Expanding Adult Crime, Adult Time and Taking a Strong Stance on Drugs and Anti-Social Behaviour Amendment Bill 2026
Plain English Summary
Overview
This bill expands the Adult Crime, Adult Time youth justice scheme to cover 12 more serious offences, replaces Queensland's drug diversion program with a stricter framework that gives offenders only one chance at diversion, and creates Designated Business and Community Precincts where police have enhanced powers to tackle anti-social behaviour.
Who it affects
Young offenders face adult penalties for more crimes, people caught with small amounts of drugs get fewer diversionary options and may receive on-the-spot fines, and people in designated precincts face expanded police powers including weapons scanning and banning notices.
Adult Crime, Adult Time expansion
Twelve additional Criminal Code offences are added to the Adult Crime, Adult Time scheme, meaning youth offenders convicted of these crimes face the same maximum penalties as adults. The scheme also now covers attempts, conspiracies, and accessories after the fact for any Adult Crime offence.
- 12 new offences added including riot causing harm, indecent treatment of a child under 12, choking in a domestic setting, stalking, and aggravated assault
- Attempting or conspiring to commit any Adult Crime offence now attracts adult penalties
- For some new offences, the maximum penalty for a child increases to life detention with a 15-year mandatory minimum non-parole period
- New penalties apply only to offences committed after the bill commences
Drug diversion overhaul
The existing Police Drug Diversion Program, which gave offenders up to three chances to avoid prosecution, is replaced with the Illicit Drug Enforcement and Diversion Framework. Cannabis possession under 50 grams gets one chance at a diversion program. Other minor drug offences attract an on-the-spot fine of $500.07 with the option to do a diversion program instead of paying.
- Drug diversion reduced from three opportunities to one per pathway
- New on-the-spot fines of $500.07 for minor drug offences (cocaine, MDMA, etc.) and $333.80 for drug utensils
- GBL and 1,4-Butanediol reclassified as dangerous drugs (previously controlled substances)
- Anyone who previously used the old diversion program is excluded from the new framework
Designated Business and Community Precincts
A new framework allows the Minister to declare areas as Designated Business and Community Precincts where police have enhanced powers to tackle anti-social behaviour. This includes weapons scanning without prior authorisation, stronger move-on directions, and banning notices that can be issued to both adults and children.
- Police can use hand-held weapons scanners in precincts without senior officer approval (expanding Jack's Law)
- Move-on directions can require a person to leave a precinct for up to 24 hours
- Police banning notices extended to precincts, lasting up to one month (three months if extended), and can now be issued to children
- People can require names and addresses to be given when issuing any move-on direction
- Banned persons can still enter for essential services, medical treatment, public transport, or legal obligations
Bill Journey
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