Hon Mark Furner MP

This bill overhauls Queensland's fisheries management by introducing harvest strategies as the key tool for managing fish stocks, strengthening enforcement against black marketing of seafood, and formally recognising charter fishing and Indigenous fishing in the law. It implements the Queensland Sustainable Fisheries Strategy 2017-2027, backed by $20.9 million in funding for better monitoring, compliance and stakeholder engagement.

This bill makes a broad range of changes across agriculture, biosecurity, animal welfare, forestry, racing and nature conservation law. Its most prominent measures double penalties for trespassing on farming land, strengthen biosecurity obligations for anyone entering places where biosecurity matter is present, clarify that leaving animals in hot vehicles is an offence, and expand access to farm debt mediation.

This bill makes sweeping changes across agriculture, fisheries, biosecurity and animal management in Queensland. It bans dangerous dog breeds and introduces statewide dog control laws with tough new penalties, establishes mandatory onboard monitoring for commercial fishing vessels to protect the Great Barrier Reef, strengthens biosecurity emergency response powers, and modernises several other agricultural regulatory frameworks.

This bill updates Queensland's 20-year-old animal welfare laws to match modern science and community expectations. It bans harmful practices like prong collars and horse leg firing, creates tougher penalties for serious animal neglect, requires CCTV surveillance at slaughterhouses, and introduces new protections for retired racehorses.

This bill creates a new, independent system for handling complaints about Queensland councillors. It sets up an Independent Assessor to investigate complaints, a Councillor Conduct Tribunal to hear serious cases of misconduct, and a Local Government Remuneration Commission to set councillor pay. The changes apply to every Queensland council except Brisbane City Council.