The 57th Parliament of Queensland is the current meeting of the unicameral chamber of the Queensland Parliament known as the Legislative Assembly. The 2020 state election gave the Labor Party a majority (control) in parliament, winning fifty-two of ninety-three seats (55.91%).[5][6] The First day of the opening of the 57th Parliament of Queensland was 24 November 2020.[7]
On 30 March 2023, a bill, colloquially known as Jack's Law (Police Powers and Responsibilities (Jack's Law) Amendment Bill 2022) after Jack Beasley,[17] whom was stabbed to death in 2019, passed through Parliament.[18] The new legislation gives powers to the Queensland Police Service (QPS) to randomly stop and search people for knives and other weapons on public transport and in Safe Night Precincts across Queensland.[19][20] Using hand-held metal detectors, the legislation allows Queensland Police Service (QPS) to stop and search anyone within the aforementioned areas. The law came into place following a lengthy trial on the Gold Coast.[21] The new legislation was criticised by the Queensland Council for Civil Liberties (QCCL) (44 days after its initial introduction into parliament), whom stated: "This legislation authorizes mass, suspicion less, warrantless magnetometer searches." Adding: "The traditional requirement that before a search can proceed there must be a reasonable suspicion that a crime has been committed or a weapon found is a bulwark protection of our liberty. Such a requirement is essential to being able to prevent arbitrary searches or searches based on bias. The granting of such powers will inevitably result in unwarranted invasions of privacy."[22]
On 2 December 2022, the Attorney-General and Minister for Women, Shannon Fentiman, introduced the Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Bill 2022 (BDMR Bill),[23] later titled the Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Act 2023 (BDMR Act), into Parliament.[23] The bill, if passed, would give residents of Queensland (cited as trans and gender diverse people) the ability to formally register the change of their sex without the requirement of undergoing sexual reassignment surgery,[23] alongside other reforms.[24][25] The legislation in place at the time of the introduction of the BDMR Bill allowed for the change of sex on birth certificates if a statutory declaration provided from two medical practitioners verified one had undergone "sexual reassignment" surgery.[25]Fentiman told The Courier-Mail that the current laws in place “unnecessarily medicalises the recognition of a person's lived identity.”[25] Following the bills introduction into parliament, it was referred to the "Legal Affairs and Safety Committee" for consideration,[26] and heard from various organisations, including the Queensland Human Rights Commission (QHRC), Queensland Law Society (QLS), Queensland Family and Child Commission, Women's Forum Australia and the Australian Christian Lobby (ACL).[27] The bill passed through the committee process in April (128 days after its introduction).[28] On 14 June 2023 the BDMR Bill passed 50–34,[29] with the approval of both Greens MPs.[30] Following the passing of the bill, New South Wales became the only remaining Australian state or territory that had not implemented any legislative gender self-identification reforms, like the requirement for gender-affirming surgery.[24][25][31]
The member for Greenslopes, Joe Kelly, was appointed as Deputy Speaker on the third "House Sitting Date" following the opening of the new session of Parliament.[33] From 16 May to 12 September 2023 Speaker Curtis Pitt took paid leave. Joe Kelly, then-Deputy Speaker, took on the speakership position during that period[1][2] with Labor MP for CookCynthia Lui becoming acting Deputy Speaker.[3]
^ abcdBeginning 16 May 2023, Curtis Pitt took leave.[1][2] Deputy Speaker, Joe Kelly, was acting speaker for the duration of Pitt's leave. On 23 May 2023, Acting Speaker Kelly appointed Cynthia Lui (member for Cook) to be his acting deputy throughout his tenure as speaker.[3] Pitt returned as Speaker on 12 September 2023.[4]
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