Queensland residents draw to the attention of the House that Labor’s Queensland Community Safety Bill 2024 (the Bill) will provide police with unprecedented powers in relation to social media. There is a real need to ensure that this complex bill does not result in unintended consequences for innocent third party viewing or publishing of content. There is also real concern that the Bill also exposes Queenslanders to the prospect of penalties that may affect their ability to maintain their livelihood, based on their ‘associates’ on social media.

The Bill amends 12 different Acts and is massively complex. The Explanatory Notes alone go for 100 pages. Despite the complexity of the bill, it was only introduced on 1 May 2024 and the public have only been given until 16 May 2024 to make submissions. The Community Safety and Legal Affairs Committee is scheduled to provide their final report by 14 June 2024.

This is not how to make good laws. If something is worth doing, it is worth taking the time to get it right. Queensland cannot afford legislative error on such important issues.

Your petitioners, therefore, request the House undertake genuine, widespread community consultation on the Queensland Community Safety Bill for a period of no less than three months, to ensure that the implications for all Queenslanders can be fully identified and properly.