party)
Mander(Liberal National Party)
Marr(Liberal National Party)
McDonald(Liberal National Party)
Mickelberg(Liberal National Party)
Minnikin(Liberal National Party)
Molhoek(Liberal National Party)
Morton(Liberal National Party)
Nicholls(Liberal National Party)
O’Connor(Liberal National Party)
Perrett(Liberal National Party)
Poole(Liberal National Party)
Powell(Liberal National Party)
Purdie(Liberal National Party)
Rowan(Liberal National Party)
Simpson(Liberal National Party)
Stevens(Liberal National Party)
Stoker(Liberal National Party)
T. James(Liberal National Party)
Vorster(Liberal National Party)
Watts(Liberal National Party)
Young(Liberal National Party)

Vote to end debate

Government motion to end debate and move to a vote on a procedural matter

Passed51 ayes – 37 noes2025-10-28

Debate was ended and a vote was forced.

A procedural vote to end debate and force an immediate decision. Sometimes called a “gag motion”.

▸Show individual votes

Ayes (51)

B. James(Liberal National Party)
Baillie(Liberal National Party)
Barounis(Liberal National Party)
Bates(Liberal National Party)
Bennett(Liberal National Party)
Bleijie(Liberal National Party)
Boothman(Liberal National Party)
Camm(Liberal National Party)
Crandon(Liberal National Party)
Crisafulli(Liberal National Party)
Dalton(Liberal National Party)
Dillon(Liberal National Party)
Doolan(Liberal National Party)
Dooley(Liberal National Party)
Field(Liberal National Party)
Frecklington(Liberal National Party)
G. Kelly(Liberal National Party)
Gerber(Liberal National Party)
Head(Liberal National Party)
Hunt(Liberal National Party)
Hutton(Liberal National Party)
Janetzki(Liberal National Party)
Kempton(Liberal National Party)
Kirkland(Liberal National Party)
Krause(Liberal National Party)
Langbroek(Liberal National Party)
Last(Liberal National Party)
Leahy(Liberal National Party)
Lee(Liberal National Party)
Lister(Liberal National Party)
Mander(Liberal National Party)
Marr(Liberal National Party)
McDonald(Liberal National Party)
Mickelberg(Liberal National Party)
Minnikin(Liberal National Party)
Molhoek(Liberal National Party)
Morton(Liberal National Party)
Nicholls(Liberal National Party)
O’Connor(Liberal National Party)
Perrett(Liberal National Party)
Poole(Liberal National Party)
Powell(Liberal National Party)
Purdie(Liberal National Party)
Rowan(Liberal National Party)
Simpson(Liberal National Party)
Stevens(Liberal National Party)
Stoker(Liberal National Party)
T. James(Liberal National Party)
Vorster(Liberal National Party)
Watts(Liberal National Party)
Young(Liberal National Party)

Noes (37)

Asif(Australian Labor Party)
Bailey(Australian Labor Party)
Bolton(Independent)
Bourne(Australian Labor Party)
Boyd(Australian Labor Party)
Bush(Australian Labor Party)
Butcher(Australian Labor Party)
Dick(Australian Labor Party)
Enoch(Australian Labor Party)
Farmer(Australian Labor Party)
Furner(Australian Labor Party)
Grace(Australian Labor Party)
Healy(Australian Labor Party)
Howard(Australian Labor Party)
J. Kelly(Australian Labor Party)
Katter(Katter's Australian Party)
King(Australian Labor Party)
Knuth(Katter's Australian Party)
Linard(Australian Labor Party)
Martin(Australian Labor Party)
McCallum(Australian Labor Party)
McMillan(Australian Labor Party)
Mellish(Australian Labor Party)
Miles(Australian Labor Party)
Mullen(Australian Labor Party)
Nightingale(Australian Labor Party)
O’Shea(Australian Labor Party)
Pease(Australian Labor Party)
Power(Australian Labor Party)
Pugh(Australian Labor Party)
Russo(Australian Labor Party)
Ryan(Australian Labor Party)
Scanlon(Australian Labor Party)
Smith(Australian Labor Party)
Sullivan(Independent)
Whiting(Australian Labor Party)
de Brenni(Australian Labor Party)
First Reading28 Oct 2025View Hansard
▸Committee28 Oct 2025View Hansard

Referred to State Development, Infrastructure and Works Committee

State Development, Infrastructure and Works Committeeportfolio
6 members · Chair: Jim McDonald
Committee Findings
Recommended passage

The State Development, Infrastructure and Works Committee examined the Electrical Safety and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025 and recommended it be passed. The bill covers two main areas: amendments to the Electrical Safety Act 2002 to formalise the power for electricity entities to issue equipment defect notices, and the proposed repeal of uncommenced section 155A of the Work Health and Safety Act. Stakeholders were divided on the repeal of section 155A, with some supporting its removal and others arguing it should be amended rather than repealed.

Key findings (4)
  • All submissions regarding the Electrical Safety Act amendments supported the proposed changes
  • Stakeholders were divided on the proposal to repeal uncommenced section 155A of the Work Health and Safety Act
  • Some stakeholders proposed amending rather than repealing section 155A to provide safeguards and reduce anticipated administrative workload
  • The bill formalises the longstanding practice since 2002 of electricity entities issuing equipment defect notices, which lacked a specific head of power
Recommendations (1)
  • The committee recommends that the Bill be passed.
AI-generated summary — may contain errors
Committee Report19 Dec 2025

Committee report tabled

Second Reading
Royal Assent27 Mar 2026

Referenced Entities

Legislation

Electrical Safety Act 2002Electrical Safety Regulation 2013Work Health and Safety Act 2011Work Health and Safety and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2024Safety in Recreational Water Activities Act 2011Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act 2009Legislative Standards Act 1992Judicial Review Act 1991Right to Information Act 2009Electrical Safety Regulation 2002

Organisations

Office of Industrial RelationsQueensland Civil and Administrative TribunalElectrical Safety OfficeOffice of the Work Health and Safety ProsecutorEnergexErgon Energy

Roles & Offices

Electrical Safety Regulatorelectrical safety inspectorHealth and Safety RepresentativeWHS entry permit holder

Sectors Affected

ConstructionElectricity

Classified using AGIFT/ANZSIC Australian government standards

Source Documents