Transport Affordability Amendment Bill 2026

Introduced: 11/2/2026By: Mr B Mellish MPStatus: Referred to Committee

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Plain English Summary

Overview

This bill introduces two transport affordability measures for Queenslanders. It creates a fuel price cap system that limits daily petrol price increases to 5 cents per litre and requires retailers to lock in next-day prices by 2pm. It also protects 50-cent public transport fares by requiring any future increase to be approved by a vote in Parliament.

Who it affects

Motorists would see more stable fuel prices with smaller daily increases, while public transport users would have greater certainty that 50-cent fares will remain in place.

Key changes

Fuel retailers must submit next-day fuel prices to the commissioner by 2pm, locking them in for 24 hours with no increases allowed during that period
Daily fuel price increases capped at 5 cents per litre from the previous day's lowest price
If a retailer drops the price during the day, they must notify the commissioner within 30 minutes and the lower price becomes the new baseline
Any proposal to increase 50-cent public transport fares must be approved by a vote in the Legislative Assembly with at least 28 days notice
Penalties of up to 20 penalty units apply for fuel retailers who breach the pricing rules

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This bill is open for public submissions. Submissions close 10 Apr 2026 (6 days left).

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How this affects you

Cost of Living

•Fuel price increases are capped at 5 cents per litre per day, reducing sudden price spikes at the bowserClause 5, new section 79The fuel retailer must not state a price that represents an increase of more than 5c/L from the previous fuel price notice or the lowest reduced price.
•You can check the next day's fuel price by 2pm, helping you plan when and where to fill upClause 5, new section 76Fuel retailers must give the commissioner a fuel price notice by 2pm the day before offering the fuel for sale.
•50-cent public transport fares cannot be increased without a vote in Parliament, protecting a key cost-of-living measureClause 17, new section 145The chief executive may change the fare only if the Legislative Assembly has passed a resolution approving the change after at least 28 days notice.

Transport & Roads

•50-cent public transport fares are enshrined in legislation, requiring a parliamentary vote before any increaseClause 17, new section 145A motion with at least 28 days notice must be passed by the Legislative Assembly before the fare for a 50c service can be changed.
•Fuel prices are locked in for 24 hours once submitted, so the price you see advertised cannot go up during that dayClause 5, new section 77The fuel retailer must not offer fuel at a price more than the stated price during the relevant 24-hour period.
•If a fuel retailer drops their price during the day, they must report it within 30 minutes and it becomes the new cap for the next dayClause 5, new section 78Within 30 minutes of offering fuel at a reduced price, the retailer must give the commissioner a reduced price notice.

Bill Story

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

▸Introduced11 Feb 2026View Hansard

▸1 procedural vote

Vote to grant leave

Vote on whether to grant leave to Mr Mellish (ALP) to move a motion without notice immediately after introducing the Transport Affordability Amendment Bill. The LNP government defeated the motion 33-51.

Defeated33 ayes – 51 noes2026-02-11

Permission was refused.

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

▸Show individual votes

Ayes (33)

Asif(Australian Labor Party)

Bailey(Australian Labor Party)

Bourne(Australian Labor Party)

Boyd(Australian Labor Party)

Bush(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)

King(Australian Labor Party)

Knuth(Katter's Australian Party)

Martin(Australian Labor Party)

McCallum(Australian Labor Party)

McMahon(Australian Labor Party)

McMillan(Australian Labor Party)

Mellish(Australian Labor Party)

Miles(Australian Labor Party)

Mullen(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)

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)

Chiesa(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)

Young(Liberal National Party)

3.45 pmMr MELLISHSupports

Introduced the bill to cap daily fuel price increases at 5 cents per litre and legislatively protect 50-cent public transport fares, arguing Queenslanders need protection from fuel price gouging and cost-of-living pressures.

“This bill does two clear and practical things. Firstly, it introduces a fairer fuel-pricing framework for Queensland—a framework that puts an end to extreme price spikes and restores basic predictability at the bowser. Secondly, it locks in Labor's 50-cent public transport fares in legislation, ensuring that this proven cost-of-living measure cannot be quietly wound back or cut behind closed doors.”— 2026-02-11View Hansard

First Reading11 Feb 2026View Hansard

▸Committee11 Feb 2026View Hansard

Referred to State Development, Infrastructure and Works Committee

State Development, Infrastructure and Works Committeeportfolio

6 members · Chair: Jim McDonald

Committee Inquiry

Transport Affordability Amendment Bill 2026(bill)

Referenced Entities

Sectors Affected

Public Transport Road Transport

Classified using AGIFT/ANZSIC Australian government standards

Transport Affordability Amendment Bill 2026

Plain English Summary

Overview

Who it affects

Key changes

Bill Story

Ayes (33)

Noes (51)

Referenced Entities

Legislation

Organisations

Programs & Schemes

Places

Sectors Affected

Source Documents