Legislation

Throughout the engagement process, Queenslanders voiced their desire for a long-term approach to state planning beyond the electoral cycle. Queenslanders want effective and efficient governments with a strategic approach in leading community development.

Embedding The Queensland Plan in legislation provides that focus and requires governments to have regard to Queenslanders’ vision for the future.

Legislation provides a framework that aligns actions by governments, business, industry and community organisations in shaping future growth and prosperity.

The Queensland Plan Act 2014 was assented and The Queensland Plan ratified in late October 2014.

The main purposes of this Act are to:

1. provide for the development and ratification of a plan, known as the Queensland Plan, that—
1. establishes a long-term vision for the future growth and prosperity of Queensland; and
2. reflects the aspirations of the community, business and industry for the future of Queensland; and
2. provide for the implementation of the Queensland Plan, including by—
1. developing a government response to the Queensland Plan and aligning the policies, programs and services of public authorities to the strategic direction of the government response; and
2. aligning local government planning to the strategic direction of the Queensland Plan; and
3. encouraging the community, business and industry to implement the Queensland Plan; and
3. establish the ambassadors council to advocate for the implementation of the Queensland Plan by the community, business and industry.

Read the Queensland Plan Act 2014.

Changes to The Queensland Plan legislation

The Palaszczuk Government’s response to The Queensland Plan was published online on 1 July 2015, as required at the time by the Act. The Act now requires the Premier to consider The Queensland Plan in preparing a community objectives statement.

Section 3 (b) (i) of the Queensland Plan Act provided that the main purposes of the Act are to: provide for the implementation of The Queensland Plan, including by developing a government response to The Queensland Plan and aligning the policies, programs and services of public authorities to the strategic direction of the government response.

Section 3 (b) (i) was amended by the Revenue and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2016 and now states: requiring that The Queensland Plan be considered in preparing a community objectives statement.

Section 8 of the Queensland Plan Act provided that:

1. The Premier must develop a response to The Queensland Plan that outlines a whole-of-government approach for the State’s contribution to implementing The Queensland Plan.
2. The government response must –
1. State the strategic direction for the State’s contribution to implementing The Queensland Plan; and
2. Recognise the role of the community, business and industry in achieving the targets established for the key areas under The Queensland Plan.
3. Also, the government response may –
1. State the core outcomes to be achieved by a stated public authority; and
2. Require a particular strategy or action to be taken by a stated public authority; and
3. State the timeframe within which an outcome is to be achieved or a strategy or action is to be taken.
4. However, subsection (3) does not apply in relation to a public authority to the extent that stating a core outcome to be achieved, or requiring a strategy or action to be taken, by the public authority would affect a matter in relation to which the independence of the public authority –
1. Is required by legislation or government policy; or
2. Is a customary feature of the work of the public authority.

Section 8 was amended by the Revenue and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2016 and now states: The Premier must consider The Queensland Plan in preparing a community objectives statement.