Major Speaker Announcement
Professor David Heilpern was a magistrate and judicial trainer from 1998 (at the time the youngest magistrate in Australia) to 2020. Prior to this he was a litigation lawyer on the North Coast and co-founded the law school at Southern Cross University (SCU) in 1992. David graduated with a Masters in Law from SCU and was the Alumni of the Decade in 2005. He ‘retired’ after 21 years on the bench in New South Wales in May 2020.
During his time on the bench, David was the principal educator for new magistrates throughout Australia and the Pacific and made several important reported decisions on criminal, environmental and evidence law. In August 2022 he was appointed as a Dean and Chair of Discipline (Law) at SCU.
His comments after retirement about the injustice created by the offence of driving with a detectable level of ‘drugs’ are a clear demonstration of his character. He leads the organisation, Drive Change, alongside a team of advocates who joined forces to be part of the voice for cannabis law reform Australia-wide.
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The Legalise Cannabis Queensland (LCQ) Party is calling for your support in opposing the Queensland Government’s proposed random drug driving laws, which would impose harsher penalties on legally prescribed medicinal cannabis patients than those imposed for many drink driving offences!
The State Government is aiming to push these laws through by 1 December 2026, without any formal review. Drug driving penalties will double, with higher fines and longer licence disqualifications and repeat drug drivers will face mandatory imprisonment.
Further changes in 2027 will include expanded roadside drug testing, allowing police to conduct more tests and process drivers more quickly. The Queensland LNP is NOT considering fairer laws for prescribed medicinal cannabis patients. Meanwhile, New South Wales is moving ahead with reforms and Tasmania and Victoria already provide protections.
We Need Your Support
LCQ Party is organising a peaceful protest rally in Brisbane on the first sitting day, 25th of August, of the Queensland Parliament. We will be announcing speakers and other organisational details closer to the date and for regular updates please visit the Private Facebook Group, Brisbane Driving Law Rally 2026 or email for more information. If you can, please donate to our Rally Campaign. Thank you.