Stronger blue card laws to protect children come into force in Qld

Queensland’s most vulnerable children will have stronger protections under new blue card laws set to come into effect on September 20, the Crisafulli government has announced.

The reforms will expand the number of people required to hold a blue card, covering those working in entertainment and amusement parks, sports, churches and clubs, educational services, and the legal profession.

Parent volunteers will also now be subject to consistent rules, and self-disclosure requirements will be introduced to help detect risks early.

A simpler disqualification framework and a new suspension power will allow authorities to act immediately when a child’s safety is at risk. Compliance powers will be strengthened to make decision-making more responsive to potential threats.

The reforms also introduce a new “position of authority” criminal offence, aimed at protecting 16 and 17-year-olds from sexual interactions with adults who have them under their care, supervision or authority.

Offenders face a maximum of 14 years’ imprisonment. Meanwhile, the existing offence of “repeated sexual conduct with a child” will now include adults in positions of care over 16 and 17-year-olds, carrying a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.

Protections for victims of sexual violence will also be boosted. Non-contact orders will increase from two to five years, and penalties for breaches rise to a maximum of three years’ imprisonment or 120 penalty units, aligning them with domestic and family violence orders.

Transitional arrangements will give workers and organisations in affected industries time to meet the new requirements.

Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Deb Frecklington said the reforms sent a clear message to predators.

“Parents want absolute confidence that everything possible is being done to keep their children safe when they drop them at sports clubs, birthday parties or amusement parks,” Ms Frecklington said.

“I am committed to strengthening and safeguarding our blue card system so that Queensland delivers the strongest protections for our children.”

She added the changes would crack down on adults abusing positions of trust.

“New maximum sentences will crack down on adults who abuse their position of authority over vulnerable 16 or 17 year olds,” Ms Frecklington said.

The changes come as part of the government’s broader push to strengthen child protection, including the introduction of Daniel’s Law, which will establish a public child sex offender register in Queensland.

Mr Crisafulli said the law was “an important step towards restoring safety where you live”.

“We are equipping parents with information to make decisions for the safety and wellbeing of their kids. For too long, convicted predators have been allowed to hide right under the noses of Queensland families,” he said.

“What happened to Daniel Morcombe was a tragedy that rocked our state, but now Daniel’s Law will help protect children who can’t protect themselves.”

He said that while no system “will ever be perfect”, the government aimed to give parents the best possible chance to protect their children.

“We are putting the rights of victims and parents ahead of the rights of offenders,” he said.