Queensland to introduce new drink and drug driving laws to fix 'loophole'

The Queensland government is set to introduce new legislation that will double penalties for drink and drug driving, adopting a "zero-tolerance" stance that includes drivers using medical cannabis.

Attorney General Deb Frecklington announced two bills will be presented to parliament to ensure harsher consequences for dangerous driving. The reforms will increase the maximum penalty for motor vehicle offenses resulting in death or grievous bodily harm from 16 to 25 years. They also aim to extend minimum license disqualification periods and expand mandatory imprisonment for serious and repeat dangerous driving offenders.

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We will be introducing not one, but two bills into the parliament to ensure that people know that if you do the wrong thing on the road, then you will suffer the consequences by putting other people's lives at risk, whether it's dangerous driving, driving with drugs, or endangering people's lives.

Frecklington stated the reforms address a "loophole" by making the presence of meth in a dangerous driving offender's system an aggravating factor, even without proving it affected their driving. "The fact that you are driving with meth in your system, that is now enough to prove that is a circumstance of aggravation," she said.

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The fact that you are driving with meth in your system, that is now enough to prove that is a circumstance of aggravation.

Additional changes, effective December 1, 2026, include doubled penalties for drug driving, stronger sanctions for combined drink and drug offenses, and minimum court-imposed fines. Drivers caught more than 40 km/h over the speed limit will face immediate six-month license suspensions. The reforms also enhance seatbelt enforcement by allowing drivers to nominate adult passengers for accountability.

Transport Minister Brent Mickleber emphasized the state's zero-tolerance approach to drug driving, even for those with medical marijuana prescriptions. He contrasted this with other states that have weakened similar laws. The announcement follows a Queensland drug driving review that identified limitations in impairment testing options. This contrasts with New South Wales, Tasmania, and Victoria, which have provisions for prescription drug users.

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Rather than weakening the drug driving laws like other states have chosen to do so, we will be strengthening the provisions in relation to those who choose to drive with a drug in their system.