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Committee's report

The committee tabled its report on 11 July 2019. The government's response to the committee's report was tabled on 4 September 2019. The Bill was passed with amendments by the Queensland Parliament on 17 September 2019.

About the Bill

On 14 May 2019, Hon Dr Steven Miles MP, Minister for Health and Minister for Ambulance Services, introduced the Medicines and Poisons Bill 2019.  On 16 May 2019 the Committee of the Legislative Assembly resolved that the State Development, Natural Resources and Agricultural Industry Development Committee will examine and report on the Medicines and Poisons Bill 2019.

According to the explanatory notes, the purpose of this Bill is to repeal and replace the existing legislation with a new regulatory framework comprising the Bill, and the following draft regulations and their explanatory notes, which were tabled at the same time as the Bill:

Draft Medicines and Poisons (Medicines) Regulation 2019
Draft Medicines and Poisons (Medicines) Regulation 2019 Explanatory Notes
Draft Medicines and Poisons (Pest Management, Poisons and Other Regulated Substances) Regulation 2019
Draft Medicines and Poisons (Pest Management, Poisons and Other Regulated Substances) Regulation 2019 Explanatory Notes

The explanatory notes state the new regulatory framework:      

• provides greater assurance to the community that the medicines, poisons and therapeutic goods they use are regulated by a modern, outcomes-focused framework that enhances public safety;
• ensures Queensland Health is better able to monitor and respond to health risks associated with inappropriate access to and use of, medicines and poisons. For example, the framework minimises the risk that medicines and poisons could be diverted for unlawful purposes by limiting who may supply medicines and poisons, introduces real-time prescription monitoring for particular medicines and enables the chief executive to make an emerging risk declaration to prevent substances that may pose a risk of injury or illness entering the marketplace until their safety has been determined;
• simplifies licensing requirements, for example, manufacturers with licences for multiple sites will be able to transition to a single licence for all sites, and employees will be able to be included in an employer’s approval without the need to hold a separate approval;
• streamlines the requirements for prescribing medicinal cannabis in Queensland by enabling non-specialist medical practitioners to prescribe it without the need for approval from Queensland Health, eliminating duplication with the Commonwealth approval process;
• improves national uniformity, for example by recognising Commonwealth manufacturing licences under the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989 (Cth), Narcotic Drugs Act 1967 (Cth) and Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals Code Act 1994 (Cth), and aligning key terminology with the Poisons Standard;
• provides certainty for medicines manufacturers by applying the Commonwealth Therapeutic Goods Act, ensuring that all therapeutic goods are manufactured to the same high standard; and
• includes no new or increased fees. The existing fee structure has been translated into the new framework and no new or additional fees will be payable, for example fees for primary producers who hold a licence or approval will not change.

Timeline