The criminal offence of choking was introduced into Queensland law in 2016, following a recommendation of the Special Taskforce on Domestic and Family Violence. The offence is limited in its application to only apply in respect of domestic relationships.
This article will explore the key matters that are taken into consideration by the Legal Practitioners Admissions Board when considering applicants for admission into the legal profession in Queensland.
On 26 August 2024, the Australian Federal Government introduced new laws establishing an employee’s “right to disconnect” from work-related communication outside normal business hours.
From 2026, major reforms to Australia’s anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing laws will come into effect, expanding obligations and enforcement powers.
A fine is the most common penalty imposed when sentencing an offender for an offence under the Work Health and Safet Act 2011. There are also several orders available at sentencing, in addition to or other than a fine, that may present as more attractive options to an offender, the prosecution and the court.
In a decision delivered in January 2025 by the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT), the Tribunal considered the critical issue of whether unrecorded convictions can be taken into account by the decision maker when deciding an application for a weapons license.
Changes to Queensland’s prostitution laws to decriminalise sex work were passed by Parliament on 2 May 2024. Broadly, the changes establish a legal framework decriminalising the sex work industry in Queensland.
In Queensland, workers’ compensation laws and regulations contain various provisions which are designed to protect the compensation and rehabilitation scheme against misuse and fraudulent claims. Misuse or fraudulent claims against the workers’ compensation and rehabilitation system carries severe penalties.
If you are convicted of a relevant drink driving offence, you will have to complete the interlock program and have an alcohol ignition interlock fitted to your nominated vehicle upon getting your licence back.
In Queensland, adult cautions by police serve as a mechanism for handling low-level offences with a focus on rehabilitation. It provides a fair and efficient way of managing minor criminal offences as an alternative to formal court proceedings.
Industrial manslaughter occurs when an individual (worker or other person) dies at work due to negligence by a business or its senior officer. It is a criminal offence.
In 2024, Queensland introduced significant changes to its bail laws, aiming to tackle youth crime and enhance community safety. These reforms primarily focus on repeat offenders and represent a more stringent stance on granting bail, especially for young offenders deemed a risk to public safety.