Electrical Safety and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025
Plain English Summary
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
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.
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Ayes (51)
Noes (37)
▸3 procedural votes
Vote to grant leave
Procedural motion to grant leave, not related to the Electrical Safety bill debate
Permission was granted.
A vote on whether to grant permission — for example, to introduce an amendment or vary normal procedure.
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Ayes (51)
Noes (36)
Vote on whether a member could speak
Opposition motion to allow the member for Pine Rivers to speak, defeated by government majority
The member was not allowed to speak.
A vote on whether a specific member should be allowed to continue speaking.
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Ayes (37)
Noes (51)
Vote to end debate
Government motion to end debate and move to a vote on a procedural matter
Debate was ended and a vote was forced.
A procedural vote to end debate and force an immediate decision. Sometimes called a “gag motion”.
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Ayes (51)
Noes (37)
▸Committee28 Oct 2025View Hansard
Referred to State Development, Infrastructure and Works Committee
6 members · Chair: Jim McDonald
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.
Committee report tabled
▸Second Reading24 Mar 2026View Hansard
Vote on a motion
Government motion under standing order 137 to declare the Electrical Safety and Other Legislation Amendment Bill an urgent bill, requiring the minister's reply by 4.50 pm on 25 March 2026 and all remaining stages completed by 5.30 pm — opposed by Labor, the Greens and an independent as a guillotine on debate.
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.
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Ayes (50)
Noes (37)
▸42 members spoke29 support2 oppose11 mixed
Supported the bill, arguing it addresses CFMEU thuggery and intimidation on construction sites, and defended the JCU amendments as restoring governance uniformity.
“I rise to support the Electrical Safety and Other Legislation Amendment Bill. The safety and workplace conditions of Queenslanders are very important and we are committed to legislating conditions to stop organisations from committing injustice.”— 2026-03-25View Hansard
As minister introducing the bill, defended it as strengthening electrical safety and repealing uncommenced Labor information-sharing laws that would have let union officials, particularly the CFMEU, request compliance and enforcement notices from the regulator without safeguards.
“This bill wholly repeals the proposed work health and safety information-sharing provision before it comes into effect and makes minor consequential changes. This will in no way diminish the existing rights for worker representatives under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 to request information from a PCBU where it is appropriate for them to do so.”— 2026-03-24View Hansard
Opposed the bill as an attack on worker safety and the rights of health and safety representatives, arguing the repeal of section 155A will make every Queensland worker less safe.
“At the core of this bill is an attack on the safety of working people. The LNP is cynically using the behaviour of the CFMEU to attack all working people, and that is simply not acceptable.”— 2026-03-25View Hansard
As shadow minister, supported the electrical safety amendments but strongly opposed the repeal of uncommenced section 155A of the Work Health and Safety Act, arguing it removes an important pathway for health and safety representatives to access information from the regulator.
“Whilst supportive of the amendments to the Electrical Safety Act and the Electrical Safety Regulation, the amendments to the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 are yet another attempt by the Crisafulli-Bleijie government, and particularly the Deputy Premier, to keep chipping away at and weakening workplace safety and workers' rights.”— 2026-03-24View Hansard
Supported the bill as restoring balance and productivity while strengthening electrical safety protections, framing Labor's 2024 changes as a blank cheque to the CFMEU.
“I rise to speak in strong support of the Electrical Safety and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025, a bill that puts Queensland workers first, restores common sense to our workplaces and strengthens genuine safety protections right across our state.”— 2026-03-25View Hansard
As committee chair, supported the bill as a sensible reform that strikes the right balance between productivity and safety, and rejected the opposition's statement of reservation.
“This is a sensible bill that gets back to productivity ... This Electrical Safety and Other Legislation Amendment Bill is a very sensible bill and is on the side of the workers.”— 2026-03-24View Hansard
Supported the bill and the JCU amendments, arguing the legislation is needed to reset the balance away from CFMEU coercion and bullying while strengthening worker safety.
“This legislation is about resetting the balance—worker safety first, not coercion and bullying by the likes of the CFMEU and those of its ilk.”— 2026-03-25View Hansard
Supported the electrical safety amendments as proportionate and practical, but questioned the government using the bill to weaken workplace safety protections by repealing section 155A without adequate consultation or evidence.
“We support the electrical safety amendments, but we do question whether we can support the government using this bill to weaken workplace safety protections.”— 2026-03-24View Hansard
Supported the bill, describing the CFMEU as Australia's mafia and arguing the JCU amendments are tied to restoring the rule of law consistently across institutions.
“Today I rise in strong support of the Electrical Safety and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025.”— 2026-03-25View Hansard
Supported the bill as addressing the alliance between the ALP and the CFMEU, and welcomed the James Cook University governance amendments.
“The passing of this bill is not only necessary but timely.”— 2026-03-24View Hansard
Supported the bill as restoring common sense and balance, arguing the repealed information-sharing provisions were a blank cheque that would have burdened the regulator and enabled CFMEU intimidation.
“I rise today to speak in strong support of the Electrical Safety and Other Legislation Amendment Bill. At its core, this bill is about restoring some common sense and balance to our workplace laws.”— 2026-03-25View Hansard
As a licensed electrician, welcomed the electrical safety amendments but opposed the amendments to the Work Health and Safety Act, arguing they are part of an LNP campaign against unions and will take workplace safety backwards.
“In my opinion, the amendments to the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 contained in this bill are part of the Crisafulli crusade against unions and blue-collar workers ... I do not support making workplace health and safety weaker.”— 2026-03-24View Hansard
Supported the bill, arguing the repealed provision was open to abuse and empowered unions to harass employers, and welcomed JCU governance changes to restore transparency.
“The reforms of this bill will return productivity to the worksite. They will put the safety of Queensland workers first. These reforms put Queenslanders first. I welcome and support the bill.”— 2026-03-25View Hansard
Supported the bill as strengthening electrical safety and removing an unworkable information-sharing provision that would have created administrative burdens without improving safety.
“The Electrical Safety and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025 will achieve its objectives by ... providing clear legislative authority for electrical entities to issue defect notices ... and making a number of minor and technical amendments to ensure the effective operation and clarity of our safety laws.”— 2026-03-24View Hansard
Supported the bill as critical for productivity and worker safety, praising the committee chair and arguing BPIC had wiped value off construction projects.
“Every tenet of this bill supports everything we need to see supported across the state of Queensland, be it productivity or restoring fairness and safety in the workplace.”— 2026-03-25View Hansard
Supported the electrical safety amendments but opposed the repeal of section 155A, describing it as an attack on workers' safety rather than a genuine efficiency measure.
“Queensland Labor supports amendments to the Electrical Safety Act and Electrical Safety Regulation ... but let's be clear: the LNP's proposed changes to the Work Health and Safety Act, through this electrical safety bill, that would repeal section 155A should be of enormous concern to many workers across Queensland.”— 2026-03-24View Hansard
In reply, defended the bill as stopping information sharing to the CFMEU, thanked the Office of Industrial Relations whistleblowers, and criticised Labor for its historical relationship with the CFMEU.
“The bill repeals this unnecessary information-sharing provision before it comes into effect and brings Queensland back in step with other states and territories.”— 2026-03-25View Hansard
Supported the bill as a measure to address the productivity crisis and stop the safety regulator from being used as an industrial tool by the CFMEU.
“Fundamentally, this bill removes a provision that risked turning a safety regulator into yet another lever for thuggish industrial muscle.”— 2026-03-24View Hansard
Supported the electrical safety provisions but opposed the Work Health and Safety Act amendments, arguing they will make Queensland workplaces less safe and that the government failed to provide evidence of the claimed administrative burden.
“When it comes to the aspects of this bill that deal with the Electrical Safety Act, I am proud to support the work of all of the workers who are in the energy industry ... When it comes to the elements of the bill that deal with the Work Health and Safety Act, however, we cannot support action from the Crisafulli LNP government that is going to make Queensland workplaces less safe.”— 2026-03-24View Hansard
As a former electrical contractor, supported the bill for clarifying defect notice powers and strengthening the regulator's ability to prohibit unsafe electrical equipment.
“This bill will clarify that those best placed to make safety assessments and identify potential issues can do so.”— 2026-03-24View Hansard
Supported the electrical safety provisions as maintaining sensible longstanding practice, but opposed the Work Health and Safety Act amendments as undermining important rights for workers and their representatives.
“While the Labor opposition supports these electrical safety provisions, we cannot support the proposed changes to the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 and the Workers' Compensation and Rehabilitation and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2024.”— 2026-03-24View Hansard
Supported the bill as repealing Labor's information-sharing laws before they could be weaponised by the CFMEU, and strengthening electrical safety laws.
“This bill repeals Labor's information-sharing laws before they even come into effect ... The regulator's core function is to protect Queenslanders' safety, not to assist in facilitating the CFMEU's orchestrated campaign of coercion, harassment or intimidation against non-union workplaces.”— 2026-03-24View Hansard
Opposed the bill's repeal of proposed section 155A of the Work Health and Safety Act, arguing that health and safety representatives need to be able to access historical and current information from the regulator to identify risk patterns and respond to safety concerns.
“No matter how this LNP government tries to gild this particular lily—we will put it that way—stripping health and safety reps' powers to gather information about risks and respond immediately is, as a matter of fact, bad for workers.”— 2026-03-24View Hansard
Supported the bill as strengthening electrical safety laws, removing dangerous information-sharing loopholes and keeping the regulator focused on protecting lives rather than industrial disputes.
“This bill strengthens our electrical safety system, removes dangerous loopholes and ensures the regulator stays focused on protecting lives, not being dragged into industrial battles.”— 2026-03-24View Hansard
Supported the electrical safety reforms as sensible and practical but opposed the Work Health and Safety Act changes, describing them as a Trojan Horse that removes workers' rights to safety information without evidence or consultation.
“This is not just a safety bill; it is a Trojan Horse. Buried within this legislation are amendments that remove the right of health and safety representatives and workplace health and safety entry permit holders to request critical safety information from the regulator.”— 2026-03-24View Hansard
Supported the bill as repealing uncommenced provisions that could have been weaponised, strengthening the electrical safety framework, and restoring focus to worker safety.
“This bill takes a clear and decisive step to fix that. It repeals those uncommenced information-sharing provisions before they could be exploited.”— 2026-03-24View Hansard
Supported the electrical safety aspects and the James Cook University housekeeping amendment, but strongly opposed the Work Health and Safety Act amendments that would remove the right for health and safety representatives to request information from the regulator.
“There are aspects of this bill which the opposition is happy to support. They are the amendments dealing with electrical safety ... In relation to the rest of it—the Work Health and Safety Act 2011—it is actually outrageous and we cannot support it.”— 2026-03-24View Hansard
Supported the bill as restoring balance to workplace safety laws, repealing the information-sharing provisions and strengthening real electrical safety through clarified defect notice powers.
“The bill fixes that. It removes that additional avenue before it can be misused. It restores proportionality, it restores focus and it restores integrity to the system.”— 2026-03-24View Hansard
Criticised LNP speakers' focus on the CFMEU and defended the section 155A protections, noting that the Queensland Nurses and Midwives' Union supports maintaining them, while not explicitly opposing the electrical safety components.
“The LNP keep talking about the CFMEU, but they completely fail to note that the Queensland Nurses and Midwives' Union put in a submission supporting our stance on this particular section.”— 2026-03-24View Hansard
Supported the bill as restoring balance and integrity to workplace safety laws, strengthening electrical safety powers, and improving governance of James Cook University.
“This bill delivers on two very important fronts: it restores integrity to workplace safety laws, standing up to the CFMEU and putting real safety back at the centre; and it strengthens governance at one of North Queensland's most important institutions, James Cook University.”— 2026-03-24View Hansard
Supported the bill as clarifying defect notice powers, modernising the regulator's unsafe equipment powers, and repealing uncommenced information-sharing provisions that could have been misused.
“This legislation strengthens safety, restores balance and ensures Queensland's regulatory framework works for workers, businesses and the broader community.”— 2026-03-24View Hansard
As Leader of the House, supported the bill as restoring balance and integrity to Queensland workplaces after a decade of Labor's enabling of the CFMEU, and modernising electrical safety powers.
“This legislation puts an end to that. It repeals Labor's information-sharing laws before they could commence and be weaponised. It ensures the regulator can focus on its core function by protecting the safety of Queensland workers.”— 2026-03-24View Hansard
Supported the bill as restoring productivity and safety in the construction industry, repealing Labor's botched section 155A, and improving JCU governance.
“The Crisafulli government is closing a dark chapter in the construction industry by swiftly and decisively repealing Labor's botched section 155A.”— 2026-03-24View Hansard
Supported strong electrical safety protections but opposed the bill's removal of workplace health and safety representatives' right to request safety information, arguing there was no evidence of efficiency gains and no proper consultation.
“The opposition supports strong electrical safety protections. We support strong workplace health and safety laws for all Queenslanders. However, we will not support laws that take away a worker's right—and it is their right—to know in a timely way about safety risks in their workplace.”— 2026-03-24View Hansard
Supported the bill as removing back doors that would have given the CFMEU access to information to intimidate non-union businesses, and clarifying the Electrical Safety Act.
“This bill is about removing the back doors for a campaign of bullying from the CFMEU and about improving safety in our homes and in our workplaces, goals that I fully support.”— 2026-03-24View Hansard
Supported the electrical safety amendments but opposed the Work Health and Safety Act changes as a rollback of worker rights and transparency, arguing the government failed to provide evidence or consult properly.
“The opposition supports the electrical safety reforms in this bill. They are practical. They are necessary. They will help keep Queenslanders safe. We cannot support the rollback of workers' rights and protections under the workplace health and safety framework as proposed by this bill.”— 2026-03-24View Hansard
Supported the bill as restoring balance to the workplace health and safety system, aligning Queensland with other states, and improving electrical safety laws.
“At its heart this bill is about balance. It is about ensuring that workers are protected, businesses are not burdened by unclear or unworkable processes, and regulators can focus their efforts where they matter most.”— 2026-03-24View Hansard
Supported the bill including the JCU amendments to correct governance concerns raised in 2017, and the electrical safety measures to empower the regulator to act on unsafe equipment.
“At its heart this bill is about two related principles. The first is that the Electrical Safety Regulation must be effective, swift and clear ... The second is that our laws should be coherent, nationally consistent where appropriate and administratively workable.”— 2026-03-24View Hansard
Supported the bill, particularly the JCU governance amendments to prevent a name change, and the electrical safety provisions which he described as deeply personal after his father died from an electrical accident.
“This bill is a wonderful step forward. I congratulate the Deputy Premier. I congratulate the Minister for Education for his important addition to this bill.”— 2026-03-24View Hansard
Supported the bill as repealing Labor's uncommenced information-sharing laws that would have handed the CFMEU unprecedented access to enforcement information, and strengthening electrical safety powers.
“This bill is about backing tradies, not burdening them. It is about supporting small businesses, not stifling them. It is about ensuring safety laws are used for their intended purpose—that is, to protect Queensland workers.”— 2026-03-24View Hansard
Supported the bill to repeal Labor's information-sharing laws and shared examples of CFMEU-induced worksite delays at the Queensland Train Manufacturing Program site.
“The Crisafulli government is committed to restoring productivity and stamping out systemic misconduct and bullying, particularly by the CFMEU. This is why we are acting swiftly to repeal Labor's information-sharing laws.”— 2026-03-24View Hansard
Supported the bill as fixing concerns he and other LNP members raised in 2024 when in opposition, and improving university governance structures at James Cook University.
“Giving a militant union the ability to access decades of information without cause and without reason is a can of worms that I do not think Queenslanders should open.”— 2026-03-24View Hansard
▸In Detail24 Mar 2026 – 25 Mar 2026View Hansard
Amendment No. 1: Inserts a new Part 3A amending the James Cook University Act 1997 to change the council composition—reducing appointed members from 8 to 6, reducing elected members from 10 to 5 (restructured as 2 academic staff, 1 professional/technical staff, 1 undergraduate, 1 postgraduate), requiring 2 additional members to be non-staff and non-students, and adding transitional provisions.
Amendment No. 2: Amends the long title to include reference to the James Cook University Act 1997, to reflect the insertion of Part 3A.
That the amendment be agreed to
Vote on the Deputy Premier's amendment relating to the James Cook University Act governance changes, which was agreed to by the House.
The motion passed.
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Ayes (51)
Noes (36)
That the member for Gladstone’s amendment to the amendment be
Vote on an amendment moved by the member for Gladstone to the minister's amendment; defeated with the LNP majority voting no.
The motion was defeated.
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Ayes (36)
Noes (51)
▸1 clause vote (all passed)
That clauses 10 to 14 and schedule 1, as amended, stand part of the
Vote to retain clauses 10 to 14 and schedule 1 (including the repeal of section 155A and electrical safety provisions) as amended during consideration in detail; passed on party lines with the LNP and Ms Bolton in favour and Labor opposed.
The motion passed.
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Ayes (52)
Noes (34)
▸Third Reading25 Mar 2026View Hansard
That the bill, as amended, be now read a third time
Final passage vote on the bill as amended, including the JCU governance changes and repeal of section 155A of the Work Health and Safety Act; passed with the LNP and Ms Bolton in favour and Labor opposed.
The motion passed.
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Ayes (52)
Noes (34)
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