National Cabinet
OrganisationReferenced in 4 bills
COVID-19 Emergency Response Bill 2020
This bill established temporary emergency powers to help Queensland respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. It protected renters and small businesses from eviction, allowed Parliament and courts to operate remotely, and gave government broad powers to modify legal requirements around documents, time limits, and proceedings. The entire Act expired on 31 December 2020.
Help to Buy (Commonwealth Powers) Bill 2024
This bill gives the Commonwealth Parliament the power it needs to establish the Help to Buy shared equity scheme in Queensland. The scheme will help up to 10,000 low to middle income Australians per year buy a home with as little as a 2 per cent deposit, with the Commonwealth contributing up to 40 per cent of the purchase price for new homes and 30 per cent for existing homes.
Public Health and Other Legislation (Public Health Emergency) Amendment Bill 2020
This bill gave Queensland authorities the legal powers needed to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, including lockdowns, quarantine orders, business closures, and restrictions on gatherings. It also amended electoral and planning laws to provide flexibility during the public health emergency, with most emergency powers set to expire one year after commencement.
Public Health and Other Legislation (COVID-19 Management) Amendment Bill 2022
This bill wound down Queensland's broad COVID-19 emergency powers and replaced them with a more targeted, temporary framework expiring on 31 October 2023. It allowed the Chief Health Officer to issue public health directions only about isolation, quarantine, mask wearing and worker vaccination in high-risk settings, with new requirements for public justification and parliamentary oversight.