Economic Development and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2024 (Qld)

An Act to amend the Economic Development Act 2012, the Planning Act 2016 and the Public Sector Act 2022 for particular purposes The Parliament of Queensland enacts—

Part 1 Preliminary

1 Short title This Act may be cited as the Economic Development and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2024.

2 Commencement This Act commences on 1 July 2024.

Part 2 Amendment of Economic Development Act 2012

3 Act amended This part and schedule 1 amend the Economic Development Act 2012.

4 Replacement of ss 3 and 4 Sections 3 and 4— omit, insert—

3 Main purpose of Act (1) The main purpose of this Act is to facilitate the following in the State— (a) economic development; (b) development for community purposes; (c) the provision of diverse housing, including, for example, social housing and affordable housing; (d) the provision of premises for commercial or industrial uses. (2) In this section— diverse housing means a range of housing to meet a variety of community needs, including, for example, housing of different size, type, price, built form, density, cost, adaptability and tenure. provision, of diverse housing or premises, includes the funding, facilitation, delivery, supply and ownership of the housing or premises.

4 How main purpose is primarily achieved (1) The main purpose of this Act is achieved primarily by— (a) establishing MEDQ to plan, carry out, promote or coordinate activities to facilitate in the State the main purpose of this Act while also— (i) seeking the achievement of ecological sustainability; and (ii) valuing, protecting and promoting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge, culture and tradition; and (iii) recognising the cultural heritage significance of places; and (b) providing for a streamlined planning and development framework for particular parts of the State (declared as priority development areas under this Act) to facilitate the main purpose of this Act; and (c) providing for MEDQ to undertake strategic leadership and coordination of place renewal areas. (2) In this section— cultural heritage significance, of a place, means its aesthetic, architectural, historical, scientific, social or other significance to the present generation or past or future generations. ecological sustainability means a balance that integrates— (a) the protection of ecological processes and natural systems at local, regional, State and wider levels; and (b) economic development; and (c) the maintenance of the cultural, economic, physical and social wellbeing of people and communities.