Media
What's changed in the BIFOLA Act?
The Building Industry Fairness (Security of Payment) and
Other Legislation Amendment Act 2024 commenced on 1 July 2024. The
amendments include changing the Building Industry Fairness
(Security of Payment) Act 2017 to ensure clarity and provide a more
simple understanding of the requirements of the trust account
framework. The amendments also include formalising several
recommendations stemming from the Queensland Building and
Construction Commission's review via changes to the Queensland
Building and Construction Commission Act 1991, the Building Act
1975 and the Drainage Act 2018 (1 July 2024). Read more here...
New Queensland Fire Department signals dawn of new era
for fire services
As of 1 July 2024, the former Queensland Fire and
Emergency Services (QFES) has become the Queensland Fire Department
(QFD). The new department will encompass Queensland Fire and Rescue
and Rural Fire Service Queensland. The Minister for Fire and
Disaster Recovery, Nikki Boyd, has stated that the launch of the
QFD will bring the benefit of increased funding, more equipment,
training and resourcing for both QFR and RFSQ (1 July 2024). Read
more here...
Ban on engineered stone in effect (1 July 2024)
Workplace Health and Safety Queensland have advised that
the ban of engineered stone, first agreed to nationally in December
2023, has now come into effect as of 1 July 2024. This means that
even if contracts containing the use of the engineered stone were
entered into prior to the ban, work must cease. 'Work'
includes the manufacturing, supply, processing and installation of
benchtops, panels and slabs Queensland, in considering the dangers
to workers, did not elect to adopt a transition period for the use
of the stone (2 July 2024). Read more here...
Queensland's first female Auditor-General
appointed
Rachel Vagg has been appointed the new Queensland
Auditor-General. Ms Vagg is the 24th Auditor-General in
one hundred and sixty-four years. Her appointment marks the first
female to be appointed to the position. The Auditor-General is
tasked with providing assurance to the Parliament and Queensland
community on the presentation of financial and performance audit of
all public sector entities (9 July 2024). Read more here...
Queensland breaks ground on CopperString Project
"CopperString will be the catalyst for transforming
Queensland's north and northwest – opening up mining
opportunities, creating more jobs, and unlocking critical minerals
which will be essential in developing renewable technologies"
stated Premier Steven Miles (11 July 2024). Read more here...
Publications
Reducing serious youth crime: 2023-2024
Public concern over youth crime has been growing in recent
years, especially when considering the physical, emotional,
psychological and economical impact that it can have. The latest
report released by the Queensland Audit Office suggests that to
address the underlying causes, a whole-of-system approach is
required. Read the results here.
Strengthening the Human Rights Act: key issue paper June
2024
This report has been put together by the Queensland Human
Rights Commission and outlines how the Human Rights Act could be
improved in order to enhance the protection of human rights and
improve government decision-making. Read the results here.
Practice
Supreme Court of Queensland Practice Direction Number 17
of 2024
The Supreme Court of Queensland has issued a practice
direction in relation to the designation of Court Holidays. Read
more here.
AAT Bulletin Issue No. 12/2024 17 June 2024
The AAT Bulletin is a fortnightly publication containing
information about recently published decisions and appeals against
decisions in the AAT's General, Freedom of Information,
National Disability Insurance Scheme, Security, Small Business
Taxation, Taxation & Commercial and Veterans' Appeals
Divisions. Read more here.
AAT Bulletin Issue No. 13/2024 1 July 2024
The AAT Bulletin is a fortnightly publication containing
information about recently published decisions and appeals against
decisions in the AAT's General, Freedom of Information,
National Disability Insurance Scheme, Security, Small Business
Taxation, Taxation & Commercial and Veterans' Appeals
Divisions. Read more here.
Workplace investigations (Directive 01/24)
A new Workplace Investigations Directive and Period
Reviews Guide have been issued by Queensland's Public Sector
Commission. The new directive is effective as of 10 June 2024. Read
more here.
Cases
Rolfe v State of Queensland (Children's
Health Queensland Hospital and Health Service) and Ors (No. 3)
[2024] QIRC 150
HUMAN RIGHTS – DISCRIMINATION – REFERRAL OF COMPLAINT
– where the complainant was employed on a fixed term
temporary contract – where the complainant's employment
was not renewed – whether the respondents discriminated
against the complainant on the basis of sex and pregnancy –
whether victimisation occurred – whether the respondents made
an unlawful
DU
v Jackson (DCJ) [2024] QCA 122
ADMINISTRATIVE LAW – JUDICIAL REVIEW – GROUNDS OF
REVIEW – JURISDICTIONAL ERROR – where the appeal the
first respondent conducted was an appeal pursuant to s 168 of the
Domestic and Family Violence Protection Act 2012 (Qld) –
whether this is an appeal by way of rehearing – whether there
was an arguable case that the first respondent did not conduct a
real review of the evidence and did not form his own view of it
– whether the appellant demonstrated an arguable case that
the first respondent misapprehended the nature of his task on
appeal such that there was jurisdictional error
Reef House Property Pty Ltd v Commissioner of
Liquor and Gaming Regulation [2024] QCA 121
ADMINISTRATIVE LAW – ADMINISTRATIVE TRIBUNALS –
FUNCTIONS OF TRIBUNALS – where the second respondent applied
to the first respondent for a commercial hotel licence, which the
first respondent provisionally approved – where the
appellants, along with several other applicants, applied to the
Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal ("Tribunal")
for a review of the first respondent's decision under the
Liquor Act 1992 (Qld) and the Queensland Civil and Administrative
Tribunal Act 2009 (Qld) – where the Tribunal dismissed the
application, and confirmed the first respondent's decision
– where the appellants contend that the Tribunal failed to
undertake a review on the merits as required by the applicable
legislation, and thereby failed to properly understand and/or
exercise its jurisdiction – where the first and second
respondents contend that the Tribunal's decision, and the
language used therein, was permissibly shaped by the manner in
which the appellants argued their case before the Tribunal –
whether, having regard to both the proceedings before the Tribunal
and the decision itself, the Tribunal failed to undertake a merits
review as required by the applicable legislative provisions
KLT v Director-General, Department of Justice
and Attorney-General [2024] QCAT 271
ADMINISTRATIVE LAW – ADMINISTRATIVE TRIBUNALS –
QUEENSLAND CIVIL AND ADMINISTRATIVE TRIBUNAL – review of
decision to issue a negative notice
Legislation
Acts assented to
Economic Development and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2024 No. 32 – Assent 18 June 2024
Help to Buy (Commonwealth Powers) Act 2024 No. 31 – Assent 18 June 2024
Mineral and Energy Resources and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2024 No.33 – Assent 18 June 2024
Resources Safety and Health Legislation Amendment Act 2024 No. 34 – Assent 18 June 2024
Revenue and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2024 No. 35 – Assent 18 June 2024
State Financial Institutions and Metway Merger Amendment Act 2024 No. 36 – Assent 18 June 2024
Proclamations commencing Acts made
Proclamation No. 1 – Health and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2024 (commencing certain provisions)
Acts repealed
Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Act 2003
Subordinate legislation notified
Appeal Costs Fund Regulation 2024
Building Industry Fairness (Security of Payment) and Other Legislation Amendment Regulation 2024
Casino Control (Supervision Levy) Amendment Regulation 2024
Civil Liability and Other Legislation Amendment Regulation 2024
Civil Liability Indexation Notice 2024
Disability Services (Fees) Amendment Regulation 2024
Health and Other Legislation Amendment Regulation 2024
Information Privacy and Other Legislation Amendment Regulation 2024
Motor Accident Insurance Indexation Notice 2024
Personal Injuries Proceedings Indexation Notice 2024
Proclamation No. 1 – Health and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2024 (commencing certain provisions)
Proclamation No. 5 –Justice and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2023 (commencing certain provisions)
Professional Standards (Bar Association of Queensland Professional Standards Scheme) Notice 2024
Professional Standards (Law Society of Western Australia Professional Standards Scheme) Notice 2024
Transport Legislation (Fees) Amendment Regulation (No. 2) 2024
Energy (Renewable Transformation and Jobs) Amendment Regulation 2024
Exhibited Animals (Fees) Amendment Regulation 2024
Fire and Emergency Services Amendment Regulation 2024
Gaming Machine Amendment Regulation 2024
Medicines and Poisons (Medicines) Amendment Regulation (No. 2) 2024
National Energy Retail Law (Queensland) Amendment Regulation 2024
Nature Conservation Legislation Amendment Regulation (No. 2) 2024
Planning (Prescribed Amounts) Amendment Regulation 2024
Safety in Recreational Water Activities (Code of Practice) Amendment Notice 2024
Safety in Recreational Water Activities Regulation 2024
Uniform Civil Procedure and Other Rules Amendment Rule 2024
Waste Reduction and Recycling Amendment Regulation 2024
Work Health and Safety (Engineered Stone) Amendment Regulation 2024
Subordinate legislation repealed
Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Regulation 2015
Appeal Costs Fund Regulation 2010
Professional Standards (Bar Association of Queensland Professional Standards Scheme) Notice 2019
Professional Standards (Law Society of Western Australia Professional Standards Scheme) Notice 2019
Workers' Compensation and Rehabilitation (QOTE) Notice 2023
This publication does not deal with every important topic or change in law and is not intended to be relied upon as a substitute for legal or other advice that may be relevant to the reader's specific circumstances. If you have found this publication of interest and would like to know more or wish to obtain legal advice relevant to your circumstances please contact one of the named individuals listed.