Expanding Adult Crime, Adult Time and Taking a Strong Stance on Drugs and Anti-Social Behaviour Amendment Bill 2026

By The Justice, Integrity and Community Safety Committee

The Expanding Adult Crime, Adult Time and Taking a Strong Stance on Drugs and AntiSocial Behaviour Amendment Bill 2026 (Bill) was introduced to the Legislative Assembly on 3 March 2026 by the Honourable Laura Gerber MP, Minister for Youth Justice and Victim Support and Minister for Corrective Services and was referred to the Justice, Integrity and Community Safety Committee (committee) for consideration. The objective of the Bill is to make Queensland safer and strengthen the capability of the criminal justice system to hold perpetrators to account. This objective is achieved under the Bill by: • amending the Youth Justice Act 1992 to prescribe new Adult Crime, Adult Time offences • repealing the current Police Drug Diversion Program and introducing a new Illicit Drug Enforcement and Diversion Framework, and • introducing new and expanded police powers within prescribed Designated Business and Community Precincts. The committee received and considered the following evidence: • 188 written submissions from stakeholders • a written briefing provided by the Department of Youth Justice and Victim Support (department) on 10 March 2026 • a public hearing and public briefing in Brisbane on 27 March 2026 • a public hearing in Nambour on 30 March 2026 • a public hearing in Maryborough on 31 March 2026, and • a public hearing in Townsville on 9 April 2026. The committee is satisfied that the Bill gives sufficient regard to the rights and liberties of individuals and the institution of Parliament as required by the Legislative Standards Act 1992. The committee found that the Bill is incompatible with human rights as defined in theThe committee considered that any potential incompatibility with the human rights as expressed in the HRA and as further explained in the statement of compatibility are justified in the circumstances and necessary to achieve the purposes of the Bill. The committee made 1 recommendation, found at page vii of this report