Food and Beverage

This bill overhauls the governance of Queensland's Container Refund Scheme — the 10-cent bottle and can return program — following a parliamentary inquiry that found significant weaknesses in how the scheme is run. It gives the government much stronger oversight of the scheme coordinator (currently Container Exchange), requires an independent board majority, and expands the scheme's purpose to include supporting environmental and community programs.

This bill amends the Liquor Act 1992 to create a new artisan producer licence for Queensland's craft brewers and artisan distillers. It gives small, independent producers a tailored licensing framework with on-premises sales, takeaway, online ordering, and the ability to sell at promotional events like farmers markets. The reforms were developed under the Queensland Craft Brewing Strategy and accelerated by the impact of COVID-19 on the industry.

This bill modernises the governance of Queensland's 13 hospital foundations and opens up the industrial hemp industry to food production. It repeals the outdated Hospitals Foundations Act 1982 and replaces it with contemporary legislation, while also amending the Drugs Misuse Act 1986 to allow hemp seeds to be grown and processed for human consumption.

This bill sought to strengthen Queensland's ethanol mandate, which has never been met since it was introduced in 2017. It would have doubled penalties for fuel retailers not selling enough ethanol-blended petrol and required that E10 fuel contain at least 9% ethanol rather than the federally permitted minimum of just 1%. The bill was defeated at second reading and did not become law.