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About the BILL 

On Tuesday, 3 March 2026 the Hon Laura Gerber MP, Minister for Youth Justice and Victim Support and Minister for Corrective Services, introduced the Expanding Adult Crime, Adult Time and Taking a Strong Stance on Drugs and Anti-Social Behaviour Amendment Bill 2026 (Bill) into the Queensland Parliament. The Bill was referred to the Justice, Integrity and Community Safety Committee for detailed consideration. 

View: Explanatory speech
View: Bill
View: Explanatory Notes
View: Statement of compatibility

The objective of the Bill is to make Queensland safer and strengthen the capability of the criminal justice system to hold perpetrators to account. The Bill will:

• amend the Youth Justice Act 1992 to prescribe new Adult Crime, Adult Time offences;
• repeal the current Police Drug Diversion Program (PDDP) and introduce a new Illicit Drug Enforcement and Diversion Framework (IDEDF); and
• introduce new and expanded police powers within prescribed Designated Business and Community Precincts (DBCPs).

submissions

Submissions to the bill inquiry closed on Wednesday, 18 March 2026. Submissions accepted by the committee are available under the ‘View Submissions’ tab above.

PUBLIC PROCEEDINGS

The committee scheduled a public briefing on the Bill by officers of the Department of Justice, and a public hearing, in Brisbane on Friday, 27 March 2026 and regional public hearings for Nambour, Maryborough and Townsville. Please see dates and times below. Public proceedings at the Parliamentary Annexe can watched live.

To register your interest to speak at one of the Community Statements sessions, please complete the following form subject to your location:

• Townsville Public Hearing - Thursday, 9 April 2026 - Townsville Community Statements Expression of Interest Form

Please note: the speaking list for the community statements sessions will be finalised on the day, and is subject to time and availability of speakers.

Committee’s report

The committee is due to table its report on Friday, 17 April 2026. The report will be published here.

Once the committee’s report has been tabled, the Government has three months to respond to the report’s recommendations (if any). At that time, the Government Response will be published here.

Further information

Further information including written briefings, correspondence, response to submissions, transcripts and answers to questions taken on notice will be made available under the ‘Related Publications’ in due course.

Timeline