The Liberal National Government in Queensland recently announced that they would be introducing tough new drug laws to restore consequences for actions, according to Dan Purdie MP, the current Minister for Police and Emergency Services. Repeat drug offenders will get just one chance under new laws, facing on-the-spot fines or criminal charges.
Under the previous Labor Government's scheme, offenders could receive a warning and multiple diversion offers. The new Bill—Expanding Adult Crime, Adult Time and Taking a Strong Stance on Drugs and Antisocial Behaviour Bill 2026—will limit diversion to a single opportunity for eligible first-time offenders.
Dan Purdie MP said the previous diversion scheme allowed offenders multiple chances and sent the wrong message that drug use carried no consequences. “Dangerous drugs fuel crime, destroy lives and strengthen organised crime syndicates, and the Crisafulli Government is taking decisive action to stop this, by backing police with the laws they need to restore safety after Labor’s decade of decline. These reforms send a clear message that there is no safe way to take dangerous drugs as we continue to crackdown on this gateway to addiction and criminal offending”.
Under the framework, eligible adults and children found with small quantities of cannabis may receive one diversion opportunity. For other minor drug offences, police will be able to issue on-the-spot fines, with offenders able to complete a diversion program instead of paying the fine. Repeat or serious offenders will face criminal charges.
The Legalise Cannabis Queensland Party has written to the Minister to query his claim that the United States (US) is “frantically rolling back disastrous drug policies responsible for addiction, crime and overdose deaths” as that claim requires evidence. The policy direction in many parts of the US has actually focused on expanding public health responses such as treatment access, diversion pathways and overdose-reversal medication.
The LCQ Party has also asked the Minister to provide the research or data supporting his claim that US drug policy reforms caused increases in addiction, crime and overdose deaths and the specific jurisdictions he was referring to in the US “rolling back” these policies. The Party has also requested the evidence that reducing diversion options in Queensland will reduce harm compared with treatment-focused approaches.
Drug policy affects public health, policing resources and the justice system. Statements used to justify legislative changes should be supported by clear, publicly available, evidence. The Party awaits a response from the Minister along with the data underpinning his statements.