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Call for Submissions

Submissions closed on Friday, 4 July 2014.

Objective of the Bill

The Bill has four objectives, to:

• reduce red tape and regulation relating to the sale and purchase of proposed allotments and proposed lots, while ensuring important consumer protections are maintained;
• modernise, improve and streamline the legislation regulating the sale of proposed allotments and proposed lots;
• address minor editorial errors that have been identified in section 157 of the Property Occupations Act 2014; and
• amend the Breakwater Island Casino Agreement Act 1984 to provide for the transfer of ownership of the Jupiters Townsville Hotel and Casino from Jupiters Limited to CLG Properties Pty Ltd as trustee for CLG Property Trust.

Other Information

The Land Sales and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2014 and Explanatory Notes are available from the Office of the Queensland Parliamentary Counsel at www.legislation.qld.gov.au.

The Hansard transcript of the explanatory speech for the Bill can be accessed here.

Public Hearing

The Committee resolved not to hold a public hearing on the Bill.

Reasons for the Bill

The Land Sales Act 1984 (the Act) regulates the sale of proposed allotments (i.e. unregistered reconfigured land) and proposed lots (i.e. lots, such as apartments or units, in a community titles scheme sold off the plan).  The Act establishes a regulatory framework to facilitate property development in Queensland while ensuring appropriate consumer protections are provided.

Over the years, the Act has been reviewed and amended on a piecemeal basis in response to specific marketplace changes, but has not been comprehensively reviewed on over a decade.  It is crucial that the Act remains current so it can continue to foster an environment in which property development in Queensland is encouraged.  Accordingly, a complete review of the Act was undertaken between 2010 and 2013 to identify opportunities to modernise and improve the legislation, including by reducing unnecessary red tape and regulation.  The outcomes of the review led to the amendments contained in the Bill for achieving the first and second policy objectives listed above.

Referral

On 3 June 2014 the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, the Hon Jarrod Bleijie MP, introduced the Land Sales and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2014 into the Queensland Parliament.  In accordance with Standing Order 131 of the Standing Rules and Orders of the Legislative Assembly, the Bill was referred to the Legal Affairs and Community Safety Committee (the Committee) for detailed consideration.

By resolution of the Committee of the Legislative Assembly, the Committee is required to report to the Parliament by 29 August 2014.

Report

On 29 August 2014, the Committee tabled its Report No. 71, Land Sales and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2014. A copy of the report is available here or can be accessed at Related Publications.

As the Committee made a single recommendation for the Legislative Assembly to pass the Bill, there is no requirement for the Government to table a response.

The Land Sales and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2014 was passed, with amendment, by the Legislative Assembly on 9 September 2014.